FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I charge $100 a month for lessons. This fee is based upon four $25 half hour lessons once a week. Payment is expected on the first lesson of the month. If the student is going to miss a lesson I need advance notice of at least a couple hours before the lesson time. If a student misses one lesson in a month the price is still the same, and I always try to give a make up lesson within the same week or month. Two missed lessons or more in a month I adjust the fee down to whatever lessons were taken and either just charge that or give credit for the next month. No shows with no call forfeits the lesson or any credit. If there's a five week month the 5th lesson is free, so the charge never exceeds the $100 in a month. I also can teach a one hour lesson for more advanced players and this is done bi-weekly. Charge is $50 per lesson, and the same rules apply for rescheduling make ups,etc.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
Back when I was a child watching famous trumpet players like Louis Armstrong, and Dizzy Gillespie on TV, and watching Lawrence Welk. When I got older the great rock horn bands like Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire and Blood Sweat & Tears. Was great to find out that horns can be "cool instruments" too. It doesn't all have to be about guitars and drums. Trumpets and horn sections have made their mark through all genres of music, even today. Most late night talk show stars have a house band that has a horn section featuring a trumpet player.
- What types of customers have you worked with?
Performing wise I play a lot of small jazz groups with myself as a soloist, playing for high end restaurants and country clubs. I'm also in 3 different bands, heading up their horn sections playing for casinos, corporate events, weddings and the like. I also occasionally record in the studio for someone's project, and occasionally play in pit orchestras for musicals. Just recently the Chicago Tribute band I'm with was nominated for an LA Music Award and we're slotted to play on the televised awards show.