FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I do not have a standard pricing system. In the past, I offered discounted lessons to children whose parents could not normally afford a full priced lesson. I do not believe that any one should be deprived of the opportunity to learn a beautiful art and an education based on their ability to pay. At the same time, I do not penalize those who can afford my lessons by overcharging them. In my opinion, I offer a very reasonable and consistent price, but still retain a degree of flexibility for possible acceptions as well as a high standard for what a lesson ought to to entail.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
It is my standard procedure to offer a free first lesson to any new student, as a means of establishing trust in both my methodology and my person. A free lesson is one way of allowing the student to find that trust with his or her instructor at no risk and/or anxiety on the part of the student. Such trust is an essential foundation for any teacher to convey his or her points to the student. At the same time, the first lesson will include an evaluation on my part, of the student's abilities, technical level, musical sensitivities, and personality traits. Obviously, more advanced students require a different approach then novice ones. As a further example, I have taught an autistic child where I tailored my methods to his special needs in order for him to have sustained progress.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
As a child, I received violin lessons privately and then attended a nightly program at the Tehran Conservatory of Music. I subsequently entered Tehran University, where I continued my musical training with the violin. My certificates include a bachelors degree in musicology, and a masters and doctorate degree in composition. While studying composition at the University of New Mexico, I took many violin courses under one of the most knowledgeable violin pedagogues at the time. I have studied under four different mentors, who were representative of the Russian, Belgian, American schools of violin.