Frequently Asked Questions Q: Where are the lessons given? A: Lessons take place at my studio on Drayton Avenue in Toronto's Upper Beaches area, a 3 minute walk from the Coxwell subway station. Q: How long are the lessons? A: Lessons are either 1/2 hour or 1 hour long. Which format you choose depends on your budget, available time (lessons and practicing at home), and how quickly you want to advance. Q: When do the lessons take place? A: Lessons are weekly. I try to schedule lessons based on your preferences, according to my availability. Purchasing a block of lessons in advance will provide you with more options to take the lessons at a time that is most convenient for you. My current hours are: Monday to Friday: 12 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. Saturday and Sunday: 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Q: How much do the lessons cost? A: The first lesson is free. Additional lessons are purchased in blocks of 5 or 10. Individual lessons can also be purchased under certain conditions. Standard rates are listed below:
Q: Do I have to purchase any course materials? A: No. All course materials are included in the cost of the lessons. Q: How do I pay for the lessons? A: Individual lessons must be paid for at the start of each lesson. If a block of lessons is purchased, payment must be made before the first lesson. Currently only cash payments are accepted. Q: What if I'm late for a lesson? A: The lesson starts and ends at your scheduled time, whether you're there or not. Any time you miss is forfeited. Q: What if I have to cancel a lesson? A: Just notify me at least 24 hours in advance, and every effort will be made to reschedule the lesson. If a lesson is not canceled within 24 hours, or if you fail to show up for your scheduled lesson, you will not be entitled to a rescheduled lesson or a refund for the lesson‘s cost (barring extenuating circumstances, of course. I'm not unreasonable) Q: What if I want to stop taking lessons altogether, but have not taken all the lessons I've already paid for? A: You will be refunded for unused lessons at a rate of $15 for each half hour remaining. Q: What equipment do I need to own? A: At minimum, you will need a guitar, picks, a tuner, and a metronome. For electric guitar, you'll need some sort of amp or amp simulator (if you want to hear yourself, that is). If you need to purchase any equipment, I can provide suggestions on what you should buy, and where to buy it. A: What am I required to bring to each lesson? Q: Just your guitar, and a willingness to learn. Q: What will I learn? A: That depends on you. Lessons are tailored to each student's goals and abilities, but a general outline of what is covered can be viewed here Q: Will there be homework? A: Yes. There's only so much that can be done during a half hour, or even an hour lesson. You will be expected to complete practice assignments for each lesson. After all, if you can't play what we covered last lesson, how will you learn anything new at the next one? And you don't want to keep paying for the same lesson over and over again, do you? Q: Can you teach me how to play like [insert favorite guitarist here] ? A: No. Which isn't to say that we may not cover a song or two by that artist, or some elements of their style, or techniques they use. My goal isn't to teach you how to mimic someone else's style, but to help you develop a style of your own. And who knows? One day my students may be asking me "Can you teach me how to play like [insert your name here] "? Q: I'm left handed. Is that a problem? A: Not at all. I'm left handed too! But can play right handed if any right handed students have a problem with that :-) |