30 min lesson is $40 - monthly fee is $140 which includes a $20 discount
45 min lesson is $50 - monthly fee is $180 which includes a $20 discount
60 min lesson is $60- monthly fee is $200 which includes a $40 discount
Tuition per month is for one child or adult for a four-week period, and it is (in part) for the time that has been reserved. Over a 10 month school year the discount is equal to 4 - 6+ free lessons, or $200 - $400 discount.
The extra lesson in any five week month can be paid separately (at the discount price) or added to any 3 week month. Dec and March are short months with Christmas and Spring break for example, so any 5 week month can be applied to one or both of those.
Per lesson or twice monthly scheduling for anyone is available, and full fee per lesson applies. Scheduling priority is given to any student paying by the month.
Any month in which a student knows ahead of time that they will miss one or more lessons, they may pay for only the lessons they take, charged at the full single lesson fee. Their usual monthly schedule will remain reserved for them for one month. After school hours are reserved first for a consistent monthly scheduling (September-June) and not occasional lessons, although I'm happy to schedule anyone in a free time slot.
For 2 family members tuition per month is $240 which is basically 2 back to back (discounted) half hours. There is a lot of hands-on guidance needed for a correct foundation in playing habits, so I mostly spend time with each person individually during that hour.
Lessons that need to be cancelled due to extreme weather or other travelling issues can still be held via Facetime, as are all long distance lessons.
Methods of payment: Cash, Check, Zelle, PayPal (checking account only). No credit cards. With PayPal, choose the Friend/family option and there are no fees - but you must use a checking account attached to your PP account. Do not use a linked credit card. Most people are now using Zelle; seems to be the easiest.
Checks are written to me, not to the studio and payment (for the month) is due LATEST by the 3rd of any given month, no matter what day the first lesson falls on. Paying at the last lesson for the next month is an option; checks can be dated for the first of the upcoming month.
Single lessons can be paid at each lesson. Online lessons; Zelle is easiest.
New students pay full fee for that first hour, and if scheduling further, will pay for whatever lessons are left during the month they are starting, at the discounted rate.
There is no prorating a month's payment for missed lessons except for new students beginning at other than the first week of the month they start. The discounted fee covers occasionally missed lessons due to emergencies. It is why I offer the discount for monthly students.
The first lesson is always an hour ($60) to sufficiently cover many basics. This includes getting familiar with parts of the instrument, general care, and fitting a violin correctly to the student. The importance of a comfortable chin rest and shoulder rest will be discussed while each student is shown how to hold their instrument free of tension. There is a lot of information given and correct physical set up done at this time. We might go over the time a bit, but that's included.
Young students continue with half hour lessons; older students the same or longer as desired. 45 minute lessons are best for adults, then longer later on if desired.
All students also receive the benefit of learning a few brain "activating" activities which make learning anything much easier.
Violin rentals when available are at a very reasonable $15.00/month. I hand out a simple rental agreement at the first lesson. If I do not have the size you need, I would refer you to any luthier or music store that rents violins in Knoxville or Oakridge.
Knoxville: Wilhitestrings.com
Oakridge: The String Workshop, 225 Jackson Square, 865-483-8075; Jonathan Goldstein
Please note...it is generally advisable to not buy a violin until you speak to a teacher first. The quality of an instrument, although not needing to be amazing, does affect a student’s ability to learn. Your teacher is your best help and resource for that decision; not any impressive write up on Ebay or Amazon!
***Please email for any other information and scheduling***
fiddlemusik@gmail.com