Trumpet Lesson Guidelines

Goals: Ideally, you’ve come to me for lessons because you love music and want to get the most from your musical opportunities. While music is a non-competitive activity, you will enjoy yourself more if you continuously improve.

Playing music makes us more complete. I cannot count how many times I’ve heard people say, “I used to play an instrument, I never should have quit.” Even if you have no goals of playing professionally, music will continue to enrich your life.

Expectations: All relationships, both personal and professional, function better when each party is aware of the other’s expectation.  As your teacher, I will instruct you in the technical aspects of the trumpet; I will also help you discover the non-technical aspects of making and appreciating music. As my student, you are expected to honor certain requirements, including:

Practice: I will prescribe a certain amount of practice to you; this amount will be based on your goals, ability, and commitment. Practice is not optional; it is mandatory.

Listening: In order to develop your musical concept, you should listen to recordings of great musicians (especially trumpeters) regularly. This is as important as practice.

Conscientiousness: Please make sure you will arrive at your lesson on time--I may not be able to give you extra time after your lesson. Bring your notebook and other lesson materials with you always. Return my phone calls and email in a timely fashion. If you cannot make a scheduled lesson, you must call or email me prior to the lesson.

Required Items: From time to time I will ask you to acquire some new items. I realize you may not be able to get them as soon as we both would like. With this in mind, you will still need to get these things sooner rather than later. Here is a small list of items you should have as soon as possible:

· Metronome

· Music Stand

· Spiral Notebook

Scheduling/Payment: I have an active musical life; this is what I do for a living. Thus, your lesson may not always be on the same day of the week—we will schedule one lesson at a time. You will receive four (sometimes five) lessons each month, except in cases of impracticality. The rates are:

· Half hour lessons: $80 ($100)/month

· Hour lessons: $140 ($175)/month

I feel that a single one-hour lesson is more productive than two half-hour lessons. I prefer to teach hour lessons, which is reflected in the rate.

Payment for each month is due at the last lesson of the previous month. For example, you should pay me the last week of February for your March lessons.

Refund Policy: Music takes a great deal of commitment. To help you honor this commitment, I have a strict refund policy.  If you need to reschedule a lesson, I will accommodate you as best I can. I will make every effort to ensure you get the correct amount of lessons per month. If your schedule prevents you from making all of the lessons, I cannot refund your payment. If, however, my schedule prevents us from meeting, you should deduct the amount of the lesson from your next payment.

Of course, if you know ahead of time that you will only be taking a certain number of lessons the coming month, simply pay for those lessons you expect to take.

Separation: If you need to stop taking lessons, or begin with a new teacher, I request 30 days notice.

Contact: I strive to be available to all my students. You should not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions concerning anything at all. My contact information is:

James Smock

Phone: (360) 624-1482

Website: www.trumpetplayer.us

©2007 James Smock