I am definitely considering lessons at The Sparrow, but is there a way I can give it a try first before committing?
Yes indeed! We have two options for trying out the lesson experience before committing indefinitely:
- Trial Lessons are available to new students at the standard rate of pay, but do not require a contract. Trial lessons are a great way to meet one of our Sparrow teachers and let a student get a taste of the lesson experience.
- Summer sessions are also available for the months of July and August! Standard contract regulations apply, but with the benefit of having a set final lesson date on the calendar. In the case that you would like to continue with lessons in the fall, simply arrange with us as soon as you know you would like to continue! We cannot guarantee the same lesson time for the fall, but will most certainly arrange a lesson time that fits your schedule and allows for a student to remain with their summer session teacher.
How do semi-private lessons work?
Semi-private lessons are a wonderfully economical choice that still allow for a high standard of personal investment and learning. There are two scenarios where we find semi-private lessons to be most effective:
- Students at the same level: When both students are at an equal skill level, then we are able to use the same books and thereby move through the material at the same rate as a private lesson.
- Siblings: Even if at different skill levels, joint lessons for siblings are intended to ease the cost of investing in music when multiple children have interest. However, do keep in mind that since students would be using different material, the lesson functions as a split lesson (15 minutes per child) as opposed to joint, so we will most likely be working at a slowed pace. That in mind, we do offer family rates where two immediate family members are each enrolled in weekly, private lessons.
Do you offer bi-weekly lessons?
We have found that the structure of a weekly lesson is most ideal for a solid foundation of learning through frequent and consistent reinforcement. Therefore we only offer weekly lessons. However, if you are an adult student interested in pursuing lessons, an exception might be made for bi-weekly lessons, although keep in mind that lesson time options will be limited.
Do you offer a family rate?
We would love to work with you on arranging a family rate. Though do keep in mind that the intent of a family rate would be to lighten the investment of lessons on the income of one household. Therefore a family rate will only be applicable when two immediate family members are enrolled in weekly, private lessons.
Do you offer in home lessons?
While the majority of our students are instructed out of our home studio, in home lessons are available on a limited basis. In home lessons are subject to an additional weekly fee of $5, plus .22ยข per mile between your home and The Sparrow.
Are books required?
Yes. Particularly given the interactive distance of an online format, we believe that our time will be better maximized when both teacher and student are working from a book together. Our teaching methodology also believes that book study is necessary to teach certain concepts and implement student practice throughout the week.
Is there homework?
Although we simply refer to it as practice, yes, it certainly does need to take place at home! Private instruction is more than a weekly music class. There is an expectation that your child will work on what they have learned with their instructor and use that knowledge to grow in their musical skill.
What is your lesson cancelation policy?
Your studio contract will outline cancelations deemed acceptable (i.e. illness) or unacceptable (i.e. forgetting a lesson), and make up lessons will then be scheduled accordingly. For pre-planned events or social gatherings, we kindly request 10 days cancelation notice. All other acceptable cancelations must be made outside of 24 hours, unless due to illness or family emergency. Cancelations by the instructor will automatically be subject to a make up lesson.
Do you host any student recitals?
Given that we have a limited number of Sparrow students, we are currently not able to accommodate any recitals. (Mr. Jordan teaches primarily for the music studio next door, and Miss Jennifer is focusing on homeschooling their children.) Although we have loved hosting recitals in the past, and hope to infuse that opportunity back into our Sparrow family. Thankfully our rates reflect what we are able to accommodate. Should you desire performance opportunities for your student, please consider bringing this up to your student’s instructor so that we might best see how to find performance opportunities that will encourage the musical growth of your child.
What is the primary focus of your teaching method- Jam buddy? Theory? Composition?
We are very serious about the foundation upon which a student’s musical training is built. Even though we ourselves, as teachers of the Sparrow, have invested in vocational opportunities that cater very little to notes on a page (i.e. church worship leaders and touring musicians) we believe that training should begin with a solid concept of theory and notation. Therefore we require all of our students to learn from books of study.
However, we also love to utilize that foundation as a way to venture into learning a favorite pop melody or jamming bar chords to a movie soundtrack. We will not begin there, but we will most enthusiastically grow there.
We also love seeing our students create, and will carve out space for just that based upon the foundations we have learned. Our relationship to music is transformed when brought to life by our own self and thought, and not limited solely to the musical expressions of another artist.
I’m interested! Now what?
Wonderful! Simply fill in our lesson interest form. We are excited to hear from you!