Pricing Policy
Sound Theory Studio (Main Location - Broadway and Wilmot)
Open to all students, all ages, all skill levels. Use the contact page to
schedule lessons and make inquiries.
| 30 Minute Lesson | $35 |
| 1 Hour Lesson | $60 |
Online lessons:
Video Chat (Skype) Lessons: These lessons are done via webcam and feel very much like an in-person lesson only through video. The benefits of Video Chat lessons are you get to take lessons from anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The drawbacks are video lessons can feel limiting to some people since we aren't physically in the same place and certain techniques are more difficult to demonstrate via webcam. Also Skype, Google Video Chat, FaceTime, and others all have their ups and downs with connectivity issues that are out of my control. Video lag and audio issues do happen from time to time.
If you have any questions about online lessons feel free to contact me through the "Contact" page.
Scheduling Policy
For your first lesson, payment can be made online in advance or at the studio in person. However afterward lessons are scheduled one month at a time and paid in advance before the beginning of the month. So for example if you want to schedule lessons for April 5th and April 16th you will need to schedule and pay for both lessons by April 1st. Cash customers will need to pay for the next month's lesson during the final lesson of the previous month, card customers can pay online anytime by the due date. You may schedule as many or as few lessons as you like, so long as it is on a monthly basis and paid in advance.
Cancellation Policy
I understand that things happen that will require lessons to be canceled from time to time. Sick children, car troubles, and other unexpected events can and will happen. For this reason I allow the equivalent of one month of lessons to be cancelled without penalty per calendar year.
| Weekly Students | 4 cancellations per year |
| Bi-weekly Students | 2 cancellations per year |
| Monthly Students | 1 cancellation per year |
Cancelled lessons however will not be refunded, a credit will be applied that can be used for future lessons. If a lesson is missed and I don't receive a call or text to let me know about the cancellation by the lesson start time ("no call no show"), then the lesson is lost and there will be no credit applied to the account. Also if a student decides to end lessons permanently during a month with already scheduled lessons, the remaining lessons will be credited to their account if they decide to come back at a later date, but will not be refunded.
Cancelling lessons beyond the yearly limit does not jeopardize your standing as a student, it just means those lessons will be lost.
If I need to cancel a lesson, I will either apply a credit for the lesson to your account, or refund your money for the lost lesson, whichever you prefer.
Feel free to contact me with any questions by heading to the "Contact" page from the menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Where is the studio located? Sound Theory Studio is located in Tucson near Park Place Mall at Broadway and Wilmot. After scheduling your first lesson you will receive a welcome email with the address and all the information about your lessons. How do online lessons work? I now offer lessons online through Skype, Google Chat and FaceTime! Online lessons work in much the same way as "in person" lessons. You will need a computer and a webcam (with mic) so that we can see each other and communicate back and forth. Most laptops these days come with a webcam and mic, and these accessories can be added to a desktop computer for a reasonable price. Live video lessons have the same format as in person lessons, with one main advantage and one main disadvantage. The advantage is live video lessons are available world wide and you can learn from the comfort of your home. The disadvantage is there are always subtle differences between in person lessons and lessons in front of a camera, some people find that learning through live video is very natural, for others it can feel limiting. What forms of payment do you accept? I accept cash, and all major credit / debit cards. You may also pay for your lessons at any time using paypal. Should I do 30 minute or 1 hour lessons? This is entirely up to you, however my typical lesson routine is to spend roughly half the lesson discussing music theory and the other half playing the guitar and discussing technique. In a 30 minute lesson this breaks it up into 15 minutes for each topic which can feel a little rushed. This is why I highly recommend all adults to schedule hour lessons, even if it means scheduling fewer lessons overall to fit your budget. 30 minute lessons work well for children in my experience as it is faster paced and easier to hold their attention and keep lessons exciting and fun. What if I decide to take a break from guitar lessons for school, vacation, etc? Since lessons are scheduled monthly and there are no long term commitments you can feel free to start and stop lessons as you wish, just let me know your plans and we will schedule (or not schedule) your lessons accordingly. Then you can restart your lessons at any time. Just make sure you give at least a month notice so that you don't lose out on any lessons you have already scheduled and paid for. What if I'm thinking about learning guitar but I'm not sure as I haven't tried it yet and/or I don't yet own a guitar? No problem! Just schedule one lesson to start and you can use one of the extra guitars I have at the studio to see if its something you want to continue. (I'm sure you will!). My child has expressed interest in learning guitar but I'm not sure if they will stick with it and I'm not sure whether or not to buy them a guitar. I completely understand and this a common concern that parents have. I have found that often times children love the idea of playing a musical instrument, but don't necessarily understand the amount of work involved and when they are faced with regular practice times at home they can quickly lose interest. After years of experience I can tell you that one of the quickest ways to find out if your child is ready for lessons is to put them on a routine of 3 or 4 times per week at home learning something about guitar or music. If they are excited to do it this is a very good sign, if they are resistant and don't want to spend the time at home working on it this is a pretty good indicator that they aren't ready. If you don't own a guitar or can't think of a way to test their dedication, feel free to schedule one short lesson where I can go over the basics and give them an assignment to do at home, their willingness to do it will help you decide whether to continue lessons. Remember: guitar lessons are supposed to be a fun and enjoyable experience. A child HAS to go to school and learn math, science, etc. A child does NOT have to learn guitar. For that reason I wouldn't pressure them to practice and take it seriously, they should be willing to do that on their own without any pressure because they truly want to. I would like to learn guitar but don't know what kind of guitar and/or amp to buy. I understand! There are thousands of guitars and amps out there, and MANY different types and price ranges (acoustic, electric, solid body, hollow body, 6 string, 7 string, tube amps, solid state, etc.). I can help you pick a guitar and amp that will suit you based on the style of music you are interested in, whether the guitar is for a child or an adult, your price range, etc. Feel free to call or message me and I will be happy to help you pick your new guitar and amp! How difficult is it to play guitar? Someone once said "The Guitar is one of the easiest instruments to learn, and one of the most difficult to master". I couldnt agree more, and that is what makes the guitar the most wonderful instrument in the world! Its much easier than you may think to learn chords, learn many popular songs, have a great time and really enjoy the instrument. The guitar lends itself well to beginners in music and Ive seen many people who claimed to have no "musical talent at all" learn the guitar and become good players. However mastering the instrument, playing various styles, playing guitar solos, improvising, and learning about music theory are endeavors that can last a lifetime. Thats probably why people look at their guitars as such cherished possesions, even as a friend! Once you learn guitar it will always be there for you, there will always be more to learn, you will always see yourself improving with practice, it turns into a way to express yourself and leads to a great deal of happiness and fulfillment. I've always thought about learning guitar, but I have no musical talent and I dont think I'd be any good at it. I can tell you with complete honesty that I believe everyone has the ability to play music. Yes some people have a natural gift for it and learn very quickly, others learn at a slower pace, but ALL can learn just the same. One of the biggest misconceptions about playing music is that its all a natural gift and you either can or cant do it. I would say through personal experience that natural talent is about 5% of the equation and the amount of time you spend learning and practicing is 95%. I know guitarists that I would consider to be far more "naturally gifted" than I am, but I have exceeded them on the instrument because I have put more time and determination into it than they have. Like most things in life, you get out of it what you put into it, and if you apply yourself you can learn the guitar I'm sure of it. If you see an incredible guitarist perform its easy to look at them and say they are so talented, but the truth isnt so much that they are naturally talented, its that they spent years perfecting their craft. |