What should I bring to my first lesson?

1) Your guitar.
2) Picks, if you choose to play pickstyle.
3) A notebook dedicated to guitar lessons. The typical spiral-bound kind is fine.
4) A recording device (cassette recorder, minidisk, DAT, etc.): optional but highly recommended as an audio complement to your notebook.
5) Recordings and/or sheet music of any songs you're interested in learning, and any other materials you may have.
5) An open mind, and an eagerness to learn. I recommend listening to your favorite tunes before a lesson to pump you up. If you ever find yourself short on motivation, this is often the the best remedy.

What should I leave at home?

Anything—thoughts, concerns, nagging anxieties, etc.—related to work, school, or any other potentially boring or stressful acitivity. Learning music takes work, to be sure, but boredom and stress are, as Mozart would have said, verboten.

What are Mike's payment and cancellation policies?

Rates

$50/hour or $30/half-hour

How to Pay

I ask that payment be made on a monthly basis (though you are welcome to pay for each lesson individually the first month.) I find the simplest method is for you to pay for the number of lessons we’re planning on having in any given month; this is generally 4-5 if you take weekly lessons, 2-3 if you take lessons every other week. Payment for each month is due the week prior to the new month. For example, payment for December lessons is due the last week of November.

If You Need to Cancel...

If you need to cancel a lesson, you must notify me a minimum of 48 hours prior to lesson time. If at least 48 hours’ notice is given, we can schedule a makeup lesson at the earliest possible date. If less than 48 hours’ notice is given, you will be charged for the scheduled lesson, and no makeup will be given. Please be advised that this policy also applies to your final lesson.

How much do I need to practice?

Here’s my philosophy in a nutshell:

Making music is fun.
The better you are at making music, the more fun it is.
The harder you work at making music, the better you’ll be at it.
Therefore: Hard Work (i.e. Practice) = More Fun.

It’s not the lessons that contribute most to your progress, but the time in between. I have always found that being an effective music teacher requires being an active coach in the art of practice. Developing a healthy practice habit is the single most important task for any musician, and you’ll find we spend as much time working on this skill as on any other—especially in the initial stages of your study.

Do you require a certain amount of practice time from your students?

Everyone is different. I ask that you work to establish a practice habit that balances your drive to learn with the practical limitations of your schedule. And I ask that you be open to discussing this with me and following my recommendations for you.

You’ll find that I don’t preach quantity, but consistency. Everyone’s needs and limitations are different, but at baseline I’ll urge you to carve out a niche in your schedule for at least 15 minutes a day, five days a week. If you can accomplish that and stick to it, you’ll be well on your way.

Trust me: the student who manages this will nearly always be more successful than the student who tries to go from zero to sixty in no seconds flat. In a busy world, too-lofty goals tend to stumble over reality. Quite simply, you need enough practice time to give you the unique satisfaction that comes from making steady progress, and the pleasure of playing music with real skill. It’s worth it!

For more on this philosophy, download Mike’s Deep Thoughts on the Art of Practice.

How do I get started?

Give Mike a call: 415 260 2091

Or send an e-mail: mike@hotmike.com

Talk to you soon!