Lesson Policies
Membership
There is a one-time $5 membership fee to join Medisky Oboe Studio. It is expected that students participate in their school band or orchestra program (or in a comparable music program) concurrently with private lessons.
Studio membership includes:
There is a one-time $5 membership fee to join Medisky Oboe Studio. It is expected that students participate in their school band or orchestra program (or in a comparable music program) concurrently with private lessons.
Studio membership includes:
- Your lesson
- Handouts and exercises
- Participation in studio recitals, master classes, and other activities
- Assistance in purchasing new instruments
- Special topic classes
Lesson Length, Frequency, and Tuition
The following lesson lengths are available:
Weekly lessons are best for optimal progress and for keeping students motivated. Bi-weekly lessons may be considered for students traveling from outside of Madison.
The number of lessons and total tuition due is calculated based on these three terms:
Ex) There are 16 weeks in the Fall term, but students are invoiced for 12 weekly lessons, allowing for holidays, conflicts, performances, etc. There are two payment options:
The following lesson lengths are available:
- 30-minutes: appropriate for beginners through middle school
- 45-minutes: a minimum length for serious high school students, and for middle school students that make reeds
- 1-hour: for serious students and for those that make reeds
Weekly lessons are best for optimal progress and for keeping students motivated. Bi-weekly lessons may be considered for students traveling from outside of Madison.
The number of lessons and total tuition due is calculated based on these three terms:
- FALL: September - December
- SPRING: January - May
- SUMMER: June - August
Ex) There are 16 weeks in the Fall term, but students are invoiced for 12 weekly lessons, allowing for holidays, conflicts, performances, etc. There are two payment options:
- One lump sum, due at the beginning of the term
- Monthly, due at first lesson of each month
Lesson Expectations
Private lessons are meant to complement and enhance your work in school band class. We will address issues specific to the oboe and you will be assigned materials outside of your ensemble work, including a weekly etude out of your book and additional technical exercises. All students will work on at least one solo piece each year for Solo & Ensemble, auditions (such as WYSO), and/or the annual studio recital. Lessons are not a time to practice school band music, but if there is something specific, such as a solo or a particular technical challenge, you are encouraged to ask for advice.
The goal of private lessons is to build a solid foundation and understanding of the fundamentals of playing the oboe by working on:
We will develop practice techniques and performance strategies to give you control over your instrument so you can develop your skills so that you can focus on:
Private lessons are meant to complement and enhance your work in school band class. We will address issues specific to the oboe and you will be assigned materials outside of your ensemble work, including a weekly etude out of your book and additional technical exercises. All students will work on at least one solo piece each year for Solo & Ensemble, auditions (such as WYSO), and/or the annual studio recital. Lessons are not a time to practice school band music, but if there is something specific, such as a solo or a particular technical challenge, you are encouraged to ask for advice.
The goal of private lessons is to build a solid foundation and understanding of the fundamentals of playing the oboe by working on:
- Tone Quality
- Finger Technique
- Embouchure
- Air Support
- Articulation
- Vibrato
We will develop practice techniques and performance strategies to give you control over your instrument so you can develop your skills so that you can focus on:
- Musicality
- Phrasing
- Performance
Practice Guidelines and Expectations
Parents are encouraged to help students make a regular practice schedule. A good, consistent practice routine helps students make progress and reach their musical goals.
How much to practice each day:
What to practice each day:
Parents are encouraged to help students make a regular practice schedule. A good, consistent practice routine helps students make progress and reach their musical goals.
How much to practice each day:
- Beginners: minimum of 20 minutes
- Intermediate: minimum of 30-45 minutes
- Advanced: minimum of 45-60 minutes
What to practice each day:
- Warm-up: Slow scale exercise, long tones, fast scales/arpeggios, etc.
- Etudes: Gekeler, Rubank, Barret, etc.
- Solo Literature: Solo & Ensemble or studio recital
- Ensemble music
- Sight-reading
- Reed-making, if applicable
Lesson Cancellation Policy
I will let you know of my scheduling conflicts as far in advance as possible. If you need to cancel a lesson for any reason, please do so at least 24 hours in advance. Failure to notify me may result in a forfeited lesson.
Note: Frequent cancellations affect me and other students. Students that frequently cancel lessons may lose their lesson time for the following term, and may be removed from the studio.
I will let you know of my scheduling conflicts as far in advance as possible. If you need to cancel a lesson for any reason, please do so at least 24 hours in advance. Failure to notify me may result in a forfeited lesson.
Note: Frequent cancellations affect me and other students. Students that frequently cancel lessons may lose their lesson time for the following term, and may be removed from the studio.