Lesson Policies

---

Membership
There is a one-time $5 membership fee to join Medisky Oboe Studio. It is expected that each student participate in his/her school band or orchestra program (or in a comparable music program) concurrently with private lessons. 

Your Medisky Oboe Studio membership includes:

• Your lesson
• Handouts and exercises
• Participation in studio recitals and other activities
• Assistance in purchasing new instruments
• Special Topic Classes

Lesson Length and rates
I offer the following weekly lesson lengths:

• 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

Please contact me to inquire about current lesson rates.
 

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:

• 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 the student make a regular practice schedule.  Having a good 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.

Contact