Frequently Asked Questions
I usually teach lessons at my home in Newsome, Huddersfield. Teaching in my own home allows me to use a wider range of resources and instruments, and makes it easier to build a personal learning programme for each student.
It may be possible to arrange lessons in your home if it is difficult for you to get to Newsome, however this may incur an additional charge depending on travelling time.
Please Contact Me by email or phone to find out more.
Do I need to have an instrument at home?
Yes, you will need an instrument to practice on at home. Although it is possible to have lessons once per week without owning an instrument (which can sometimes be a useful strategy for the first few weeks to see whether the student takes to the instrument before investing in such a large purchase) I don't recommend this on a long-term basis because practice between lessons is very important for consolidating knowledge learned during lessons. It will take a long time to progress to a reasonable standard of playing if you don't play in between lessons.
See also the section below on practice for more details.
If you are a beginner it often makes sense to rent an instrument for the first few months. Many music stores, including Octave Above (Huddersfield) and Scheerers Music (Leeds) offer a rental scheme where you are able to rent a wind instrument for a few months, after which time you are given the choice to purchase the instrument at a discounted cost, or return the instrument.
Rental costs depend on the type of instrument you get, but prices typically start at £30 rental per month for a new flute or clarinet worth £200.
There are similar schemes for pianos and other wind instruments.
If you wish to buy an instrument straight away, any good local music shop, such as Dolphin Music and Octave Above in Huddersfield, Musical Notes in Holmfirth, or Scheerers Music in Leeds, will be able to give you expert advice on the best instrument for you. Most offer payment plans to help you buy a new instrument. Some also offer secondhand options.
Many music shops, including Dolphin Music, also take part in the Arts Council's Take It Away scheme, which enables you to purchase an instrument through paying in 9 interest-free installments.
How much will lessons cost and how long are they?
Lessons are currently charged at the competitive price of £13 for half an hour. However, I allow 40 - 45 minutes for each half hour lesson, providing extra time for parents to discuss their child's progress before or after the lesson, while also making the lesson more relaxed - avoiding the scenario of ushering one student out while another arrives.
As students progress, many feel that 30 minutes is not enough time to cover the repertoire, and study new pieces - especially if they are also learning theory. For these students, I offer a 45 minute lesson (at a cost of £19), which allows us more time to discuss issues, technique and theory in more detail.
I also offer hour long lessons at a cost of £25, which can be of particular use and interest to more advanced students and adult beginners.
Lessons of 45 minutes or an hour are often recommended to some students in the weeks leading up to festivals or examination performances.
For younger pupils, shorter lessons can be arranged or a lesson can be shared. (For example, two young children could share a 45 minute lesson, or three could share an hour lesson).
Visit my prices page for a summary of lesson costs.
How much practice should I do at home?
Each week specific learning will be set as homework. This will always be practical (unless you are only learning theory, or studying for the theoretical papers of GCSE or A Level examinations), but will also often include written work to develop theory and general musicianship skills.
Ideally practice sessions should be regular - approximately 10 mins each day (over 5-7 days) for young beginners, building up to 30 minutes every day for intermediate students and one hour or more per day for advanced level. However, quality is often better than quantity and I give pupils advice on how to practice effectively.
It helps if you can set specific practice times which are the same time every day so that practice becomes part of the daily routine.
Practice sessions should always start with a warm up, including long notes to develop breathing techniques (for flute and clarinet students). Intermediate and Advanced-level students should also include scales and technical exercises in the warm-up to develop technique and flexibility. Again, advice and guidance will be given on what warm-ups and technical studies should be used, and these are regularly up-dated.
Overall, practice should be fun, varied and reasonably challenging to be effective. If practice sessions are perceived as 'boring' then please tell me as soon as possible so that work can be done in the lesson to encourage more enjoyable and constructive practice sessions at home.
No student will be expected to work towards examinations if they don't want to. However, although exams can be a nerve-racking experience, they can really help to give you a sense of achievement and can provide a goal to work towards. For school-age students, music examinations can be useful as the higher grades can give points that count towards entry into Higher Education (University).
Don't let exams put you off learning an instrument. I am happy to teach people on whatever basis they want and have many students who learn just for the fun and challenge of it.
If students do want to take exams, then I enter them for either Associated Board or Trinity Guildhall exams depending on their musical interests and strengths. All examination entries are decided in consultation with parents for younger students, and students are only entered for exams when they are absolutely ready for them.
For younger beginners, both Trinity Guildhall and Associated Board offer an introductory 'examination', giving students the opportunity to find out what an examination is like without the added worry of passing or failling. I regularly enter students for these and find that they are incredibly helpful in building confidence as well as providing a goal to work towards for the first time.
What performing opportunities are there outside of lessons?
I regularly enter students for competitions and festivals in the local area, which can help to give students more confidence in their playing and ability, and give them something to work towards. This also gives students the opportunity to meet other people of the same ages and/or ability level, and to see others perform. This is always a very beneficial and interesting experience for those who take part.
I will always inform students and parents of opportunities coming up, and recommend which categories would be of the appropriate level.
I also organise opportunities for my students to meet each other and perform together, both in concerts and in small groups. In particular I have found that this can be good for piano players who may find their skill a rather solitary experience. In the past I have offered duet classes for pianists, ensemble groups for (2 or more) wind players, and also opportunities for more advanced pianists to accompany my flute and clarinet students.
For young wind players there are various opportunities to play your instrument both in and out of school. You could ask your music teacher at school what school groups you could play in, and they may also know of other local groups that take place out of school hours.
I am happy to find out information for you on request if you want to know more about music groups that meet in the Huddersfield area. There are many groups for all ages and abilities, and there will definitely be one out there for you.
