About Lessons

Where and when:

Lessons are offered from my home  which is located on Overbrook Drive, Cheltenham GL52 3HR near Pittville Park (map, opens in new window). I will schedule lessons flexibly to meet your needs, both during the day and evening. Please contact me for more specific information.

Rates and policies:

For a first lesson I offer a discounted rate of £10 for half an hour and £20 for an hour lesson.

Rates are £25 for an hour and £13 for half an hour. A block of 10 lessons is offered at a discount rate of £21 per lesson.  

For optimal learning I recommend a one-hour lesson once a week, but for people who want a more affordable option I also offer half-hour lessons. For most beginners it is best to start with half an hour lessons to build up stamina. I also offer rates for paired lessons if students are just beginning or at a similar stage in their learning. Please contact me for further information about paired lessons or block discounts.

Who can benefit from clarinet, flute, or saxophone lessons?

Anyone over the age of about seven may benefit from woodwind lessons. The clarinet, flute, and saxophone are all used in a variety of music including classical, contemporary, avant garde, jazz, and popular music. Even if you do not think you want to pursue music seriously it can be a rewarding part of your life.

For school-age children, there is evidence that learning music helps students in other areas, including academic achievement, athletic endeavors, and acquiring a life-long habit of learning.

I want to take woodwind lessons but don't have an instrument. Is there an alternative to purchasing one?

Rentals are available at many local shops if you do not want to commit to an instrument purchase. There is also an increasing amount of rentals available on line. You may contact me for more information if you are interested in lessons with me and are looking for a music store in your community.

How much should I practice?

I recognize that adults are often busy and working, trying to squeeze music lessons in with many other time commitments. Optimally an adult music student would practice for a half hour a day. However, it is better to practice for 5 minutes each day than to skip many days and try to "cram in" a lot of practice.

For children, learning an instrument is part of a whole experience of learning and growing. Like adults, children today are often overscheduled. Parents should think carefully about making a solid commitment to their child's music lessons and practice time to help create an experience of success. I recognize that teaching music lessons to children is part of a larger process, and I regularly meet with parents of my students to help make their music lessons and practice time worthwhile. As a rough guideline I recommend 30 minutes per day for more casual students and up to one hour for more serious students.

How do I avoid injury?

It is important to look after yourself to avoid repetitive strain injury and similar problems. Read my article for more details.

Should I skip lessons if I haven't practiced?

No. Even if you haven't practiced between lessons, having a lesson can get you back on track and keep the momentum going. My role as teacher is to guide you in your musical endeavors, recognizing that they are part of the larger picture of your life.

Where should I buy an instrument?

When purchasing an instrument to begin with it is sometimes a good idea to get a used instrument, especially if you are not 100% sure you are going to like playing it. Answering a local advert or purchasing an ex-rental instrument from a music store is the best way to do this. Ebay is not a good option for a first time instrument buyer as the instrument needs to be looked at and played before making a purchase. I am happy to advise and also look over an instrument before a decision is made on it. If you do decide to go ahead and purchase on Ebay be aware that there may be hidden costs involved with repairing an instrument and getting it to a playable state.

What brand of reed is best?

Reeds differ in price and also in quality- I recommend using vandoren reeds. For a beginner the best one is a vandoren blue box (normal) 1 1/2 strength. Some people find the 1 1/2 reed too resistant and prefer to try a rico reed which is on the softer side- I discourage people from doing this as the resistance is something which makes a difference in the sound you make, and getting used to the reed is just as important as getting used to where your fingers go and also how to breathe when you're learning.

Wetting the reed is very important to get the reed to vibrate throughout- a dry reed is harder to get a good tone out of and difficult to produce a sound at all if you are a beginner. It is also very important to wet the whole reed not just the top part.

Something else to consider is synthetic reeds - I use legere reeds, and as a guide having a synthetic reed which is a 1/4 strength more than what you usually use is the best option. These reeds are a good back up, I still prefer the feel and flexibility of the cane reeds but a good tone can be produced with a synthetic reed and after they have warmed up they are more consistent than a cane reed. However, due to this consistency they can be less versatile and this is why I prefer cane reeds. I use the legere reeds as a back up or when constantly having breaks between playing and needing to change instruments quickly. These reeds can be more expensive - about £10-15 but are more durable and will last years if not broken!

Should I get a strap?

Clarinet: For clarinet it is relatively uncommon to use a strap atleast in the professional world. However, if any pain is found when playing this can be a warning sign for repetitive strain injury. It is important that you feel comfortable when you play in order to get the best from your performance. If it feels easier and is pain free then why not use one? I personally use a strap all the time and find it to alleviate alot of right arm tension where the wieight is on the clarinet. It is a personal choice whether to use a strap or not, the arguments against it are only that you have to watch your posture so not to lean forward too much, however the weight of the clarinet is unlikely to be the course of this problem.

Saxophone: It is important to get a strap that fits! Ordering on line is ok but it is much better to try one out in your local music store to check that it fits ok. As a guide you should not need to bend forward to reach your sax mouthpiece- the instrument should reach you comfortably by adjusting the straps or harness. For tenor saxophone I use a B and H harness, these come in all shapes and sizes and need trying on before you buy. I have a women's fit harness which is the best I could find and I needed to add rucksack straps for padding in order to make this strap work for me! There is not much choice in the market for women with big instruments so be prepared to adapt your purchase as necessary- comfort is the key thing here not how it looks.