About Lessons

As a private music instructor, I seek to enrich students’ lives through the study of instrumental music. Lessons are tailored to suit the individual needs of each student. I work with each student in several areas as appropriate to age and ability level, including technical issues of flute playing, musicality, note reading, intonation, music appreciation, music theory (as it pertains to the etudes and music performed by the student) and ear training. Bonnie has years of teaching experience and is skilled at teaching both beginning and advanced students, private lessons, group lessons and chamber music. She has successfully prepared students for district, state and college auditions in both Massachusetts and Georgia. Bonnie believes that learning a musical instrument should be fun and that success “is a matter of time, patience and intelligent work.” (Marcel Moyse, early 20th century flutist and pedagogue)

Lesson Policies

Tuition

• Tuition is invoiced monthly.
• Payments are due within 3 days of receiving invoice.
• Tuition payments are non-refundable.

Late Payment Fees

• Late payments are assessed a fee of $5 per week.

Attendance

• Regular attendance at lessons is expected. Remember to take flute lessons into account when scheduling other activities and appointments.
• If you must miss a lesson, your best option is to switch times with another student. Rescheduling requests made to me are subject to available open teaching slots within my schedule for that week and are not guaranteed.
• A maximum of 2 excused absences are allowed per school year. Any additional absences will be considered unexcused and will be charged at usual rate. Please let me know about absences as soon as possible. I require at least 24 hours advance notice for an absence to be excused (6 hours for sudden illness/family emergency.)
• There may be occasions when I will need to reschedule lessons due to professional performing engagements or illness. These lessons will be rescheduled or credited.

Inclement Weather

• I send out notices about weather related lesson cancellations by email.

Student Responsibilities

• Practice times should include enough time to work on your lesson music and your band music.
• Be prepared for your lessons.
• Maintain a practice record.
• Bring your instrument, notebook, music and a pencil to all lessons.
• Use a soft cloth to clean the inside of your flute after every practice session, flute lesson, band class, performance, etc.

Parent Responsibilities

• Students often need parental guidance outside of lessons with planning and scheduling practice sessions. Younger students will need more guidance than older students.
• Help your child attain required materials in a timely manner.
• Please provide your child with a place to practice that is free from distractions.
• If you have anything to discuss with me, please bring it up at the beginning of your child’s lesson, not at the end, so that we do not run into the next student’s lesson time--or call me during the week.
• Parents are invited to sit in on their child’s lesson periodically.
• Parents are strongly encouraged to attend musical events with your child.

Required Materials

• Music Stand
• Metronome/Tuner
• Spiral or 3 ring notebook that is used solely for flute lessons
• Soft cloth for cleaning inside of flute
• Music as determined by the instructor
• Instrument
• Pencil

Fingering and Trill Charts

Youth Orchestras, Bands and Camps