Studio Policy

Prospective Students

If you’re interested in lessons please email brownktcello@gmail.com with your name, number, email address, experience with music and cello, and days that would work best for you. Currently I am looking to fill afternoons 6-7 and any time Mondays and Tuesdays. I accept kids starting at age 6, and all skill levels.

Practice

Regular practice at home is crucial for progress on the cello. Parents play a vital role in supporting, encouraging, assisting, and helping to maintain a consistent practice schedule. Establishing a solid routine with planned practice times is key. We all know that practicing can be difficult at times, myself included. However, it's much harder to get back on track after several days without practice. While daily practice is ideal, I understand that life can sometimes get in the way. In those cases, even practicing for just 15 minutes can make a difference.

Environment & Listening

Creating a positive and focused musical environment is one of the best ways to support your musical growth. Students should have a space that is strictly dedicated to cello or can be easily converted into a practice space, this space is where we will grow so it should be functional and also make us feel good! Try to have fun decorating your practice space!

Listening to music is also incredibly helpful, especially on days when practice feels impossible. I encourage students to engage in active listening, being able to process all of the different parts of a piece and understand your place in it is a skill that takes practice, but that practice doesn’t necessarily require the cello. Next time you listen to your favorite song, maybe try to listen to the lyrics more closely, try to focus on a particular instrument you think is doing something interesting, see if you can imitate the vocal line on cello, try to think if this line or this melody reminds me of something else. It sounds trite but I STRONGLY encourage just having some critical thought about the music you listen to, have opinions about it. During practice with your instrument, active listening can be hearing different recordings of pieces you’re playing for stylistic inspiration, recording and listening to yourself an being critical of the sound, what is the sound I want to make, what emotion does it have, how can I adjust my technique to fit this sound?

Ensure that your practice environment is clean and free of distractions. Attend as many live musical performances as possible—any genre or instrument is a great opportunity for growth. If there are local cellists performing, I highly recommend making an effort to attend their concerts.

Financial Policies

Tuition for lessons is charged monthly and is due at the first lesson of each month. The lesson rate is $70 per hour. Lessons represent both the teacher’s services and a reservation of time. Once reserved, a lesson missed is time and money lost. Typically, students will have four lessons per month, but more can be arranged at my discretion.

Cancellation & Rescheduling: If you need to miss a lesson, please notify me at least 24 hours in advance. In cases of sudden illness, lessons can be rescheduled. However, failure to provide 24-hour notice or last-minute cancellations without rescheduling will result in the loss of that lesson, and no refund will be issued.

Missed Lessons

Your music education is important, and regular attendance is crucial. Please keep this in mind when scheduling other commitments. I will always do my best to inform you of any conflicts on my end in advance, and lessons missed due to my schedule will be rescheduled at your convenience.

If you arrive late, your lesson will only extend to the remainder of the scheduled time, as other students may have lessons immediately following yours. I may extend a lesson if I see you are working hard and I have time available.

I recommend arriving 5 minutes early to unpack and get ready for your lesson.

Inclement Weather & Illness

In cases of inclement weather, lessons will be canceled if Memphis City Schools are closed or dismissed early, unless you hear directly from me via email or text.

Please do not come to your lesson if you are feeling sick. If you have a sudden illness we can reschedule your lesson.

Conflicts/Problems

Conflicts are a natural part of life, especially in an educational setting. Open communication is essential, and I encourage both students and parents to reach out if any issues arise. I am always open to working through challenges to help each student succeed.

Parent consultations, with or without the student, can be arranged if needed.

Lesson Termination

I am deeply committed to my students, and it’s disappointing when that commitment isn’t matched by the student's effort. Therefore, I reserve the right to discontinue lessons for students who exhibit insufficient interest or fail to make progress. This could include irregular attendance, repeated failure to prepare assigned material, or inappropriate behavior in lessons. A 30-day trial period following a conference with the student and/or parent will precede any termination of lessons.

If you choose to end lessons, I ask for one month's notice. I genuinely enjoy working with my students and would appreciate the opportunity to end the relationship on good terms.

Instruments & Supplies

It's essential that students have instruments in good playing condition. Bows should be rehaired and strings should be replaced at least once a year. Students who practice every day may need to change their strings more frequently. Each student should also have an extra set of strings on hand in case one breaks. I can make small repairs and adjustments if needed, for more extensive work on a student instrument try Amro Music. For a intermediate or professional cello from a private maker, I would recommend Williams Fine Violins & Luthier Studios in Nashville. For bow rehairs, I would contact Kate Ryan in Memphis, kateryan63@hotmail.com. She offers student hair and premium hair, if possible I would go with the premium hair, it feels better, will last a little longer, and rosin sticks more evenly.