Lessons

LESSONS

FREE LESSONS

At the beginning of each school year, Mike provides group lessons at his store (or nearby location) for violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, alto sax, trumpet/cornet students as a supplement to the Anchorage School District program. These are FREE to all customers. These are about 45 minutes each, usually start in October and are done periodically throughout the school year. Students who have their own or school instruments are welcome to attend these classes.

We highly recommend attendance at any or all of these lessons for both band and orchestra students. We are fortunate to have some very excellent school district teachers (many of whom are professional musicians in the Anchorage Symphony). They do an awesome job within the limited time they have each week with the students. Parents are often amazed at the progress the students make by the December concerts.

Unfortunately, the district school teachers are unable to give much, if any, individual attention to students due to the size of classes. Teachers are trying to teach anywhere from 4 to 7 different instruments in each class of 10 - 50 students. There is little time available for each individual instrument. The classes provided by Mike's Music are designed to help fill that gap and give students an opportunity to get their questions answered on their specific instrument.

PRIVATE LESSONS

PRIVATE LESSONS are available for Piano, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, Cello, Viola and Violin through Mike's Music. Other instruments are available as we find teachers who will take on new students. Lessons are from 1/2 to 1 hour, depending upon student needs. The teachers' rates vary, some start as low as $20.00 per lesson. Beginning students usually start with a half hour lesson each week. Please call or stop in to schedule as some teachers fill up at the beginning of the school year and not all teachers teach during school vacation times.

WHY PRIVATE LESSONS?

There is no other way for a student to progress quickly than to take private lessons. Students have individual playing style and characteristics (read bad habits here) that a classroom teacher often does not have the time to correct.

A private teacher is needed for students who are not quite grasping some musical concepts or techniques to get them on the right path with their fellow students. For those who are playing 'just for fun' but need some help so they don't fall behind, even a once monthly private lesson is better than none.

For students with an obvious talent or strong desire to play an instrument who plan to play past high school or professionally, a private teacher is a must. The school music teachers must teach at a mid level so as not to overwhelm slower students, or those who are there 'just for fun'.

Only regular lessons with a private teacher can challenge a student and help them work on specific techniques. Competition is so fierce for the local high school youth symphony that rarely do freshman make it in, and even older students generally do not without a private teacher.

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3/12/05 last update