My Responsibilities
In my studio, I cultivate an encouraging, supportive, and affirming creative environment where students can reach their full potential. I teach students both the technical skills and artistic mindset necessary to bringing their full creative vision to life, helping students navigate practical and internal challenges throughout the compositional process.
I guide students in developing projects that will catalyze their artistic growth and move them efficiently towards their long-term goals. I also connect my students to relevant resources and opportunities, while helping them build the skills needed to create new opportunities for their music to be performed, recorded, and heard.
Student Expectations
Students are expected to arrive on time with their materials organized and ready to discuss. Between lessons, students should engage independently with their composition projects. There is no minimum requirement regarding time spent composing between lessons. I encourage students to schedule a lesson even without new materials to share if they feel creatively blocked or hindered.
Participation in competitions, calls for scores, festivals, or other opportunities is not required. However, I encourage students to explore opportunities that align with their short and long term goals.
Students are encouraged to communicate any accommodations that support their learning. Accommodations could include live captioning, transcription, lesson recordings, or other supports. Accommodation requests may be made via email at any time or discussed during a lesson.
Lesson Materials
Before each lesson, I recommend students email me any materials that they wish to discuss. This allows us to spend more time engaging directly with your work. Materials typically include:
- PDF scores
- audio files (recordings, MIDI, mock-ups)
- photos of sketches.
Please ensure that any handwritten materials are presented clearly and legibly. Sketching is an important part of many composers’ creative processes, and I welcome documents in any format, but clear copies will help us make the best of the lesson time.
All lessons are conducted by video call. Students should have access to a computer, headphones, and a reliable internet connection throughout the lesson. For the best experience, students should plan to keep their video on whenever possible. Students may record lessons for personal use. Recordings may not be shared with others without explicit written permission.
Students should have, or work towards obtaining, the following:
- A computer that can support music notation software
- Music notation software, such as MuseScore (free), Docrico, Sibelius, Finale
- Manuscript paper, either physical or digital if using a tablet
For beginning composers, free online platforms such as flat.io or Noteflight may be sufficient for smaller projects. I also recommend a small, portable MIDI keyboard for ease of note entry.
Students are not required to purchase any external courses, books, or other materials.
Payment and Scheduling
Individual Lessons (a la Carte)
Lessons may be scheduled up to 36 hours before the lesson time. Payment must be received 24 hours before the lesson to confirm the reservation. Non-payment will result in lesson cancellation.
To cancel or reschedule a lesson, students must provide at least 24 hours notice. Lessons cancelled with less than 24 hours notice are not eligible for rescheduling.
If a lesson is canceled by the teacher, notice will be given as far in advance as possible and additional lesson times will be provided for a rescheduled lesson.
Lesson Packages
Package tuition must be paid in full prior to the first lesson. Package tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable. No credits or refunds will be provided for unused lessons after the package expiration date. All other studio policies apply to package lessons.
Group Lessons
All tuition and payments for group lessons follow the same policies as individual lessons. Tuition is non-refundable, and credits will not be given for absences. There are no makeup lessons available for group classes.
Communication Preferences
Email is my preferred method of communication, as texts may occasionally be missed. Please allow up to 24 hours for responses to emails and other communications during the week.