Double Bar Music
About
Double Bar Music is mother Marcelle Gauvin and daughters Kelsey and Kimber-lee Jacobsen. After many years of working independently in the music business, they have combined their experience to create an environment of learning, performance, and joyful expression.
DBM emphasizes the importance of the total musician: from learning the basics of how to handle and care for your instrument, to productive practice habits, honest and engaging performance presentation, and a realistic, in-depth understanding of the music business.
All DBM instructors are working professionals, and many have graduated with music performance or music education degrees. For this reason, DBM instructors deeply understand the demands of being a modern day musician. Student collaborations are encouraged to help the learning process and develop the student's understanding of making live music. We also provide regular performance opportunities for our students.
DBM is especially well respected for it's effective training of Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) vocalists. If you're a pop, rock, country, r&b, music theatre, or alternative singer, DBM is the home of healthy, stylistically appropriate vocal training. Certified in Somatic Voicework, Marcelle, Kelsey, and Kimber-lee have over 30 combined years of teaching experience.
Each student presents a unique journey through music. Learning about the student's goals, and discovering their strengths and weaknesses on the way to meeting their goals, is a completely individual experience for the student and teacher! As with any art, the fun is in the journey of learning a whole new means of self-expression. Some of the most inspiring moments as a teacher are the moments we see our student honestly express him/herself as an artist. Best of all, participating in the build up of confidence and thoughtfullness in each student is a great joy.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Honestly, each new student is unique! The first lesson is what we call a "Hi, how are you? Get to know you" lesson. The teacher takes stock of how much the student already understands about music generally and the instrument specifically. This is also when the student should state their goals, needs, concerns, etc, and begin to feel-out the teacher's personality and teaching style. Beyond that, each student becomes their own journey.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
All of our teachers are active performers in their field of expertise. From contemporary band and solo artists, to orchestral players, the DBM staff brings real-life experience to their lesson room. Many of our teachers graduated with music education/performance degrees, while others have pursued their education through hands-on career development and private study. For specific credentials on each teach, please contact DBM directly.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Scheduling
Unless otherwise stated, private music lessons are scheduled in either half-hour or hour increments. The student will meet with their private instructor at their designated lesson time once a week. This slot is reserved for the student until s/he forfeits the time.
Payment
Students may choose to pay for lessons by the week or by the month. If paying by the month, lessons are priced at $20/half-hour or $40/hour. The student must pay the cost of their lesson multiplied by the number of weeks in that month, and payment must be received at the start of each month.
If paying by the week, lessons are priced at $25/half-hour or $50/hour. The student must pay an initial deposit of either $25 or $50 plus the cost of their first lesson; thereafter, the student will only be responsible for their weekly lesson fee.
**Please note: Even if a student pays weekly, late cancellations or missed lessons must be paid for upon student’s return.
If the student does not pay in the allotted time, a $5 late charge will be added each week the payment is deferred.
Cancellations
The student is responsible for notifying the studio of potential cancellations as soon as possible. Make-ups are available for students that cancel more than 24 hours in advance. However, each student may only make-up one lesson every two months and can only reschedule with their instructor’s agreement. If a student cancels more than the allowed time, cancels less than 24 hours in advance, or misses a lesson without notification, they forfeit their payment and the option to make-up the missed lesson.
Finally, the studio reserves the right to discontinue a student’s private lessons if the student frequently misses lessons or payments, or if the student’s behavior is deemed unacceptable by the studio’s staff
What types of students have you worked with?
We work with absolute beginners, advanced musicians, and everything in between. Students of almost all ages are welcone, although certain instruments/instructors require students to be over a certain age to insure the student's body has adequately developed to handle the instrument. However, we believe no one is too old to learn music!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Don't be afraid to say what you are looking for - or what you'd like to avoid! The more honest you are about your needs, the easier it will be for a teacher to gauge if they're a good fit for you. Each teacher has their own teaching method, so it's importantly to make sure that what you're looking for aligns with their method.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
The biggest element a student needs to examine is whether their life allows for practice time. Unfortunately, while fun, one lesson a week just isn't enough time to make you great! Without consistent practice time, your lessons will quickly generate into constant repetition which leads to boredom for both the student and the teacher. So, before you discuss your concerns with your teacher about progress or confusion, make sure you look at how much and how consistently you've practiced on your own! While every teacher roots for your success, they can only help you for the 30-60 minutes they are with you.