Hellen Music Lessons
About
Hello! My name is Dustin Hellen and I am a music teacher that has been teaching music (band/orchestra/music) in the public schools for 6 years. I have also played professionally. My primary instruments are: saxophone, flute, and clarinet, and I have played all three professionally on a cruise ship in the Caribbean for 2 years. I have taught individual lessons for many years and I always enjoy seeing each individual student progress in their own special way!
Teaching students music, the subject I am most passionate about, is fun. But seeing my students grow as musicians over time and start enjoying it as much as I do is extremely rewarding. I always enjoy tailoring my lessons to each individual student based on his/her needs and desires for music.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I first like to guage how much previous knowledge the student has on the subject. I then ask the student what they hope to accomplish and I offer ways in which I can help the student accomplish their goals.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I currently hold 2 bachelor's degrees in music (music performance and music education). I have 6 years experience teaching band, orchestra, and music in the public schools (grades 5-12). I also have 2 years experience as a professional musician playing saxophone, flute, and clarinet on a cruise ship. I have been teaching individual music lessons for many years on many different instruments.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge the following:
$20 per half hour (30 minutes)
$40 per hour (60 minutes)
How did you get started teaching?
When I was in high school, other students asked me to teach them how to play better, so I helped them with whatever they were struggling with. I enjoyed it very much-seeing my students grow and get better over time.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with students in grades 5-12 on every instrument in band and orchestra settings. I have also taught students accordion (one of my favorities!).
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
One of my students was not getting the material in band that well and she was thinking of quitting. In our weekly lesson, I asked her what kind of music she enjoyed playing, and she mentioned that she liked Disney music. I found a book for clarinet with many Disney tunes, and I gave it to her. Her face lit up so much and she was so excited to bring her instrument home to practice. She would always get her instrument at the end of the day and bring it home before anyone else after that. Her parents were amazed at how quickly she turned around, and they purchased a step-up instrument for her.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Every teacher has their own method for teaching students. I believe it is most important to find a teacher that is completely willing to teach the material the student wants to learn and at a pace the student can adhere to. I can't tell you how many times I didn't want to learn from a teacher that went to fast or slow for me or taught me things I didn't even care about. Teaching lessons individually offers the opportunity to tailor the lesson around what the student wants to learn, without focusing too heavily on a set curriculum, like public schools have teachers do frequently.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Think about what you want to learn and how far you want to go. It's important to have goals, and if you know what you want to learn and are able to be specific, your teacher can answer your questions more clearly.
Also, it is important to know what kind of learner you are. Do you do better with pictures? Are you more of a "words" type of person? Do you prefer if somebody lectures or do you prefer less words more activity? When you know what kind of learner you are, your teacher will be able to help you to a greater level.