Wright String Studio, LLC
About
Specializing in private violin lessons to kids aged 4 and up.
Highlights
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I prefer to start with a free meet-and-greet, so you can find my house, ask any questions you may have, and decide if we'll be a good fit. It also gives me a chance to check and adjust the fit of your instrument and give you a copy of my studio policies. If you've already been playing, then I like to hear you play so we can both have an idea of some of the things we'll be working on. We'll also discuss a shopping list of needed materials.
From there, if you decide to sign on with lessons, we'll decide on a lesson day and time that work for us both, and a start date, and then get started!
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Master of Arts in Education, Michigan State University, 2013
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
$100/month flat rate. I prefer teaching 45 minute lessons, but some very young or adult students only go for 30 minutes. Lessons are once a week, and I try to have month group classes, too.
How did you get started teaching?
I started student teaching in high school, under the direction of my private teachers. After college, when my original career wasn't panning out like planned, this was something I could fall back on, and realized how much I loved teaching. I've been teaching on my own in Washington since May 2008.
What types of students have you worked with?
My youngest student to date (not including my own children) has been 3, but he's a younger sibling of another student, so just gets a few minutes at the end of his brother's lesson. I've taught all the way through older (retired) adult, and everything in between. I've worked with a high functionig autistic student, and one of my current students is suspected of having dyslexia (but it hasn't been diagnosed yet). I've worked with homeschooled kids, kids that started violin in school, some of my students have gone on to get college scholarships, play beside me in the symphony I play with, and play their instruments in college. Over the years, I've helped hundreds of students achieve their musical goals.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
See if you can meet a teacher first, before committing to lessons. Not every student/teacher is a good fit, and it's better for everyone if that is decided before lessons begin. I prefer getting to meet students first, too, before having to decide if I want to work with them.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What do you want to do with your music? Why do you want to play? Many young students just want to learn the instrument because it's cool, they love learning new things, they think it sounds nice, etc, and that's just fine. Sometimes older students have possibly unrealistic expectations that a teacher can help enlighten them on before they start their musical journey. If you want to play the violin for your friend's wedding next month, and you just bought the instrument (ie, haven't played before), you're probably better off just hiring someone to play. If you're a senior in high school hoping to get some college scholarship money and so are just starting violin, again, probably not the best idea. But in any case, discuss with your teacher what your goals are, that way they can help you get there. It's hard to get to the moon if your teacher doesn't know you want to go.