Yes, every student must have an instrument on which to practice daily, typically in their home. If the student spends significant time at two different homes (e.g., different parents or a grandparent's), it would be highly beneficial to take the instrument along (if a clarinet) or have a second one available at the alternate home (possibly an electric keyboard at the secondary home). I had a situation once where the parent was a pastor and the student had regular access to and practice on the piano in their church which was next door to their home.

See the attached files on Choosing a Piano and .

All piano students: ~An appropriate bench (preferably NOT a chair) ~Younger students will likely need a boost to have their elbows level with the keys. Something like a firm seat cushion usually works well. ~Shorter student might need a foot prop so that the his/her knees are even with the hips. A step stool works well for this. Keyboards (non-acoustic version of a piano): ~A stand to put the keyboard on. A table can work if the height is good and allows the student's legs to fit underneath it. ~Optional: You might also want a music stand because the one that come with the instrument isn't very sturdy. Clarinet: ~A quality mouthpiece which you can get for c. $100 online. ~At least four working reeds at any given time. See Bobbie for specific recommendations. I sometimes have some I can sell you at cost, but that is not always the case. ~A swab to clean the instrument after playing it. Thin is better since they can get stuck inside the instrument. ~A music stand to display the music being played. ALL STUDENTS will need the following: ~A pencil to write in music (NEVER ever write in music with a pen.) ~Good light to shine on the music being played. ~Older students will need a metronome or a metronome app. I do NOT recommend pendulum metronomes. ~Whatever music is assigned. I sometimes have some I can sell or loan to you, but not always. ~An assignment book to take notes on what you need to practice at home. We will discuss this in more details when we meet in person.

Fall is a very common time to start lessons, but any time of year is great if the student shows interest and is motivated. If you start in the middle of a month, fees will be prorated based on how many lessons are in the partial month.

No, there is no minimum time you need to stay in the studio. We propose a trial period of 4 weeks to see if taking lessons "right" for the student and family. After that, we highly suggest that the student stay with lessons through the school year as a lesson in not "quitting when it gets hard." If we let children quit something when it gets a little challenging, they will be cheated of the opportunity to overcome an obstacle and they will think they can just quit something when they have to put work into it.

Well, that all depends on what instrument and what kind of lessons you're talking about. For traditional piano lessons, between 5 and 7 years old is a great age to start. The younger the student, the more parental involvement is crucial, especially when the student doesn't read yet. For Suzuki piano lessons, some children are ready for Book One as young as 3 or 4 years old; 5- to 6-years old is a great age to start lessons too, but there is no age maximum to start. In Suzuki Book One, the student would take both private and group lessons. If you're interested in a Suzuki class that is not currently being offered, please reach out to us! We'd love to make the class that you want to take the next one we add to our schedule. For clarinet, students need to be a bit older, because they need to be able to reach and cover the keys and holes. Also, they need to have enough air to get a sound by blowing into the instrument. Some are ready as young as 8 or 9; most are ready by age 10 or 11.

Theory to music is like phonics is to reading the English language. If you understand what you’re looking at and playing, you’ll be much stronger player and reader!

You are welcome to park anywhere on the street where there is ample space for multiple cars, including the cul de sac across the street. You may use the driveway, but please do not park your car there during a lesson or event as it might be blocking someone who needs to get through. Please do not park in front of the mailbox.

All lessons are given in the 500-square-foot studio which is part of my home off of Ringgold Road, c. 3 miles from Gate One of Fort Campbell Army Post.

Studio families are invited to get the Band App on their mobile device where they will have access to a calendar showing community performances (some free, some requiring admission), studio recitals, breaks, etc. We can communicate via the app with texting, but Bobbie is more likely to send a regular text or an email with updates and information on upcoming events.

There are a few key factors that are signs that your child is probably ready to take lesson on a musical instrument: He/she can focus for at least 5-10 minutes on a task, and that attention span is increasing in length and quality. He/she knows ABCs (at least A-G) and can count to 10. If clarinet is the instrument of choice, make sure the child can seal the holes. Reaching the side keys will come in time. If the child's fine motor skills are developing well, that's a benefit. Otherwise, this is an area that will improve with lessons. The child should show an interest or desire to learn. If only the parent wants the child to learn, it could backfire. If the child can already distinguish high vs. low sounds, that's helpful but not essential.

Fantastic! Email us at passion4musicclarksvilletn@gmail.com or call/text 707-631-5030 and we'll get back with you ASAP.

That's impossible to answer! It's like asking me which of my two children I love better. The simple answer is this -- whichever one I'm playing right now!

Practice is what the student does at home in preparation for a lesson. A private lesson is time when the teacher dedicates 30 minutes (or more) to working with your student one on one. A group lesson is exactly that. Multiple students play the same thing at the same time, feeding off each other and learning by watching each other. Every (Suzuki) group lesson will include reading skills and theory in an age- and level-appropriate way.

There is no magic formula for how much to practice. Both quality and quantity matter. The frequency should be daily, but 5-6 days a week is a realistic goal. If a beginner practices 15-30 minutes a day (or maybe 10-15 minutes twice a day), he/she should see significant results over time. Sometimes a practice assignment is given in a number of repetitions of exercises rather than an amount of time. As the student increasing in age, maturity, and difficulty level, the amount of time should increase accordingly. More important than the amount of time is the efficiency of the practice; is the student practicing WHAT and HOW he/she should be practicing? The most important days to practice are right after a lesson (because you just went over the material) and right before the lesson as well (to prepare for the lesson). Think of it this way: “Practice only on the days you eat.” (Shin'ichi Suzuki)

Most definitely! There is always something we can do. Not practicing is not a valid excuse to miss a lesson. On the flip side, if a student shows up to lessons chronically unprepared, the teacher reserves the right to have the student practice during the lesson time and receive minimal instruction since “practicing” should happen AT HOME BEFORE THE LESSON.

We currently accept cash, check, and Zelle.

The fee that you pay for tuition covers more than just the time with the teacher during lessons. It also includes planning time to prepare for the lessons, any phone, email, text, or in-person consultations that might occur, as well as studio resources (photocopies for administrative or musical purposes, lending library, use and maintenance of instruments in the studio, etc), teacher training and continuing education, professional organization membership fees, taxes as a small business, decades of expertise and experience, accompanying for studio events, concert/recital expenses, and costs incurred for performance preparation.

We will provide this information upon request. Please contact us as passion4musicclarksvilletn@gmail.com.

Yes. If you refer a student to P4M who stays for at least three months, your child will get credit for one lesson. The student in question must put you or your child’s name on the registration form where it asks who referred them to the studio.

YES!! We love it when younger siblings attend. They learn more than you’d think just by being in the same room. A parent must be present if the younger child is under 7 years old. In some instances, an older, mature sibling can watch after the younger sibling, but not if it gets in the way of musical instruction.

Yes. If a child of any age shows any kind of behavior problem, parents will be notified immediately. If this happens, a parent must be present in all future lessons. Parents are fully responsible for their children's behavior when in the studio, in Mrs. Textor's house, and on her property. P4M reserves the right to dismiss any student for destruction of property or failing to cooperate with instruction given by any adult when in Mrs. Textor's home. Parents are responsible for repair or replacement of an items damaged by students, siblings, or their own actions while in the studio, residence, or property.

You can drop your child off as early as 10 minutes before a private lesson and 15 minutes before a group lesson. Parents who do not stay in the studio for the lesson MUST be available to pick up the student(s) promptly at the end time of the lesson. THIS IS NOT A BABYSITTING SERVICE. If you are consistently late in picking up your child, you could incur a late fee of $5/minute added to the next month’s bill. I do NOT walk children out to your car after lessons; either they can walk to your car by themselves, or you can come in to pick them up. The studio is not responsible for students left unattended.

Private lessons are weekly in a regular time slot reserved specifically for your student; there are 48 lessons every year. The studio takes a 2-week break between Christmas and New Years that coincides with the Montgomery County School System Calendar. Every student also takes two week off in the summertime (June and July). These dates are determined by the family and/or teacher. The minimum lesson time slot for private lessons is 30 minutes. Other options are in 15-minute increments (45 minutes, 60 minutes, etc) Suzuki group lessons are 50 minutes long and occur twice a month, usually on a Friday afternoon.

If your student is taking traditional lessons, we highly encourage you to have at least a basic knowledge of what your student is doing in lessons. Although you are not required to be in lessons, the more you know about what’s going on, the easier it will be for you to support your student. If your child is taking Suzuki lessons, you must be present at every lesson, both private and group, in order to take notes and know what to have your child practice at home. As the parent, you ARE your child’s teacher at home.

Yes. For the months of June and July, students will take two weeks off and have lessons all other weeks. You may choose when those two weeks are. Any more than the two weeks will be charged and can be made up during a monthly make-up lesson time slot.

We highly discourage this practice, as it causes the student to lose motivation and forget a lot of what was learned during the school year. Also, lessons in the fall are much more difficult. If you were to drop from lessons with the intention of resuming later, your time slot cannot be guaranteed without payment. Students thrive on consistency; summer is no exception.

Traditional lesson: parents are encouraged , but not required, to attend their students' private lessons, unless the student is under 7 years old or younger without a mature older sibling. Parents of Suzuki students MUST attend all lessons, both private and group. They are responsible for taking notes and ensuring the student practice what is assigned during the lessons.

Yes; they are wonderful for homeschooling families.

If there is a time available that works better for you and your student, we can change your lesson time. If there is no alternate slot available, we cannot change your lesson time. Choose your lesson time carefully and be cautious when scheduling other activities to avoid conflict. Please avoid changing a lesson time too often as it causes confusion for all involved.

No, this is not a good idea for various reasons for the vast majority of children. Students of all ages need consistency. Every other week simply isn’t often enough to make it worthwhile. Advanced players can sometimes be fine with lessons every other week. If you feel your child would benefit from this, contact us and we'll discuss it.

Weekly (private) lessons are held Monday-Thursday. Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for group lessons, Studio Make-ups, and performances (for the studio or Bobbie). Sundays: the studio is closed.

Not officially, but we do offer a free “meet and greet” with the parent and student in a lesson-like atmosphere in which you can see if P4M will be a good fit for you and your family.

Every lesson, regardless of age, level, method, or instrument, will include some type of age- and level-appropriate warm-up, theory, and repertoire (pieces being learned). We also incorporate ear training and sight-reading as often as possible.

If your student has shown an interest in music and you (or another parent/guardian) is dedicated to the learning process, you're off to a great start! All other aspects of the learning process will grow with time and nurturing. We're happy to set up a free meet-and-greet! You can reach us at our passion4musicclarksvilletn@gmail.com or 707-631-5030.

The Suzuki Triangle represents the unique roles and responsibilities of the Student, Teacher, and Parent. When a fourth dimension of Peers is added, it becomes a three-dimensional pyramid of support and strength.

If you're interested in taking a Suzuki class that we're not currently offering, let us know! We would be happy to look into offering it in the future.

If the teacher ever changes a lesson time, your child will receive a private lesson at a mutually agreeable time frame set up with you. If you, as the parent/guardian, ever cancel a lesson and request a make-up, it will be made up during one of the monthly Studio Make-up time frames. All of these are an hour in length, regardless of the length of the regular lesson. Many times, these make-up lessons end up with multiple student (both traditional and Suzuki students) attending.

The only way a Suzuki group lesson could be made up is if the teacher cancels the original time frame. Otherwise, group lessons cannot be made up. The whole purpose is to experience playing Suzuki repertoire with students of a similar level. This is impossible to make up.

Group Suzuki Piano Classes are twice a month for 50 minutes each time. Class dates are announced via email and the Band app, a tool used for communication for the studio.

We'll be happy to provide this information upon request. Please contact us at passion4musicclarksvilletn@gmail.com. You can also call or text 707-631-5030.

The current class size is minimum 3, maximum 5 students.

Dr Suzuki's discovery of the "Mother Tongue" approach is based on the concept of frequent exposure and incorporating the social aspect of the language of music. In a group environment, students feed off each other and grow both musically and socially.

My primary instruments are piano and clarinet; I can teach either through professional-level difficulty. I can start a student on other flute and saxophone as well. If you are interested in taking lessons on other instruments, I can often refer you to someone who plays and teaches that instrument.

Bobbie speaking here :) For as long as I can remember, I’ve been asked which of the two instruments I play is my favorite. I would tell them that question is like being asked which of my two children I love more -- it's impossible to answer!! I’ve been playing piano since I was in 2nd grade and I’ve never stopped. When I started playing clarinet in 6th grade, I was hooked and haven’t put either one down since. I practiced both instruments diligently throughout middle and high school and majored in both in college at a music conservatory. Additionally, I completed the requirements on both instruments as if I were a performance major – requirements that are significantly more stringent than that of a music education major. Back to that ludicrous question of which instrument I prefer. The answer is this: whichever one I’m playing right now!

If you are not able to come to a lesson because of inclement weather, we will do a virtual lesson at the normal lesson time. The current platform the studio uses is Microsoft Teams. Part of getting set up in the studio is doing a virtual test session to make sure all of the software is set up correctly. Virtual lessons can also be utilized for situations such as illness of parent(s), automotive issues, and the like. Inclement weather is not justification for a make-up lesson.

The studio, as well as the entire house, has security cameras that record footage. This is NEVER used for anything except security purposes.

Every student is different, and there is no cookie cut-out pedagogical approach that works with all students, nor do all students use the same curriculum. Suzuki students are taught the same repertoire, but individual learning styles and differences affect that approach as well. We strive to meet each student’s musical goals and cater the instruction accordingly, often combining approaches to meet the student’s goals.

Yes, I love adult students! There is not age limit on learning. Many of our adult students find it an extremely rewarding experience!