About Rachel
Learning music is something we all do. It can be consciously, or unconsciously, such as when we get to know new songs on the radio.
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Learning music is something we all do. It can be consciously, or unconsciously, such as when we get to know new songs on the radio. When consciously pursuing the study of music, we better understand some of the fundamental elements of life, rhythms, pitches, forms, and more. Music also brings us into contact with the history, values, and identities of different cultures. At the same time, I believe the quote from an unknown source, "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture". From the youngest to the wisest of us, we can learn music best by doing, not reading or hearing about it. This "doing" in my studio usually entails following the student's curiosity and building on their goals.
Name: Rachel (Full name will be provided upon registration)
Age: 26
Gender: female
I have a B.S. degree in Music Education and a B.A. in Music from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania. This summer I also completed my Master's in Church Music at the University of Kansas. Although I started violin at the age of four with the Suzuki method, my primary instrument through my secondary studies has been the organ. I am currently pursuing my doctorate in Organ Performance at McGill.
While studying in my undergraduate, I was fortunate enough to receive the Jacob's Steinway Piano Excellence Award, even though my primary instrument was the organ. I placed first and second respectively in the Local and Regional levels of the National Competition for Young Organists. I was third in the Arthur Poister Organ Competition and played in the semi-finals of the Toulouse Organ Competition.
The instrument that I have studied the longest is actually the violin, as I had fourteen years of consistent lessons between four and eighteen. I then continued to play violin and viola in my undergraduate symphony and chamber orchestras. Playing the violin or viola is still important to me, as I find small chamber groups or opportunities to play in church. During my studies in music education, I also developed my skills at the ukulele. Some of my favorite projects with the ukulele have been playing and singing with a friend for her senior recital, and teaching intergenerational group lesson series for beginners. I have also received Montessori training, working as a summer counselor and a substitute during the school year at a Montessori school. This training has influenced both my work teaching K-8 General Music and my private studio. Last year I studied abroad in Bremen, Germany. I enjoyed teaching beginning and intermediate piano lessons at a music school in German, developing my language skills as the students developed their musical ones.
English
German
Rates and Studio Policies
Registration Fee: $25.00 (One-time lifetime registration fee may be used by all family members)
Rates for instruction:
30 minute private lesson: $39.00
45 minute private lesson: $49.00
60 minute private lesson: $59.00
Travel charge: additional $15.00 per visit (for lessons in a client's home as opposed to my studio)
1. Cancellation Policy
Lessons not cancelled or rescheduled with at least 24 hours notice are billable to the client and payable to the teacher. This does not of course apply to travel fees unless the notice is effectively given at the door and the teacher has travelled to the location.
2. Cessation (quitting) Policy
A client must provide a 2 lesson notice period to stop lessons. So a weekly student needs to give 2 weeks of notice, a biweekly student works out to 3 weeks notice and a twice weekly student works out to a week of notice.
3. Illness Policy
Lessons cancelled due to illness or extraordinary circumstances with less than 24 hours notice remain billable to the client and payable to the teacher.
BAH teachers are encouraged to offer a make-up lesson at a future date in the interest of client relations and general goodwill. This only makes sense as teaching a student with the flu for example, will ruin the rest of your week's employment.
No more than 2 lessons may be made up due to illness within a 60 day period.
4. Rescheduling Policy
Any lesson can be cancelled or rescheduled with at least 24 hours notice.
Summer Vacation and Extended Absence Policy
Clients may schedule longer absences for trips etc. 24 hours notice is required.
It is normal and typical for students and about 20% of our teachers to schedule a break in the summer. We do not enforce a notice period (see cessation of lessons) at the end of a long summer break.
5. Evaluation Period
There are no free trial lessons with Beethoven at Home but we do offer a 2 lesson evaluation period where it is easy to try out a teacher. There are no free lessons during the evaluation period and clients may choose to discontinue the lessons at any time by providing the required 24 hours notice. After the student's 3rd lesson the required 2 lesson notice period will apply (see cessation of lessons above).
Lessons in your home
Rachel is available to teach in your home if you are located in the following areas