Frequently Asked Questions

Fees and Payments

1. How much do you charge?
2. What are your policies on makeups and cancellations?
3. What are your vacation policies?
4. Are there any contracts?
5. What payment methods do you accept?
6. Do you offer a discount for siblings or parent/child combos?
7. Are there any additional fees to start?

Location & Scheduling

1. Where and how often are lessons held?
2. Do you offer group lessons?
3. Should I take half hour or full hour lessons?
4. I have a busy schedule – can I take lessons every other week?
5. Is it possible to take single lessons without signing up for a regular time slot?
6. Can I buy lessons as a gift for someone?

General Questions & Advice

1. Do I need my own instrument?
2. Should I get an acoustic or electric guitar? Recommended brands?
3. What’s the youngest age children can start lessons?
4. Do you host recitals or other performance opportunities?
5. What teaching curriculum do you use?
6. I’m ready to sign up! How do we start?

_____________________________________________

Fees and Payments

1. How much do you charge? What are your policies on makeups and cancellations? What are your vacation policies?
   We found these to be such important questions that they required their own page! You’ll find a full explanation of all our fees, as well as our vacation, makeup and cancellation policies here.
2. Are there any contracts?
   None – just pay at the beginning of each month. No need to sign up for more than a month at a time.
3. What payment methods do you accept?
   We accept cash or check. We can also accept Paypal, but with a 3% fee added to cover fees.
4. Do you offer a discount for siblings or parent/child combos?
   Yes, provided they take lessons together, or back-to-back on the same days.
5. Are there any additional fees to start?
   At or before the first lesson, we do recommend you get a blank tab book to hold your lesson notes. (We prefer the Guitarist’s Tablature Book by Peter Vogl, which retails for $5.95.) We usually have several of those on hand here, so if you want one, just bring an extra $6 at the first lesson for the tab book. (Note to bass students: you’ll require a different tab book.)

Location & Scheduling

1. Where and how often are guitar and bass lessons held?
   We teach out of our home in Cedar Park, in a room-turned-studio reserved for lessons. Lessons are held once per week, either in half hour or hour timeslots.
2. Do you offer group lessons?
   Yes! See this page for all the details.
3. Should I take half hour or full hour lessons?
   Most younger kids do best with half hour lessons – any longer than that and their attention can wander. Adults and teens often make faster progress with hour lessons, and many adults with busy work or family schedules prefer the full hour, since they have less practice time at home throughout the week. If you’re not sure which is right for you, we can always start with one and change later.
4. I have a busy schedule – can I take my bass or guitar lessons every other week?
   Afraid not – our monthly rate covers your time slot every week, so the cost has to reflect that, or we’d end up with an unpaid time slot every other week. (However, if you choose to only show up to half the lessons, that’s certainly your prerogative, but we can’t give a price break for that.)
5. Is it possible to take single lessons without signing up for a regular time slot?
   Yes! We do end up with occasional open spots, and those can be reserved for a single lesson. Current rates for Michael’s single lessons are $30 per half hour, or $25 per half hour for a single lesson with Josh or Amanda. Availability for these can be unpredictable, but you can find all our open spots on our Make-Up Calendar here. If you see a time you want, email amy@guitaraustin.org to request it!
6. Can I buy bass or guitar lessons as a gift for someone else?
   Sure! We don’t have gift certificates to distribute, but we’re happy to arrange payment ahead of time for your gift recipient, and if you’d like, feel free to come grab one of our personalized guitar picks to tuck into a card. Before giving the gift, however, make sure to reserve an available spot with us, because there are times of the year where we’re completely full, and we’d hate to get someone excited about lessons as a gift, then not be able to fit them into the schedule.

General Questions & Advice

1. Do I need my own instrument?
   You can borrow one of ours at first, but you’ll need to practice at home, so you’ll need your own guitar eventually. Michael’s happy to help you decide on the right guitar or bass before you buy, so just ask!

   (Also consider renting before buying! We rent musical equipment regularly from Rock and Roll Rentals down at S. Lamar and Oltorf, and they’re great. Rent a guitar or electric bass for a month, try it out, and see what feels best before putting down the money for a new one.)

2. Should I start with an acoustic or electric guitar? What brands do you recommend?
   Ultimately, the type of guitar will depend on the kind of music you want to play. If you see yourself strumming songs by the campfire, or accompanying a singer on pretty folk tunes, or if you prefer country, you may be an acoustic fan. If you want to play rock or blues, or your child is a huge fan of Guitar Hero, you may want an electric. A couple notes to keep in mind when deciding:

   • Electric strings tend to be softer and easier on fingertips when learning.
   • Many acoustic guitars have the ability to be plugged into an amplifier, so you can still have the pretty acoustic sound with the volume of an electric, so look for that if choosing an acoustic.
   • Guitars can be found in many sizes. Generally, if your child is 8 or younger, you may want to look into a 3/4 size guitar. Once a child is 9 or older, they can usually handle a standard guitar, but this decision is really up to you!

   As for brands, Michael recommends the Squier Strat Pack for electric guitars, which comes with a guitar, an amp and a carrying case. For acoustic guitars, Alvarez is a good quality brand.
3. What is the youngest age children can start lessons?
   Generally, the best age to start is about eight years old, but we’ve had success with kids as young as six. However, with children that young, parents MUST be very involved in both lessons and practice at home! (Note: Currently we are not accepting new students younger than seven.)
4. Do you host recitals or other performance opportunities?
   Yes, at least twice per year, typically in our home or at the Dig Pub, a local pub/restaurant across the street. There’s no charge to participate, and only a $5 minimum purchase to attend. Parents are highly encouraged to bring friends and family to see their kids perform live!

   And lastly, for students who train with Mike for a year and show sufficient dedication, we offer the opportunity to record in a studio, gaining real hands-on experience in the music business. It’s fun, exciting, and a LOT of hard work – but for those who do it, it’s amazing! There are additional fees for group practice time, studio rental and additional musicians if needed.

5. What teaching curriculum do you use?
   We don’t stick to any specific curriculum; rather, Michael assigns songs and exercises each week based on the student’s skill and musical tastes, and often asks students to suggest their own songs to work on (within reason!). That way, students have fun and learn at the pace that’s right for them, as opposed to being confined to what’s laid out in a book.
6. I’m ready to sign up! How do we start?
   Email Amy to start! Once we’ve settled on a starting date, just come about 5 minutes early to take care of payment, and make sure to bring your guitar or bass if you have one. (We have amps and cables.) That’s it!