Guitar Lessons for ages 4 and above
Suzuki Guitar Lessons for children ages 4 to 14 years old
Guitar Lessons for ages 4 and above
Suzuki Guitar Lessons for children ages 4 to 14 years old
The Guitar Instructor That Can Help You Shine!
The Guitar Studio of Grady Sloan is a guitar instructor in Sunnyvale, California that provides exceptional lessons in both the Suzuki method and traditional classical guitar. If you’re seeking an expert who can help bring out your innate talents with the guitar, you’ve come to the right place!
My Policy
Video Lessons
Remote lessons via Zoom are available, although they are not my favorite medium for those students who are close enough to visit my studio. Makeup lessons through video are also an option. For this option, the student should have the proper equipment: a desktop or laptop computer (no tablets, please) strong Wi-Fi signal, an external microphone, and external speakers. These make video lessons palatable but, due to the limits of technology, the platforms are still not designed to transmit the complex sounds of the guitar. Face-to-face lessons are always preferable.
Performances
Opportunities to perform are numerous. They range from informal and impromptu to formal and competitive. They might include:
- Suzuki Graduation
- SBGS Open-Mic Nite
- State and local competitions
- Studio Recital
- The Suzuki Play-In
Studio recitals should be considered the highest priority. All students who are 18 years old and younger should participate. The real reward for playing the guitar is the recognition a student gets from family, friends, and community for the successful display of their talent.
Motivation dwindles without at least an occasional injection of this reward. My commitment to you is to put you and your children in a position to succeed in any performance. Recitals will be formal but low-pressure, inviting, and enjoyable. I will never allow a student to perform in a recital you are not totally prepared for and comfortable with. A separate fee for some recitals will be required.
Attendance
Make-ups are available only as my schedule permits. If my schedule is full, no make-up classes will be available. Requests for make-up classes will only be considered with at least a 24-hour notice and must be held within 30 days of the missed lesson.
Only illnesses will be considered as legitimate reasons for missing your lesson with less than a 24-hour notice. The following are a few examples of what will not be considered a legitimate reason for missing one’s lesson:
- Sports, games, and practices
- Birthday parties
- Unexpectedly homework
- Unexpected career commitments
- General tiredness
The bottom line is this: honor your commitment to your music education by suiting up and showing up. Always call and speak to me directly if there is a scheduling problem. Even when you are injured or perhaps feel unprepared, a profitable lesson can still be accomplished.
Group Classes/Ensembles
For Suzuki students, group classes are the foundation of Dr. Suzuki’s method. Group class attendance is required and non-negotiable. A Suzuki student acquires essential ensemble, performance, and theoretical skills that cannot be addressed in the limited time of private lessons.
Socializing through guitar is an invaluable developmental benefit for all children. Failure to attend is grounds for dismissal from the program.
Ensemble classes for older students and non-Suzuki students are not required but are very highly recommended. Students perfect their reading skill, overcome performance anxiety, and expose themselves to a much wider range of repertoire and composers than what are normally available in their solo music.
Adult beginner group lessons and adult ensembles are available as enrollment permits. All group classes require a separate fee.
Tuition
Effective January, 1st, 2023 the tuition fees are as follows:
- 30-minute lesson: $46
- 45-minute lesson: $72
- 60-minute lesson: $96
Tuition fees are payable monthly in advance. It will be due on the first lesson of each month. You will be invoiced electronically 5 days before your tuition is due. No lesson will be given under any circumstances without payment and absences cannot be deducted from tuition.
Payments for multiple months are welcome. Consistent failure to pay tuition on time will result in being asked to find guitar instructions elsewhere. Tuition increases occur around every three years.