oboeinsight

Phone Contact: 408.806.3313 (mobile phone) If you call for lessons, please repeat your contact phone number; so often I get a partial number and don’t hear it all! Ask me for my home phone at the first lesson or in an email in case I forget to give it to you, please.

FEES

Private Lessons:
30 minute lesson: $40 (for beginning oboists and elementary school-aged students only)
45 minute lesson: $55
60 minute lesson: $70

Ensemble Coaching Lessons:
45 minutes: $40 per student
60 minutes: $50 per student

Reed Making Classes:
Groups (mininum of 3 students): 3 Sessions, $100
Private lessons: $60 per hour

I prefer to be paid by the lesson: checks may be made out to Patty Mitchell.

REQUIREMENTS FOR OBOE STUDENTS:

1. OBOE: In good working condition, with both the left F key and a low B flat key (If you don’t have these keys to begin with I’ll give you a couple of months to locate an oboe and we’ll work with what you have for a while. Forrests Music is probably the only place to find an oboe in this area, I’m sorry to say.)

2. METRONOME

3. TUNER: These are easy to find, and aren’t necessarily expensive.

4. REEDS: Always have at least 3! Hand made reeds are a necessity, so if you don’t know where to get them contact me.

5. ASSIGNMENT BOOK; I prefer a book that includes staff paper if one can be found, but if not a spiral notebook will do (students will just have to put up with my crooked lines!).

6. OTHER MUSIC BOOK(S): During the first lesson I will assess the student’s abilities and determine which book is best. I usually use Rubank Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced Method books, Gekeler Method For Oboe, books One and Two or the Edlefsen series, before moving on to other books. We will also be working in a duet book once the student can play well enough, as well as a solo that is at the student’s level of ability. You will find a number of links to a variety of music here.

REPAIRS NEEDED?

Try these:
Rufus Acosta: (650) 965-8485, 1901 Old Middlefield Way #16, Mountain View, CA 94043-2539 (recommended)
Bob Hubbard: (408) 578-6263 (located in San Jose, he can often do quick emergency repairs).

And the best, if you have time to make an appointment and drive to Napa: Mark Chudnow

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

Oboe requires practice. I expect students to practice lesson music every day but one (I allow for one “day of rest” a week). The length of practice should equal or surpass the student’s lesson time. (If you take a 30 minute lesson practice at least 30 minutes a day, if you take a 45 minute lesson practice at least 45 minutes a day, etc.) If you do not give the appropriate practice time to your lesson music, I will shorten your lesson appropriately! Legitimate reasons for skipping a lesson are illness, emergencies, scheduling conflicts that can’t be changed (school and medical appointments are most common) and leaving town. Not practicing is not a legitimate reason and I will expect payment if you cancel for that reason.

Please come to lessons prepared, and please come to lessons on time! Whether you are here or not, I’ve been sitting in the studio waiting, and that’s the time for which you are paying! I do not extend lesson times. If you are going to be late it is courteous to call me. Be responsible!

I require 24 hours notice on canceled lessons unless you have to cancel due to sudden illness or emergency. If I have less than 24 hours notice I require payment. If a student has more than 3 missed lessons without the required 24 hour notice I will charge for lessons by the month and require payment in advance.

NOTES ON PARENTS AND LESSONS:

I do not mind parents attending lessons, and I encourage parents to sit through the first lesson so they see how I teach as well as how their child listens and learns. If parents want to sit in on every lesson I will not turn them away, but I do have a nice living room in which you can relax and listen to us … but take your cell phone conversations outside; we can hear you talking! My studio door is never closed, unless I find a parent is too disruptive. While I am teaching I expect no interruptions unless I specifically ask the parent(s) to join in; the lesson is to be between the student and me, and doesn’t include a parent’s comments or questions. You may ask questions before and after the lesson if necessary. I highly recommend that parents not hound children about anything that went wrong during a lesson. Let me be the “bad guy” and you can be the encouragers!

I also request that parents support the students, and encourage them in their musical endeavors. I expect parents to make sure that their student is practicing, and to monitor the practicing now and then so time isn’t spent goofing off.

…and finally… to both students and parents … don’t get discouraged when things are difficult! Oboe is a challenging instrument for most people. It’s fun, too, but some days are simply more difficult than others. Keep working, and you’ll overcome hurdles you didn’t think you could beat. If you are particularly upset about how things are going tell me! You may email me at pattyoboe [at] mac [dot] com any time. If I don’t respond within 24 hours I’m either somewhere with no email access (very rare) or I didn’t receive the message, so try again or call me.

Let’s have fun!

NEED MUSIC? I have an extensive list with links to the music store, or just click the link below!