What instruments/musical topics do you offer?

Oboe (and English horn), saxophone, ukulele, bass guitar, and music theory.

In what subjects do you offer tutoring?

Math at all secondary levels, sixth grade through advanced (AP curriculum or equivalent) calculus and statistics. Physics and chemistry. English, French, and Spanish grammar. Standardized test prep.

What age students do you accept?

Youth ages 10 and up, and adults of any age. I will be happy to consider younger students on a case-by-case basis.

Where do sessions take place?

In-person sessions take place at my home in Pawtuxet Village, RI, very close to Bedrossian Music. Remote lessons are available via Zoom.

What do lessons cost?

Contact me for current rates.

Music students new to the studio begin with a two-lesson commitment, payable at the first meeting. Tutoring students start with a one-session commitment.

What forms of payment do you accept?

Cash, check, Venmo or PayPal (bank draft only).

When and how often are payments due?

Payment for the month is collected at the start of the first session in the month, after confirming the number of sessions that will take place. Even when there is a credit carried over from the previous month (see below), payment will be due at the month’s first session.

What if a session needs to be canceled?

If the student/family needs to cancel a session for a reason that could not be anticipated before the start of the month—usually if the student is too sick to participate in a lesson—please notify me as early as possible, and at least by 11:00 a.m. ET on the day of the lesson.

If I am too sick to teach or have an unresolvable conflict, I will cancel the session.

Any session canceled in either of the above conditions will be credited in full toward the next month’s payment. While I make every effort to work with reasonable scheduling challenges, cancellations may not be eligible for credit outside the circumstances described above.

For in-person students/tutees: If weather makes driving unsafe, if the student or I have mild symptoms, or if a member of the student’s household is ill, the session will be held remotely. I will communicate with the student/family as early as possible to make arrangements.

In the event that a student does not arrive for a session (or log on for a remote session), I will attempt to contact the student/family via text and email 5 minutes after the scheduled start time. If the student/family does not respond or arrive after 15 minutes, the session will be considered a no-show and no credit will be issued. If the student arrives or logs on late, I will usually still need to end the session at the originally scheduled time.

If the student arrives with equipment missing or not in working order, or without the needed materials (sheet music, method books or textbooks, etc.) for the session, I will do my best to make productive use of our time. I cannot guarantee any loaner items, and no credit is available for sessions canceled or shortened due to forgotten items.

Where can I get the equipment and sheet music needed for music lessons?

Rental instruments for beginning students are available through many area music stores and in some cases may be borrowed from the student’s school band program. I will be happy to advise and help with communications/research when a student is ready for an intermediate or professional-model (advanced student) instrument.

Sheet music and method books are available through area music stores and online. Some sheet music in the public domain can be legally downloaded for free.

Oboe and saxophone students will need a regular supply of working reeds. Sax students may buy reeds from any local music store or online retailer. Beginning oboe students may start with store-bought reeds for the first month or two, after which I strongly recommend buying handmade reeds by mail order. I can provide information of a trusted reed-maker based in RI. Advanced oboe students may choose to schedule additional lessons to focus on learning reed-making. Minimum length of a reed-making lesson is 60 minutes.

What materials are needed for tutoring sessions?

Most of the time, I will work with clients using the textbook used in their schoolwork, along with any other course materials provided by the course instructor, or using test-prep manuals such as Barrons as appropriate. I will sometimes provide additional/supplemental materials such as worksheets or web-based exercises, if the student and I agree that this would be helpful.

I will be happy to go over homework and quiz/test questions as examples to support the student’s independent comprehension. It is the student/family’s responsibility to disclose whether any work will be graded for accuracy (such as a take-home test or project), and I will not be able to assist the student directly on this type of assignment in order to preserve academic integrity.