Elizabeth Eccleston Oboe Studio
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • oboe and/or English horn lessons

  • reed making lessons

  • music theory 

  • music history

Private lessons are taught in the Toronto area. Lessons include different areas of focus depending on the age, level, and goals of each student. I maintain a balance between technical development and fundamentals of musical interpretation. I can also help with audition preparation, reeds, as well as tutor music theory and history at the graduate level.

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Following are the Policies and Procedures I have maintained for many years, updated in Summer 2016.

Fees and Payment

Each lesson is an individual session, and is paid for as one unit. Lessons are priced according to duration, the options of which are: 30 minutes/$40, 60 minutes/$80, and 90 minutes/$120.

Private tutoring in music theory or music history are $30/hour. Options for work in small group classes available upon request with a negotiable price.

Payment is due monthly at the first lesson of each month, for the entire month. In most cases this will be 4 lessons. There are also occasions when holidays interfere with the schedule, so there may be only three to consider. Each month should be calculated and paid accordingly, in advance.

If you would like to change the amount of time we spend together, please communicate this to me and we will see what the schedule will allow. Many people find that 2 sessions per month works better for scheduling and finances. I only teach bi-weekly lessons to students 9th grade or higher, with very few exceptions.

Payments are accepted in cash, cheque, Interac E-transfer, or by credit through PayPal. Receipts available on request.

Attendance and Make-Ups

It is essential that a minimum of 2 sessions be met in one calendar month. Therefore, if any lesson is missed, or needs rescheduling, it must be made up in the month for which it has been paid. There is a 24-hour cancellation policy in place. This allows another individual to accommodate that time slot. If 24 hours is not given or the student simply does not show, the lesson will not be made up and the fee will not be refunded. If my performance schedule necessitates that I need to reschedule a lesson, your convenience will be my top priority in rescheduling.


Reed Purchases

I exclusively sell my handmade reeds to my private students. Pricing and policies for purchasing oboe and English horn reeds (as well as oboe cane) are provided below. The purchase of an oboe reed does not take the place of lessons.

REED INFO

Price List 2016-2017
(guaranteed through 07/17)

Reeds:
Oboe Reeds                $25.00
English Horn Reeds    $30.00 

Cane Prices:
Gouged, shaped            Oboe Cane = $3.00/piece  
Gouged only                Oboe Cane = $2.75/piece         

The cane used for reeds is carefully chosen according to grain, hardness and straightness of the tube. Cane is selected from: Loree, Rigotti, Ghys, Var, Alliaud or Marion. The cane is gouged on a Graf machine and shaped on a Gilbert -1 shaper tip.  

All reeds are prepared by hand and made from beginning to end to meet professional standards of response, stability, intonation (A-440) and tone quality. Since playing levels vary as well as instruments, there may be the need to try varying degrees of resistance/hardness in the finished reeds. It is highly recommended that new reeds be obtained at the start of a regular lesson in order to find the right fit and adjust if necessary to suit the needs of each individual student.

IMPORTANT: Reeds that you purchase from me will be clipped at a slight angle, making one blade slightly shorter than the other. The shorter blade should always be the one that rests on your lower lip. 


Reed Care:

Soaking: The best way to soak a reed is to dip it in tap water up to the thread, remove it from the water and place it in the reed box or a safe place. It will continue to soak on its own. Avoid soaking the reeds in your mouth and never talk with a reed in your mouth. The back teeth can easily damage the thin corners of the tip of the reed.

Always make sure the reeds are soaked before attempting to play on them. In rehearsals, keep your reed wet while you are waiting to play. The reeds will dry quickly while you are sitting there and may crack when you start playing again if they have become dry.

Brush your teeth before you play the oboe! Avoid putting anything in or on the reed that will cause it to age faster, and if food particles get lodged inside the small opening of the reed it will cease to play.

 

Discontinuation of Study

If at any time you feel that you need to discontinue study for any reason, please try to provide me with at least two weeks notice so that I may prepare the student to move on or not have lessons, and so I can fill the spot in my schedule.

You have made a wonderful decision to invest in a musical education for you or your child. The benefits will enhance the quality of your child’s life for many years to come. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to make this experience more enjoyable or productive for your family.