FAQ

Hey Joe Guitar In-Home Music Lessons: FAQ Questions Answered Here!

Many of the things new and potential students ask us are listed below. But if you need any further information that is not included in the FAQ, please give us a call!  We take pride in providing personal one-on-one customer/student service.

• Does Hey Joe Guitar School of Music only offer guitar lessons?  We teach any instrument a student wants to learn!

  Actually, guitar is only one of many instruments we teach. Others are the piano, drums, trumpet, trombone, brass, reeds, saxophone, clarinet flute, violin, viola, cello, strings, accordion, ukulele, banjo, recorder, and mandolin. And, we also give voice lessons.

• What prompted you to start a music school?

  Founder Joe Berger, a NYC father and professional musician, was asked by many people to recommend experienced, reliable teachers who would come to their homes for lesson. In 2007, he founded Hey Joe Guitar, with the purpose of “connecting” students with teachers who match their learning style.

• Why did you decide to offer in-home music lessons rather than have students come to you?

  There are several reasons for providing in-home music lessons. Many of our students are children and we know that their parents would prefer to have lessons in the comfort and safety of their own homes. As far as adults are concerned, many people are so busy and have such hectic schedules, that they don’t want to use valuable time commuting to and from lessons. Our teachers, whom we screen very carefully, come to our students and enjoy providing in-home music lessons.   The three main reasons we choose this format for our school of music are: the student’s comfort, the convenience of learning at home, and the efficient use of student time.  

• Who are the music teachers associated with Hey Joe Guitar?

  All of our teachers have excellent credentials and qualifications – they are all graduates or students of well respected music schools and conservatories, and the many hold master’s degrees in music and/or teaching.  All of them have a proven track record of teaching experience, and a passion for music and working with children and adults.   We are committed to only sending the very best teachers to our student’s homes.

• Are you selective in what kind of people you hire?

  Absolutely. This is very important because many so-called music teachers are not properly trained and their teaching techniques are questionable. If they impart these techniques to students, it would be very difficult to undo the damage later. Needless to say, our teachers are carefully vetted before they are sent out to people’s homes.

• Can I choose the gender of my teacher?

  Yes. When you call the office to set up your first lesson, be sure to specify a gender preference, if any.

• How often do students take lessons?

  Generally, we recommend students have a session once per week. We offer 30-, 40-, and 60-minute weekly plans.

• What are the lesson packages?

  We offer two simple plans: membership and a 5-pack of lessons. Memberships are the least expensive option. You pay in advance for one month – whether four or five weeks – and you receive a lesson each week of 30-, 40-, or 60-minutes. There are no set up fees, no minimum requirements, or any obligation longer than one month. Five-packs allow you to purchase five lessons in advance: 30-minutes, 45-minutes, or 60-minutes. You may take the lessons at any time within three months of date of purchase.

• What is your cancellation and rescheduling policy?

  Cancel lessons directly with your teacher more than 24 hours in advance and that teaching time is yours to keep. Also, contact your teacher directly to reschedule.

• Do you offer free trial lessons?

  We do not offer a free trial lesson. That said, if you are unhappy with your assigned instructor we will not charge for that lesson and will send another teacher. If you chose to simply not continue after a first lesson, you will only be charged a one-time lesson fee.

• How far in advance do I schedule my first lesson?

  Because we seek to identify the best teacher/match for new students, it typically takes at least four business days to schedule the first lesson.  Lessons are coordinated by our director, Joe Berger, and the student’s parents or the adult student to ensure that everything is clear and runs without a hitch.

• Do I need my own instrument?

  Yes.  If you don’t have an instrument, Joe Berger, our director can provide guidance.

• If I need to buy an instrument, can you help me?

  Yes. Though we don’t sell instruments directly, we are available to provide guidance about instrument purchases. Generally, we recommend the following foe beginning students: for guitar ~ nylon stringed Spanish/acoustic guitar is best (not steel – ouch!).  We recommend the purchase of a 1/2 size guitar for children under the age of eight.  For children ages eight and up they could go to a three-quarter size guitar.  Keep in mind that Spanish/acoustic guitars with nylon strings, regardless of size, are a timeless instrument. Even advanced guitar players continue to use this instrument for life. We’ll be happy to advise you on other instruments as well.

• Do you offer gift certificates?

  Yes! We offer gift certificates via regular mail or through email. You pay purchase a 5-pack of lessons or a monthly membership.

• Do I pay my teacher directly?

  Hey Joe Guitar School of Music manages the payment of teachers.  Therefore our instructors can focus on teaching.  All administrative details (changes in schedule, cancellations, changes to your membership, or teaching packages) are handled by our office. Please call our office to inquire about how to pay for lessons and/or to find out our rates. We accept all debit and credit cards. 

• Why is it important to take music lessons rather than learning to play online?

  Mastering any instrument takes more than just strumming or hitting the keys. It is also about good posture, correct body position, and the right way to hold an instrument. We are not denigrating online courses, but from our own experience, as well as from experiences of other people, we know that individual lessons, adapted to each student’s age, level, and speed of progress – as well as to specificities of each instrument – are much better. It’s the difference between personal and generic.

• Who are your customers and where do they live?

  Our customers are people of all ages and levels. We have children as young as two years old. Our clients live in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

• What is the best age to start music training?

  There is a body of evidence suggesting that developing a musical sensibility should start in childhood – as long, of course, as parents don’t drag their kids to music lessons kicking and screaming! In my experience, however, that rarely happens – children are naturally curious and eager to learn new things. Now, that doesn’t mean that there’s such a thing as “too old” or “too late” to start music training. Absolutely not! Adults of all ages can learn to play an instrument. As the saying goes – “if there’s a will, there’s a way!”

• What is the most important thing to keep in mind while learning to play an instrument?

  Practice! Even if you can dedicate only an hour a week to play with your teacher, that’s already enough to keep the momentum going – of course, if you can manage to do it more frequently, all the better. Many people think that learning to play is very time-consuming, so they don’t even start. But this is a case of “every little bit counts,” as long as it’s regular and continuous.

• What, in your expert opinion, are the most significant benefits of music training?

  There are so many! In children, music can improve their learning ability, memory, motor skills, hearing, and even emotional responses. In adults, music is one of the best, all-natural de-stressors. Since it releases some powerful “feel happy” hormones like endorphin and serotonin, exposure to music can reduce chronic stress and anxiety. In fact, many hospitals use music therapy to help their patients recover. All these are compelling reasons to start music training, but let’s not overlook another important one – it’s a fun and enjoyable activity for people of all ages.