*Note to Parents:  Please read the information on this site before renting/buying a instrument or reeds.  If you have an oboe or bassoon question, the answer is probably already on this site.  For beginner accessories needed, click here. 

Oboe or Bassoon lessons are $25 per 30-minute lesson (taught from my home music studio), and students attend on a weekly basis.  Aside from teaching music theory and improving overall tone, my curriculum is as follows:

Grade Objectives 

• 5th/6th - use of correct embouchure, intonation basics, fingerings for District requirements, one-octave major scales, concert music and graded band assignments       
• 7th/8th - fingerings (B-flat to high F for oboe, high G for bassoon), two-octave major scales, Rubank method book, beginning reed scraping, audition preparation
• 9th/10th - fingerings (up to high F for oboe, high B-flat for bassoon), Gekeler II oboe method book, Weissenborn bassoon book, mastering vibrato, reed-making, audition preparation, intro to English Horn for oboists
• 11th/12th - tying reed blanks and reed adjusting, college and other audition repertoire

Reeds:  Please have 3 working reeds at all times.  Parents, beginners will break reeds often so it is best to order extra.  Reeds need to be handmade and ordered from one of the sites listed here.   The reed is responsible for 90% of our tone, so if you want to sound great, get a great reed!  It really is that simple.

Studio Policies:

• Payment (cash or check payable to Rachel Landers) is due before each lesson.  You may pay for 1 or several lessons at a time.
• If you arrive late to a lesson, it is still over at the scheduled time.  
• Students should be practicing lesson assignments (not only band class music - though I do love a good fight song) most days of the week in order to show improvement.  Lessons are not the time to practice - it's the time to show me what you have already practiced.  Thirty minutes of practice per day, 5+ days per week is appropriate.  Helpful Tips:
  • ​Setup a practice schedule - do whatever works for your family.  No one is too busy to practice (I know this because I was the busiest child on the planet, and I practiced two instruments every day BEFORE school).
  • Students show play SLOWLY and CORRECTLY, not fast and messily.  Their fingers will remember everything they do, whether it's right or not.  It takes many correct repetitions to undo a bad habit.
  • If a student repeatedly comes to lessons unprepared, his/her time will be offered to another student on my waiting list.
• Students should bring all lesson materials each week (reeds, my assignment sheet,  method book, etc.).  If your instrument is being fixed, you may bring a reed to your lesson and play my instrument.  If your child has no materials we will practice rhythms, learn music theory, and eat broccoli.
• Attendance and Cancellations:
  • Lessons are year-round.  Each student will be allowed 2 free absences per fall and spring semester, and summer is more flexible.  Payment is expected for any additional absences (which can be made up) in order to keep your lesson time reserved.  Your lesson might occasionally happen on "teacher work days," but I do not require lessons on national holidays.  It is a good idea to look ahead in your calendar and make-up as you go.  If regular attendance is an issue, then your time will be offered to a student on my waiting list. 
  • If advance notice is given for a 3rd (or additional) absence, that lesson may be made up before the end of the semester during my availability.   No-shows are not made up. 
  • Yes, there are lessons in the summer - I am rarely asked this, but yes, I only teach serious music students who wish to improve.  Students are not required not come every week, but I expect some sort of effort, and everyone has at least a few summer hours available for music.  Students will only be allowed to reserve a fall time once their summer lessons are scheduled.  Otherwise, they must wait until all other students have chosen a fall time.
  • Exceptions to the absence rule:
    • If I cancel your lesson, it will not count as an absence.
    • If you miss a lesson for an "honors" music activity beyond school band, it will not count as an absence.  Examples are: District Honor Band, All-State Band, UGA MidFest, JanFest, 6th Grade Honor Band, GMEA invitations, or any summer band or oboe camp.

To sum up these policies for the skimmers out there: 
1.  Show up.
2.  Pay on time.
3.  Bring your stuff.
4.  Practice your stuff.
5.  Scroll up and read stuff.

Note: I am located in the northern part of Forsyth County, GA.  If this is too far of a drive, there is another excellent oboe teacher and my co-CROW camp director, Brittany Grant, who is located in Suwanee.  Her website is here: ​suwaneeoboelessons.weebly.com.  Warren Stokes is a great bassoon teacher toward the South Forsyth and Gwinnett area.  His email is bassoonlessons@yahoo.com.  Dr. Shelly Unger is also an awesome bassoon teacher near Atlanta - contact me for her information. 

My home studio

Piano Lessons

Looking for piano lessons?  I do teach beginner-intermediate piano to double reed students who wish to come for an hour.  If you are looking for someone who does recitals, festivals, group lessons, etc., I highly recommend Hawk Music Academy with Dr. Dawn Hawk and Dr. Eric Hawk in Cumming, GA.  My son takes both piano and violin lessons from them and they do a phenomenal job.