Le
Voice Lessons
Fee
Lessons are $40 per 30 min and accept payment through Zelle, cash or check
STUDIO
Margaret has been teaching music lessons for over 20 years and currently teaches out of her home in Batavia, Illinois. She has students come from DeKalb, Sycamore, Elburn, Geneva St.Charles and Batavia
Her teaching philosophy is simple and stems from growing up with two parents who loved music and were music teachers and a wonderful husband who teaches K-5 music; it is never too young to start learning music! If a child shows interest in singing, then they are capable of starting voice lessons. It is better for a student to learn correct vocal technique from the start rather than creating bad habits that may be difficult to break later on. Margaret generally starts students as young as 2nd grade (but all ages and adults are welcome) and will do exercises to develop the ear (hearing and singing correct pitches), rhythm, breathing, sight reading using solfeggio, in addition to learning age appropriate songs to encourage easy vocal production and keep the voice flowing!
Margaret also offers beginning piano lessons age Kindergarten and up using the Faber and Faber method books. For piano lessons, students must be able to practice on a piano or electric piano at home.
FAQ for in person lessons
What should I bring to lessons?
For your first voice lessons, please bring a 3 ring binder to put copies of music and exercises that will be given to you along with a pencil and paper to write any additional notes. You may also bring any song you might have been working on, to give me an idea of what you like to sing and your voice. Margaret also recommends some sort of recording device; to record anything that needs to be worked on and for students to listen back to and hear things they may not have caught in the lesson. For piano, please bring your piano books and a pencil. Practice notes will be written on the page of the assignment.
What about time and payment?
Students come for lessons once a week. Lessons are $40 for 30 min lesson, may be paid by check (Margaret Fox) or cash, or Zelle.
How long should my student be practicing each week?
This is a very open ended question and also depends very much on each student. There are also many different kinds of practicing; practicing warm-ups, thinking about breathing, memorizing etc. In general, at least 20 minutes a day should be devoted to music to keep ideas fresh and current, and build muscle memory. Please ask for more advice on this in person.
Do parents need to sit-in on lessons?
Parents are encouraged to watch the first lesson, just to get an idea of what their child is learning and how to encourage them to practice at home. After that, it is up to the student and whatever makes them feel more comfortable. If they choose not to have the parents in the lesson, then maybe sitting in once every other month will be advisable.
What if I have to miss a lesson?
If you must cancel, please give 24-hour advanced notice. Last-minute conflicts may arise, so you are granted cancellations a semester. After that, 50% of the payment be remitted in attempts to keep Margaret's schedule on track. With 24-hour advanced notice, lessons can be rescheduled. If school activities are cancelled due to inclimate weather, lessons will also be rescheduled.
Margaret was the 2013-2014 Kaneland Artist in Residence
If you are interested in voice lessons or beginning piano lessons,
please email [email protected] or call 309-212-2945
Margaret has been teaching music lessons for over 20 years and currently teaches out of her home in Batavia, Illinois. She has students come from DeKalb, Sycamore, Elburn, Geneva St.Charles and Batavia
Her teaching philosophy is simple and stems from growing up with two parents who loved music and were music teachers and a wonderful husband who teaches K-5 music; it is never too young to start learning music! If a child shows interest in singing, then they are capable of starting voice lessons. It is better for a student to learn correct vocal technique from the start rather than creating bad habits that may be difficult to break later on. Margaret generally starts students as young as 2nd grade (but all ages and adults are welcome) and will do exercises to develop the ear (hearing and singing correct pitches), rhythm, breathing, sight reading using solfeggio, in addition to learning age appropriate songs to encourage easy vocal production and keep the voice flowing!
Margaret also offers beginning piano lessons age Kindergarten and up using the Faber and Faber method books. For piano lessons, students must be able to practice on a piano or electric piano at home.
FAQ for in person lessons
What should I bring to lessons?
For your first voice lessons, please bring a 3 ring binder to put copies of music and exercises that will be given to you along with a pencil and paper to write any additional notes. You may also bring any song you might have been working on, to give me an idea of what you like to sing and your voice. Margaret also recommends some sort of recording device; to record anything that needs to be worked on and for students to listen back to and hear things they may not have caught in the lesson. For piano, please bring your piano books and a pencil. Practice notes will be written on the page of the assignment.
What about time and payment?
Students come for lessons once a week. Lessons are $40 for 30 min lesson, may be paid by check (Margaret Fox) or cash, or Zelle.
How long should my student be practicing each week?
This is a very open ended question and also depends very much on each student. There are also many different kinds of practicing; practicing warm-ups, thinking about breathing, memorizing etc. In general, at least 20 minutes a day should be devoted to music to keep ideas fresh and current, and build muscle memory. Please ask for more advice on this in person.
Do parents need to sit-in on lessons?
Parents are encouraged to watch the first lesson, just to get an idea of what their child is learning and how to encourage them to practice at home. After that, it is up to the student and whatever makes them feel more comfortable. If they choose not to have the parents in the lesson, then maybe sitting in once every other month will be advisable.
What if I have to miss a lesson?
If you must cancel, please give 24-hour advanced notice. Last-minute conflicts may arise, so you are granted cancellations a semester. After that, 50% of the payment be remitted in attempts to keep Margaret's schedule on track. With 24-hour advanced notice, lessons can be rescheduled. If school activities are cancelled due to inclimate weather, lessons will also be rescheduled.
Margaret was the 2013-2014 Kaneland Artist in Residence
If you are interested in voice lessons or beginning piano lessons,
please email [email protected] or call 309-212-2945
