OK, it’s formal announcement time:
I, your blogger, Todd Bishop, am now offering live online lessons, via Skype.
I’ll be happy to work with you on single lessons— say, if you’d like help with something you saw on the blog; in a focused burst of several lessons, to work on one problem; or on an ongoing basis, as a regular student.
At home, I teach all levels of players, from little kids, to adult beginners, hobbyists, on up to teachers and other professionals. My personal style is very easy-going, and I like working with beginners and novices, and solving problems, and helping people with things that are jamming them up. So, even though we deal with some hard stuff on the blog, there’s no need to feel intimidated.
Cost is $50 US per hour, or $30 per half hour, +10% for non-US students, to cover transaction fees. If you’re in the UK or the eurozone, the weak US dollar gives you a substantial discount— $50 US is only £30, or €36. See below for exact costs for all countries.
More details and policies after the break:
If you have questions, or would like to schedule a lesson, contact me via:
- My email link at the top of the sidebar.
- Skype me @ user ID todd6ishop
- Or call me at (503)380-9259 (USA).
You will need:
1. A high-speed Internet connection.
2. A webcam— the Logitech HD Pro C920 works well for me— and a stereo headset with microphone.
3. A Skype account, and Skype software installed on your computer— both are free.
4. A PayPal account, or another means of sending payment online.
5. Copies of any books we will be using (Syncopation, by Ted Reed, very likely); and/or a printer, so you can print practice materials I will send you.
6. Oh, and sticks, a practice pad, and/or a drum set, and your bad self..
Cost is:
USA: $50 hour / $30 half-hour
Australia and Canada: AUD or CAD $60 hour / $35 half-hour
UK: £33 hour / £20 half-hour
Eurozone: €40 hour / €25 half-hour
Other countries: equivalent of US $60 hour / $35 half-hour
Policies:
Payment for single lessons is due at the time of scheduling. Payment for ongoing lessons is due at the beginning of each month, for all of that month’s lessons. I can reschedule appointments at no cost, with reasonable notice (preferably 24 hours), but can’t give credit for missed lessons— if I go on Skype at our appointed time, and you aren’t there, you lose what you paid me for that lesson. If we have to abort a lesson due to a bad Internet connection, we can reschedule once; if the problem cannot be resolved, I will refund 50% of the cost of that lesson, and 100% of any other lessons paid for, but not given.
At our first lesson, we will spend as much time as we need to get our sound/tech together, off of the clock— you won’t be paying for that time.
Scheduling:
I’m scheduling the following times, in Portland, Oregon, US Pacific Standard Time (GMT -7:00):
Drum set:
Tues and Thurs: 4pm-8pm
Wed 12pm-4pm
Sat 4pm-8pm
Sun 10:30am-12pm, 4pm-6pm, 7pm-8pm
Snare drum/practice pad:
+ until 12am Tues-Thurs and Sat-Sun
+ Wed and weekend mornings 10am-12pm
Also use World Time Buddy to coordinate your time with Portland time. If you don’t see a time that works for you, let me know, and I’ll see what I can do.
If you’ve read this far, thanks for your interest, and hopefully I’ll meet you on the Skype soon!