Phoenix area newbie

[iflyskyhigh]

Hey yall,

I just started playing again after 18 years. I took my first lesson yesterday at a local music store. I was less than impressed. I went to 4 different stores before deciding on taking lessons at this one. Besides the fact I was mislead about pricing, wether it was deliberate or intentional I'm not sure, the teacher and I didn't really click. He just did a couple thigs that made me not go hum!!!

Any way, I'm looking for a good teacher and a reputable store in the Phoenix area. I have just purchased a horn and would like to establish a relationship with store where I can have the sax serviced when needed. Thanks for your help.

Ryan

[Kareeser]

For one, you have to realize that if you go into a music store expecting a bad teacher, and a bad lesson, then you are going to get a bad teacher and/or lesson.

What exactly did this teacher make you do that didn't jibe with you?

[iflyskyhigh]

I went in expecting a great lesson from a great teacher. This was the store I choose after visiting several in the valley. The lesson was a week after I had initially visited the store. On the initial visit I rented an instrument and paid for two lessons and I felt good about my decision.

I was unhappy with the store clerk because while waiting for my lesson yesterday I was looking at my receipt from the week before when I had paid for the lesson and I noticed that he hard charged me more for the lesson than he had quoted me. He quoted me a price on the phone and a the same price when I went into the store. Yet when he rang it up he charged me more. I asked him about it and he stated that he was sorry, he didn't doubt that he told me the wrong thing, but that he was probably busy when he talked to me on the phone.............and then again when I came in the shop. Amazing that the only time he remembered the right price was when he was taking my money! He told me "band" lessons were more. I guess he thinks I'm an idiot. After being a police officer for 5 years I know when people are feeding me a line of crap and his was grade A!

As far as the instructor goes, he was 15 minutes late to start off with. Now this is the really weird part, let me see if I can explain it. As I waited I watched the student my instuctor had been with be before me walk by and leave, meaning he had been with the student right up untill that moment. Yet he called my cell phone at that very moment and pretended to act like he had been waiting and was wondering where I was and why I was 15 minutes late!!!!! That's just plain wrong. The fact of the matter was I had been there 5 minutes before my lesson was to start, so I had been in the store for 20 minutes now waiting for my turn. He did do a good job of helping me get my horn set up as it was the first lesson, but during the lesson, he was very skittish and just kept flipping pages in the book and skiping from here to there not really slowing down enough to teach me anything. My head was spinning. It seemed like all he wanted to do was tell me how great he was, and show off on his sax. I just didn't feel comfortable with him, especially after the phone incident.

As a customer my time and money are vaulable and I want some one who will respect that. I'm also a proffessional flight instructor that teaches pilots for a major airline on a daily basis so I know what it's like to teach and how to be a good instructor. Our policy is, if you are 15 minutes late, you are working for free for that lesson as the student doesn't pay. Now I know things happen and people are late, it's just a fact of life, but when you combine it with everything else it just doesn't set well with me.

Whew!!! That was long winded and That's why I'm looking for someone new. Hope that explains it a little better.

[Xtreme1]

I always do buissness at Quick's on Central. Nice staff, good repair, and I'm not sure about the lessons. It is a really nice place and I would greatly reccomend it! Hope I helped. :D

[wesmiller]

iflyskyhigh:

I own a music school. Its simple. Your instincts were on track. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck.........its a duck. I would probably look elsewehere.

[Rick Ugaz]

iflyskyhigh,

I can appreciate what you are going through. I'm big on customer service and I find that many places just drop the ball.

I'm looking into starting some lessons and would be very interested where you end up getting yours. I have not purchased my horn yet nor have I ever played. I'm in Phoenix 4 days of the week. Can you shoot me an email? I'm at sitndux1@yahoo.com. Thanks!

[DaveKessler]

The place in Phoenix that I recommend is Milano's Music.

I know them from a business standpoint as they helped us tremendously about 7 years ago learn how to combat the big chain stores that were on the way to Vegas... and at the time, I was not selling on the net.

I dont know about their lessons but I know the guys who own and run the place and the repair shop and can highly recommend them.