It is only by introducing the young to great literature, drama and music, and to the excitement of great science that we open to them the possibilities that lie within the human spirit—enable them to see visions and dream dreams.
~ Eric Anderson

Joanna Huling is a dedicated educator, and is the Founder and Music Director of the Mercury Rising Percussion Ensemble, which is a supplemental program open to all percussion students that provides opportunities for students to perform and play a large variety of percussion instruments in an ensemble setting. She instructs a busy private studio and has served as Percussion Faculty at the International School of Music in Bethesda, MD and the Music and Arts Center in Ellicott City, MD.

Joanna offers private percussion lessons in her professionally-equipped Columbia studio with emphasis on general percussion, all mallet instruments, drum set, timpani, and hand percussion. Many of her students have successfully auditioned for numerous advanced programs in Maryland, including the Baltimore School for the Arts, Maryland All State Band (Junior and Senior), Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra, Howard County GT Bands, and various music festivals including Interlochen and Summer @ Eastman.

Areas of Study

• Band, Orchestral, and Solo Percussion
  – Snare Drum
  – Bells, Xylophone, Vibraphone, and Marimba (two and four-mallet)
  – Timpani *-must have access to timpani for the lessons (i.e. school or church)
  – Accessories (tambourine, triangle, cymbals, bass drum, etc.)
• Drum Set – Rock and related styles, Latin, basic Jazz
• Ethnic Percussion – conga, djembe, bongo and other hand drums

Resources

As an actively performing percussionist, I am able to share my wide range of experience with my students. I encourage all of my students, regardless of their direction of study or experience level to attend my concerts. There is no substitute for live performance, and everyone should have the exciting experience of seeing and hearing the concepts I teach in action.

I have an extensive library of print music, method books, CD’s, DVD’s and magazines. These are resources I have used, and are available to my students as well.

I own a large collection of instruments, large and small, on which my students are able to play during lessons in my studio.

I continue to expand my knowledge of performance and instruction, and constantly pass new information on to my students.

Policies

Lessons are billed monthly, and payments are due at the first lesson of each month for that months’ lessons.

If the first lesson is missed for any reason, payment must be mailed and received no later than the seventh (7th) day of that month.

Payments received on or after the 8th of the month should include a late fee of $10, and an additional $10 for each subsequent week.

Rates apply to four weekly lessons per month at a regular time.

Cancellations:

If I need to miss a lesson, I will first attempt to reschedule. If that is impossible, I will grant a make-up lesson to be scheduled within 90 days of the lesson date. With at least 48 hours notice, a student absence will be eligible to receive a make-up within 60 days of the missed lesson.

I will notify you of openings I have, but it is your responsibility to keep track of your make-ups and schedule them before time expires. If the expiration date is coming up and you are unable find a time, please let me know.

If less than 48-hour cancellation notice is given for any reason other than illness, the lesson is forfeited by the student, and no makeup lesson will be scheduled. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

A make-up lesson cancelled at any time, for any reason, cannot be rescheduled.

I do not teach on Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years’ Eve or New Years’ Day. Unless you hear from me otherwise, I will be teaching on most other holidays.

If you decide to discontinue lessons, I require a minimum of two weeks’ notice. If, however, notice is given at the beginning of a month, the entire month must be completed.

Make-up lessons not completed prior to the final lesson will be forfeited, and no refunds will be given for tuition paid.