How long is a piano lesson, and what's included? Lessons are 30 minutes every week in the student's home. Back-to-back lessons for multiple students are also available, and 1-hour lessons can be divided among 2 or 3 students. Lessons generally include note reading, rhythm exercises, piano technique, music theory, performance practice, and a brief discussion with parent on musical progress at the close of the lesson. The skill level of work, amount of work assigned, and practice schedules will be different for each student, and those details will be assessed within the first month.
Will a student learn to play the piano simply by having weekly half hour lessons with you? Yes and no. Yes, they will absolutely learn to play the piano by taking lessons! And no, that’s not the whole story. A student cannot learn to play the piano through weekly lessons alone. Think about it this way: learning a musical instrument is almost exactly like learning to read. When children or adults learn to read, they not only need guided instruction from a family member or teacher, but they also must practice every day for a substantial length of time to see any progress. And even with daily practice, it takes years to fully master. Then once a person becomes a competent reader, the act of reading is reinforced every day beyond purposeful pleasure reading – with emails, texts, YouTube, social media, TV shows, games, signs, flyers, books, articles, meetings, classes – you name it. That's exactly how a student must approach learning an instrument: by practicing – and continuing to practice – nearly every day. So in short, a student will learn to play the piano through a combination of weekly instruction AND near-daily practice to reinforce that instruction.
Do I need to get books or supplies? No need! I will provide all piano books, sheet music, notebooks, and supplies.
How young can I start my child? I usually recommended students to start piano lessons no earlier than 6 years old or 1st grade. However, special considerations can always be given if significant interest and/or ability are present.
Is it hard to start or re-learn piano as a teen or older adult? In my experience, I have actually found that when adults dedicate themselves and make sure to carve out regular practice time each week, they learn at a much faster pace than my younger students. It all hinges on whether you can set aside at least 15-20 minutes out of each day to dedicate to piano. If you can do that, you can easily learn piano as an adult!
Do you require a real piano or is a keyboard okay? Honestly, as long as it plays music and functions properly, we can work with any caliber of instrument! As for my preferred scenarios: ideally, an acoustic piano would be tuned once or twice a year with an accompanying bench and place to display sheet music. For keyboards, they would have 88 “weighted” keys with an accompanying stand, bench, and place to display sheet music.
Will you have a recital? Is it optional? Yes! I host 3 recitals, one at the end of each semester (December, April, and August). These are all completely optional events, but they are a great, non-competitive opportunity for students to build self-esteem, perform for family and friends, and participate in community service!
Do you have a contract? Yes, I require a 4-month commitment, with option to renew for the following 4-month semester. I also have a list of studio policies I expect clients to follow. A Studio Brochure will be provided with all policy details and requirements.