Q. 1. How do I setup a Trial Lesson?
A. Fill out the registration form on the Contact page and let me know a little information about the student. I’d like to know your age, if you have had lessons before, and what your basic goals for taking piano lessons are. Give me a list of available times to schedule, and from there the rest will be easy! The trial lesson is a chance for us to see if we are a good match and if I’m the teacher you are looking for. There is no obligation on either side. If the trial lesson goes well, then it will transition into regular lesson commitments.
Q. 2. What will I need for piano lessons after I enroll ?
A. You absolutely must have a piano or a keyboard available to you because DAILY time at the piano is essential to your learning to play. If you have a keyboard, please make sure it has full size 88 hammer - action keys with weighted feel, and includes the damper pedal.
- Metronome and Music Books - I will let you know what books to buy.
- Flashcards are helpful for students who are beginners and need assistance in note learning, and again, I will recommend appropriate flashcards to students. There are a lot of music learning applications you can also download to smart phones or computers.
Q. 3. How long of a lesson do I need?
A. Lessons are offered in 30, 45, 60 and 90 minute session.
For all students over the age of 8 I recommend 45min. - 1 hour lessons. For younger students I recommend 30/45 minute lessons. 30 minute time slot is not enough time to cover everything I need to. Once children are used to having regular lessons, they will continue with standard 45/60 minute lessons. The more advanced students get, the more time they need during lessons. There is also the option of having more than one lesson a week for faster improvement, which is what I would strongly recommend if finances allow.
Q. 4. What are your rates?
A. 30 minutes: $45, 45 minutes: $65, 60 minutes: $80
Q. 5. Where does my piano lesson tuition go?
A. While I charge hourly rates for lessons, please consider that the money you pay does not only cover your lesson time. In addition to that, you are also receiving a lot of value from other important aspects of my teaching.
Your money goes toward:
Time spent with the student at lessons as well as time spent in preparation for the lessons.
- Time spent on emails, text messages, phone conversations.
Your teacher’s level of training, experience and expertise.
Continuing education for the teacher - seminar and festival attendance, teaching association memberships, keeping up-to-date on teaching resources and trends, time spent researching and inventing new and effective teaching ideas.
Studio expenses such as photocopying, incentive programs, the instruments for the studio - tunings, repairs, music books, CDs, other studio equipment as well as taxes.
Time spent on maintaining the studio such as trips to the music store, bookkeeping, development of curriculum, administration, scheduling.
Q. 6. At what age should children begin lessons?
A. The best time to start learning is different for every child, but for most, the ideal age is between 5 and 7. While beginning students do not necessarily need to be reading, it is imperative that they know the alphabet, have no trouble counting, and should be on their way to reading words.
Other important factors are the personality and focusing ability of the child. Young students should be able to sit and be engaged for half-hour lessons, with the ability to focus. They should be ready and willing to commit to learning music as a discipline, in addition to being something fun.
Q. 7. How often should students practice?
A. That partly depends on the age of the student. Teen and adult beginners should plan on at least a half hour each day. More advanced pianists should plan on up to an hour and more a day. Of course, the more you practice as you are instructed, the faster you will get where you want to be with playing the piano. Try to practice every day at a regularly scheduled time. You may not always be in the mood, but if you show up for your practice session the way you show up for work or school, you'll get the job done. Spend as much time as it takes to give yourself a thorough work-out.
Q. 8. Do you accept adult students? Am I too old to begin piano lessons?
A. Even if you have never studied music before, it is not too late to begin lessons. Often, adult students pick up the ability to read music in a relatively short amount of time. Lessons can be tailored specifically to the needs of an adult student, including lesson pace, materials, performance opportunities, and lesson time slots.
Q. 9. I am interested in lessons. What do I do next?
A. It's very simple. Either call (619) 335-0535 or e-mail me to schedule a free trial lesson. We will discuss your musical interests, what you would like to achieve, the studio schedule and any additional questions you may have.
If you have a question not answered here, feel free to contact me.