Frequently Asked Questions
What instruments do you teach? Lessons are offered for a variety of instruments and subjects including piano, guitar, voice, composition, songwriting, or theory. Some students do choose to study multiple topics although most stick to just one.
What can I expect to learn? All students learn essential foundational skills including technique, note reading, rhythm, and basic music theory. This is in addition to learning songs and building a repertoire.
What if I have specific things I want to learn? Song selections and practice goals are specially tailored to student's interests. Many students gravitate towards a specific genre or style. Pieces and lessons will be based on these preferences to keep students engaged and help them achieve their personal music goals!
What materials do I need? All students are given access to their own music folder via google drive. This music folder will contain all their music, materials, weekly lesson notes, and practice guides. Note, some students will also work out of supplemental materials which will need to be purchased separately.
How much will I need to practice? Students are asked to practice at least four days per week. This minimum allows for consistent progress and development.
How long will I need to practice? Practice sessions will look different for everyone based on availability and skill level. This is why all students get a weekly practice guide that they have a part in planning.
How long are lessons? Students can choose 30, 45, or 60 minute lesson lengths. 30 minutes is best for younger beginner students while 60 minutes is best for adults or more advanced students.
How frequent are lessons? Lessons are conducted weekly and enrollment is on a quarterly basis (please see Rates & Policies for further info).
What do you mean by "quarterly enrollment"? Students enroll for lessons every three-month quarter. The exception is new students who can just enroll for the rest of the current quarter. Quarters are based on the academic calendar and come out to 13 weeks. However, there's always two weeks off for holidays and breaks which results in 11 lessons per quarter. These breaks usually include Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Spring Break. Check out the schedule for specific dates.
Are remote lessons an option? Absolutely! During the pandemic the entire studio did lessons over zoom for months, so this is something that has been tried and mastered. In fact, many students still prefer zoom lessons and they're a great option for in-person students when they're sick.
Are there recitals? All students have several opportunities to perform in studio recitals throughout the year. Recitals are a safe and supportive environment for students to step out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves. Participation in recitals is optional, but highly encouraged!
Can I get a reduced lesson rate? Like anything, you get what you pay for and quality music lessons cost money. This is understandably too much of a stretch for some people financially. Unfortunately Emily Moscoe Music does not offer scholarships at this time (although hopefully this will change in the near future). In the mean time, if it's simply a a question of the value of lessons (especially these days when you can look up a youtube tutorial for any song), think of it this way: When you pay for a lesson, you're not just buying a unit of time. You're paying for decades of knowledge, practice, experience, and hard earned education. And a good teacher is constantly learning and bringing their new knowledge into lessons. Even the best tutorials or music apps can't do that.
Weekly lessons sound like a lot. Can I just do every two weeks or once a month? Weekly lessons are required of all students for a couple of reasons: First, consistent lessons are crucial in order to experience steady growth as a student. Second, running such a large studio wouldn't be possible with different students on inconsistent schedules.
What if I want more of a challenge? Piano students are eligible to participate in Royal Conservatory of Music Exams, California Certificate of Merit, and other MTAC events. Note, all students from kids (over 5) to adults can take part in these opportunities.
What's with all the stacks of book around the studio? Emily Moscoe Music has an extensive library of children's and young adult story books. Frequently there's a book of the week that students have the option to read in the lesson if they're interested. These books are great opportunities to learn about music history, composers, important works, and connect musically to seasonal or current events. Students are also welcome to borrow books when they're not currently being taught in lessons.
What are the names of those super cute and loud dogs that greet me at lessons? If you come for an in-person lesson, you will undoubtedly be greeted by Otis (black lab) and Olive (terrier mut). They LOVE people and barking hello, but the barking does stop as soon as you sit down for your lesson. There's also two cats lurking around (Jasper & Cherry) that might pop out to say hi! Note, all pets are super friendly and can be kept out of the lesson space.