Frequently Asked Questions
What instruments do you teach? I teach piano, guitar, singing, and composition. Most of my students study piano at this time, but many students like to explore vocal instruction or other focuses in addition to their primary instrument in their lessons.
What can I expect? I get all students improvising and playing by ear from day one. This involves a lot of movement, singing, imagining, and creating both at and away from our instruments. We learn music from the inside out, so lessons focus on activities that engage the mind and the ears.
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 online music folder. This folder contains 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 will never be turned away from a lesson or scolded for lack of practice. That being said, consistent practice does significantly increase retention and progress, so it's recommended that students try to practice at least four days per week.
How long will I need to practice? Practice sessions will look different for everyone based on age, skill level, available time, etc. What is the same for all students is that practice should NOT be timed. Rather, students are taught to practice based on goals and are encouraged to practice in short bursts for maximum practice effect and progress. Practice goals are discussed with the student at the end of each lesson so they have a clear plan for the coming week.
How long are lessons? Students can choose 30, 45, or 60 minute lesson lengths. 30 minutes is only recommended for very young beginner students. We cover a lot of ground in each lesson, so it's best to do 45 or 60 minutes of possible. That being said, I understand budget and scheduling are issues for many so I do accommodate shorter lesson times for older or more advanced students if needed.
How frequent are lessons? Lessons are conducted weekly except for studio closures during academic holidays/vacations (see schedule for specific dates).
How does “monthly tuition” work during vacation times? There’s a total of 36 lessons during the academic year after accounting for major holidays, breaks, and two make-up lesson weeks. These are the only lessons factored into tuition payments, so rest assured, you are not paying for weeks of studio closure.
Can I just skip December lessons and start up again the following month? Students have the right to discontinue lessons at any time. They simply need to provide two weeks’ notice before the next due date. However, lesson times cannot be held for non-paying students. Additionally, students that take a break in enrollment won’t be eligible to participate in upcoming studio recitals. Also please remember that tuition payments do not include any standard vacation weeks (see previous question), so there’s no reason to unenroll during holiday breaks and doing so will likely compromise the ability to reenroll due to a lengthy and growing studio waitlist.
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 when students are 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!
What if I want an extra a challenge? Piano students of all ages are eligible to participate in Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Exams. These exams are held multiple times per year and are offered both in-person and remotely.
What's with all the stacks of book around the studio? The studio has an extensive library of music-themed 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). 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.