Do I have to have a piano at home to sign up for piano lessons?
You need either an acoustic piano or a digital keyboard to learn how to play the piano. If you need to purchase one, please contact me so I can help you find the instrument that will be best for the student and your budget!
How often should practice be?
No matter how young or old, piano and voice students should aim to practice 4-5 days per week or more - with more practice, comes more progress! The length of practice time varies, depending on age and experience. Young beginners can typically expect to practice 5-15 minutes per day when they first start lessons. Experienced students and older students can expect to practice 20-30 minutes per day, or more, depending on their goals. I will help you set up a personalized practice routine based on age and experience. And most of those benefits of taking music lessons that we hear about - they come from practicing at home on a regular basis, not just from attending lessons.
Should parents be involved in practice?
Yes! Parental involvement plays a major role in helping students succeed and stay motivated in music lessons.
​
Up until about age 11, children need hands-on support at home. Even if you don’t read music or play piano or sing, your help is still very important. Parents can assist by reading lesson notes, organizing practice time, offering encouragement through tough spots, and helping to solve “I’m stuck on this” moments. Consistent support at home makes a big difference in your child’s progress and overall enjoyment of learning music.
​
After age 11, students usually become more independent, but parent involvement is still valuable. Your role shifts from direct guidance to being an encourager and accountability partner. This can include checking in regularly on practice progress, reminding them to follow their teacher’s notes, listening to a piece or song they’re preparing, and celebrating milestones. Even older students benefit greatly when they know their parents are interested in and supportive of their musical journey.
Do I have to sign up for Summer Lessons?
Taking summer lessons reserves your spot in the fall schedule. Summer lessons are held less frequently than during the school year and scheduling is very flexible. Research has shown that music students retain what they know better without taking the entire summer off, which means we won't have to spend the fall reviewing and relearning. Summer is also great time for us to do some creative and fun things during lessons that we don't always have time for during the school year!