What is your teaching philosophy? Every student is unique. Each student brings their own set of strengths, interests, and goals -- and lessons should reflect these uniquenesses, too! Lessons focus on developing well-rounded musicians through a variety of musical genres through healthy technique, conceptual understanding, creativity, and appreciation of music. Students explore a mixture of Classical and popular repertoire, in addition to transposition, chord charts, ear training, memorization, theory, and collaboration.
What is the best age to start my child in private piano lessons? The best time is when there is genuine interest and curiosity for music! All kids are so different, and you know your child best. Typically, starting kids around age 5-7 is a great time to begin learning an instrument through private instruction. General music group classes geared for toddlers and preschoolers could be a wonderful precursor to private lessons, as well.
Do you host recitals throughout the year? Yes! Performing in front of others is an important component to learning a musical instrument. Students perform in two recitals throughout the school year (October and April). There are also elective performance opportunities available to all students.
How often are lessons? Students have one lesson a week that is 30-, 45-, or 60-minutes long.
Do I need to have a piano at home? The only way to become good at anything is to spend time with it. I require all of my students to have daily access to a piano to reinforce concepts and pieces learned during their lessons. If you need help finding a good instrument, just ask!
Do you teach during the summer? Yes! In fact, all students are required to have 8 lessons throughout the summer months in order to hold their spot in the fall. It's no fun to come back to lessons in September feeling like you have lost so much of the wonderful progress you made last year.
Do you teach adults? Yes! It's never too late to learn a new instrument or return to lessons after many years (or decades!). Whether your goal is to play duets with family members, learn alongside your child(ren), or play at Menards :), learning to play the piano can be an incredibly fulfilling and fun venture.