Q: What do I do if I can't make it to a lesson?
A: You will be responsible for contacting me to cancel a lesson as soon as you find out you will not be able to attend. You will still be charged for the lesson, but you will be given the option to schedule a makeup lesson within one month of the missed lesson. Exceptions can be made for medical emergencies, family emergencies, etc.
Q: What should my child bring to their piano lessons?
A: Your child should come to each lesson prepared with:
A folder
Their music and/or workbooks
A pencil
Q: What piano workbooks should my student use?
A: If you already have piano lesson books or workbooks that you would like to use, I am very open to using whatever materials you already have. If you do not already have books for your child, I would request that you purchase books from the Piano Adventures series by Nancy and Randall Faber. Here is a link to the lesson book on Amazon for $6.91. This book series consists of many different workbooks per level. I only require my students to purchase the Lesson book, but if you would like to purchase some of the other books for your student, I would be more than happy to use those books in their lessons.
Q: How do I know what workbook level I should purchase for my child?
A: If your child is a beginner, feel free to purchase the primer level book if you want them to have their books before their first lesson. If your child has some experience playing the piano, don't buy any books before their first lesson. They can bring whatever music they have played before, and I will evaluate what level of books they will need going forward.
Q: What age is best for starting piano lessons?
A: Research shows that children as young as 3 years old can benefit from music lessons. I don't have a minimum age requirement for lessons, although I do require that your child can read letters and numbers, can write at least their name and the numbers 1-5, and can focus on one task for at least 7 minutes. I try to change up activities often during lessons, but even still, 30 minute lessons can be a challenge for younger children.
Q: How much should my child be practicing piano?
A: My personal opinion on this topic is that how often you practice is more important than how many minutes you are practicing. I teach my students what they should practice during each practice session, and I ask that they practice at least five days a week. Everyone learns at a different pace, so I don't think it is useful to set a timer for practicing, but practice sessions should be at least longer than five minutes.