Is my child ready for group lessons?Our group lessons are designed for four and five year olds. We do interviews to determine whether your child is ready for our group before signing up for lessons. Please go to 'Contact Us' to sign up for an interview.
What should I expect after a semester of group lessons?We start with feeling a steady beat because we believe that's the most important foundation; it's essential to have a good sense of rhythm before introducing the melody. Students will develop a good sense of beat, learn basic rhythm and note reading, and short pieces on the piano. All our students participate in the recital at the end of each semester, and they will choose their favorite song to play for the recital.
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How do the group lessons work?We keep our group lessons small, five kids maximum, so the instructor is able to give attention to each child in the class. We ask that during lessons parents make themselves comfortable in our waiting area; we are training your child to be more independent in preparation for their future private lessons.
We focus on finger techniques, analytic skills, and listening skills in every lesson. Each lesson is divided into group activities and one-on-one time. During the group activities, students will sing songs, work on proper techniques through movements, learn new musical concepts, and do ear-training together. After that, students work on worksheets to enhance reading skills and review that lesson's concepts with an assistant, while the instructor works with individual students at the piano for songs and playing skills. |
I'm not ready to buy a piano yet, can I use a keyboard?You don’t have to have a real (acoustic) piano to start, although we strongly recommend them after one or two years of study so the student's progress doesn't stall. An electronic/digital piano is fine to begin with, provided that it has 88 weighted keys and all accessories (music stand attached to piano, bench, stand for keyboard). We recommend the model Yamaha P45B as a starter digital piano. You can read more about digital pianos here. Acoustic upright pianos are also available for rental; we're happy to provide information and recommend local piano stores :)
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Do I need to Practice with my child at home?Yes. It's very important that parents are committed to help their children practice at home. Students at this young age need your supervision when they practice. They need your help to read the homework assignment, ensure they practice correctly, and help them keep a good habit of practice. 10 to 15 minutes of practice daily will help your child progress appropriately in the beginning. We have practice guides for the group lesson parents, and even parents with no music experience can follow them. Our group instructor is happy to answer questions on how to practice at home.
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