Serving: Burlington, Elon and Whitsett
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my child is ready to begin piano lessons?
While some teachers will take students as young as 4-years-old, I prefer to begin with students age 6 or older since I am a beginning teacher. Students should have basic reading skills, a long enough attention span to focus for 30 minutes, basic fine motor skills, and a desire to learn.
How often does my child need a lesson?
Weekly lessons are best to be able to reinforce important concepts, but I am open to bi-weekly lessons if a weekly commitment is too difficult for your family.
How much do lessons cost?
Most piano teachers in our area charge $25-$30 per 30 minute lesson. Since I am new to teaching piano I plan to under-charge for awhile and charge just $20 per 30 minute lesson. Please know that as I gain experience I will likely gradually raise my rates.
What books do I need and how much do they cost?
I plan to use the Faber Piano Adventures series that includes Theory, Lesson, Performance, and Technique books. The Primer set of books costs about $30. You can order these yourself or I can order them for you.
Do I need a piano or can I use a keyboard at home?
An acoustic piano is ideal, but I understand there may be hesitation to make that financial investment while a student is just beginning to explore his or her interest in learning piano. A keyboard can be an acceptable alternative but please make sure the keyboard has all 88 keys and weighted keys would be ideal.
What can I expect during my child's lesson and at home?
During the lesson we will work through parts of all 4 books. I will assign review of some of the lesson content as well as some new material for homework. "Practice makes perfect" is absolutely true with music lessons. It is important that you and your child are able to commit to around 30 minutes per day for piano homework and practice.
When are lessons available?
I am going to start by offering lessons on Wednesdays and Fridays. I can be flexible about times of day as I know there are many kinds of school schedules happening this year. Please contact me to discuss your scheduling needs.
What is your absence & make-up policy?
I plan to begin with a very flexible absence and make-up policy, but if I find this is not working it will be revised. If I need to cancel a lesson, we can either make it up at a mutually convenient time or we can skip it & no payment will be expected. If you need to cancel a lesson, I would appreciate 24 hours notice to avoid being charged for the lesson. With less than 24 hours notice, payment is expected and a make-up lesson can be arranged, or not - your choice.
What about COVID-19?
I plan to offer in-person lessons this fall, and will make sure to schedule students at intervals that allow me to sanitize the keyboard after each student. Since we will be sitting within 6 feet of one another I will plan to wear a mask and ask that your student do the same during lesson time. To limit exposure, I prefer that only the student come inside for lessons and that other family members remain in the car or enjoy a walk in the neighborhood.
What are my scheduling and payment options?
I plan to begin with very flexible scheduling options. The fall 2020 semester allows for 15 weeks (8/26-12/11, no lessons Thanksgiving week). I am happy to offer weekly or bi-weekly lessons depending on what works best for your family. We will agree on a schedule before you begin and you will be billed for the number of lessons you commit to for the semester. I can accept payment via Paypal, Venmo, Cash, or Check and you are welcome to pay in installments, in full, or by the lesson.