Frequently Asked Questions

  • How often should I practice?
  • As often as you want. Just know that the more you practice, the quicker you will be an amazing piano player. I've had students who were playing professionally in a band within a year because they practiced every day. I design my lessons so that we are not just reviewing the previous week and never getting anywhere. Even if you haven't practiced at all, we should still be able to make some progress within the hour that we are working together.

  • How young is too young?
  • It really depends on the child's attention span, level of enthusiasm for learning the piano, and energy level. Can your child sit down and be invested in a project that they enjoy for a full hour? What about just 45 minutes? Does your child have a genuine interest in learning piano? Will we be able to make any progress during the lesson, or will we just spend every week reviewing and getting nowhere? I'm happy to schedule an open-ended first lesson and we can evaluate it together after that.

  • What styles do you teach?
  • My goal is to teach you music theory, ear training, sight-reading, writing, ad-libbing etc. I give you the strong music base you need, and we will see together what style speaks to you the most, and we go with that. Eventually you won't even need me anymore. You'll be able to teach yourself.

  • Does the lesson have to be an hour?
    What if I want to split the lesson with my two kids, or pay for a shorter lesson?
  • One hour gives us so much time to review what we've already learned, cover the new stuff, and practice together. Especially for those who don't have a lot of time to practice, this time is very valuable. Also, since everyone is different, and I mold my lessons based on the individual, there isn't really a way to share a lesson. If you have a very young child who has a very short attention span, then maybe we can work something out, but I find very few instances where less than an hour is beneficial at all.

  • What kind of piano/keyboard should I buy?
  • I realized having a real piano is essential for me, because nothing gives me the same feeling as the bounce of those wooden keys. Go to a music store and just play. Play the Yamaha. You can't keep your hands off. Your ear and touch will be satisfied.