Classes offered
Private Piano Lessons
Available to students of all ages, our private piano lessons are personalized to you and your needs. Classes are weekly, and you can choose from a 30-60 minute lesson. Recommended lengths are 30 min for students 4-8 years old, 45 min for intermediate students, and 60 minutes for advanced/adults. Lessons are comprehensive and cover technique, music reading, improvisation and music theory. In-person lessons are located at my home in Kent, WA. If distance is an issue, online classes are the way to go, being convenient and just as effective as in-person.
Group piano classes
Our group piano master classes are currently once every school year; they are included in the fee for private lessons. Students benefit from interacting with their peers and performing for each other. They are arranged by age, not level, in order to support each other. In addition to performing, students will also receive music theory and history instruction in a group setting.
Online piano lessons
Online classes are done through Zoom or Skype; all you will need is a stable Internet connection and a place to put your device so the piano is visible. We pride ourselves on having the same quality or better lesson in the online format. With video chat, we get the one-on-one interaction and view that you would in a regular lesson. We use screen sharing of digital copies of the music to mark and write in notes, and a detailed email with assignments and supplemental video links will be provided after the lesson to guide you in your practice throughout the week.
music theory and history classes
Extra music classes and workshops are available for additional learning opportunities in the year. We have group theory for adults or teens wanting to learn more in-depth music theory and history to understand and listen to music. For children up to 14, we have supplemental classes through Outschool.com on various subjects. Click here to see our current offerings.
materials
piano
Whether you choose to go digital or acoustic, the important aspects are that the piano has 88 weighted keys, a pedal, a stable stand, and a bench or seat that is the right height. Acoustic pianos should be tuned twice a year. For digital, some good brands are Yamaha P series and Roland FP series, and you can always ask me for advice.
books
We use principally Faber’s Piano Adventures series which you can explore here. For repertoire and technique, you will be assigned books more personalized to you and expected to buy them promptly.
metronome
A metronome, which uses clicks to mark the beat, is a necessary tool to learning to play with rhythm. You can buy a physical one, or if not, digital pianos often come with one, or a metronome app can be downloaded on a smart phone.