FAQs

What is the right age to start piano lessons?

You can start almost anytime, and at any stage of life! We welcome adult learners as well as younger learners.

is your child ready for piano lessons?

INTEREST

  • Does your child show an interest in piano?

  • Do they like listening and moving to music?

  • Are they excited about the prospect of piano lessons?

  • Is your child comfortable being away from you for short periods of time?

  • Does you child know the difference between “banging” on the piano keys vs. playing carefully?

COMMUNICATION

  • Does your child respond well to questions asked by adults other than parents/guardians?

  • Does your child sit and listen to stories with interest?

  • Is your child easily brought back to task when needed?

  • Can your child speak clearly and make themselves understood in most situations?

 COORDINATION

  • Can your child wiggle only their thumbs or only their index fingers when asked?

  • Can your child hold a pencil or crayon?

  • Is your child potty trained?

  • Can your child follow two-part directions when asked? (Ie, “Use your right hand to pick up the glass and then take it to the table.”

  • Can your child focus on a single task for 5-minute intervals?

 HOME

  • Do you have a piano or an adequate keyboard at home (or do you have plains to obtain one?) A home instrument is required.

  • Do you have the time to sit with your child regularly to assist with home piano practice? Preschool piano students need their parents to help them at home every day.

  • Do you have the ability to bring your child to lessons regularly? Consistency is important to your child’s success.

What are the practice expectations?

Practice expectations are based largely on age and the individual student’s development. However, there are a few rules of thumb that guide what I expect from students and parents at home

PRESCHOOL

  • Preschoolers should practice at least 5x a week outside of lessons, but typically the assignments won’t last for more than 5–10 minutes. Practicing will require full parental involvement. I strongly suggest making piano part of your routine and doing it at the same time every day; however, obviously, if the child is eager to play piano outside of that time frame, that should be encouraged. I also strongly recommend putting on recordings of piano music for a little bit every day, or if the parent plays at all, to play just a little bit every day. 

KINDERGARTEN & EARLY GRADES

  • Children aged 6–9 should expect to practice at least 5x a week outside of lessons for at least 15 to 30 minutes per day. The time span will increase as the student matures and the weekly assignments grow longer. Parental involvement is still very important at this stage, but around this stage (8 and 9) students start to take initiative in their own learning, and this should be respected.

 MIDDLE SCHOOL

  • Students in middle school should expect to practice at least 5x a week outside of lessons for at least the duration of their lesson time. For instance, if they have 30 minute lessons, they should practice for 30 minutes. If they have 45 minute lessons, they should plan on practicing a little more. Parental involvement is discussed on a case-by-case basis; students at this age are usually more than capable of organizing their own practice sessions, however, some external support and encouragement are sometimes needed.

 HIGH SCHOOL

  • Students in high school should expect to practice at least 5x a week outside of lessons for at least the duration of their lesson time. Parental involvement is discussed on a case-by-case basis; students at this age are usually more than capable of organizing their own practice sessions, however, some external support, encouragement, and incentives are sometimes needed.


    Incentives often come in handy for the “sophomore slump” (which may or may not actually be in their sophomore year), where students begin to cool off on piano lessons. This is typically because the novelty of making music has worn off, and the student realizes that actual work is going to be required going forward. This is extremely normal! (My own slump lasted about 3 years, and it still takes willpower and incentivization to get me to practice sometimes!) If the student can join a band, start composing, participate in concerts or competitions, or otherwise find meaningful music-making outside of piano lessons, it can make the slump much easier.