Frequently Asked Questions
How frequent will music lessons be?
Lessons typically occur once per week. Lessons can be scheduled twice per week by request for students who don’t have a comprehensive instrumental music program at their school and/or they are preparing for a major audition/performance.
What is the typical duration of each lesson?
Lesson can be 30 or 45 minutes long dependent upon a student’s current skill set and desired goal. Extended lessons for 60-90 minutes are offered by request for intermediate to advance students who are preparing for an audition/performance.
Are virtual lessons equally effective as face to face lessons
Yes they are equally effective. Often times there is no need for physical contact between the student and instructor unless the student is an absolute beginner and needs help with coordinating large and fine motor skills. The quality of the lesson is not compromised as long as students are prepared with the appropriate materials and connected to reliable Wi-Fi.
What do I need to participate in virtual lessons?
- A Skype or Gmail account
- Music stand, pencil, instrument, music books
- Metronome/tuner
- Reliable Wi-Fi connection
- Desktop, laptop, and/or mobile device with a web camera and microphone
- A quiet room with limited opportunity for interruptions
what materials will i need for lessons?
- Instrument
- Music Stand
- Folder/Binder
- Music
- Technique/Method and Solo Books
- Metronome/Tuner - Can be purchased as an all in one device or separately.
- Pencil (only)
- Instrument Stand (optional)
- Cleaning cloth/swab for instrument (flute/clarinet)
- Music Theory Book
Why should students participate in recitals and other performances frequently?
Best practices show that most humans require an external motivator such as a deadline or goal to stay motivated for consistent effort towards study and practice of any endeavor such as homework completion to prepare for school tests and weight loss for a special occasion. Recitals and performances offer the external motivation as most students will strive to perform well for their audience.
How early can a child start music lessons?
The age to start music lessons can vary by student based on their size, control of fine motor skills, maturity, and rate of cognitive development. In most cases, it is never too early to start learning a musical instrument. A child’s arm span and strength can be a factor in what instrument they learn first. Some instruments including flute and violin have customized sizes to accommodate younger students. Piano lessons can start as early as 3 years old if the student can differentiate their left from right hand and can wiggle each finger separately on demand.
Can playing wind instruments help improve breath control in asthma sufferers?
In my experience, I have witnessed younger children with asthma improve their ability to breathe deeply. Asthma sufferers tend to have shallow breathing habits that can lead to panic attacks, wheezing, and asthma attacks. Most adults aren’t aware of their breathing habits and likely engage in shallow breathing from their chest. Unless you are a trained athlete and/or musician, it’s more likely that you aren’t aware of your breathing depth. Learning to play any wind instrument will require you to develop deeper breathing habits.
How much time should a student commit to practicing?
The instructor will provide each student with a practice plan to aid in achieving their identified goals. Frequency and consistency are crucial to developing and retaining technique and skills. Students of all ages should commit to practicing at least 5 days per week for 20 – 60 minutes dependent upon age and competitiveness.
How much do new instruments cost?
Beginner students of any age can invest in student brand flutes until they have committed to long term study. Decent student brand instruments can range from $200 and up. Avoid purchasing instruments through 3rd party vendors such as pawn shops, E-bay and Amazon as they don’t offer warranties, maintenance services, and the condition of the instrument is unknown until it’s delivered. The price may be appealing, but you often get what you pay for. Quality intermediate to advance level instruments can cost $800 and more.
For young beginner piano students you can invest in a small 61 key electronic keyboard or 88 key electronic keyboard for the cost of approximately $150. The sound quality of the keyboard will be compromised for brands that cost $100 or less. If you are confident that you or your student are in it for the long haul consider investing in an advanced Casio, Roland, and /or Yamaha electronic keyboard. Purchasing upright and/or grand pianos are a significant investment that should be discussed with a specialist before purchase.
For young beginner piano students you can invest in a small 61 key electronic keyboard or 88 key electronic keyboard for the cost of approximately $150. The sound quality of the keyboard will be compromised for brands that cost $100 or less. If you are confident that you or your student are in it for the long haul consider investing in an advanced Casio, Roland, and /or Yamaha electronic keyboard. Purchasing upright and/or grand pianos are a significant investment that should be discussed with a specialist before purchase.
Will I learn music theory during lessons?
Yes.
Why does the cost vary for in home, virtual, and in studio lessons?
Quite frankly, time is money. Traveling to a student’s home requires a significant amount of time on the behalf of the instructor which could be spent providing instruction to more students. There is also a high demand for in home lessons. Reduced prices are offered for in studio and virtual lessons. Because technology can sometimes be unpredictable, virtual lessons are the most affordable option to account for potential issues.