FAQs

Yes! I am a mother of two fantastic young adults who are neurodiverse so I have personal experience as a mom and as a piano teacher. I am continually seeking out continuing education to stay up to date with current research about various diagnoses. If I am inexperienced with a specific diagnosis, I would love the opportunity to get to know your child and and partner with you in introducing them to the world of music and the joy that it can bring them! I firmly believe that all of our students who experience the world differently have incredible gifts and passions to share with those they love. Students with physical disabilities are also very welcome in my studio. Service dogs are welcome! My daughter is a service dog handler and we are very familiar with the protocol for being around service animals.

Yes! I love teaching adults! I frequently have adult students who studied piano as a child and would like to begin again. I have adult students who have always wanted to learn to play the piano and they are diving in for the first time! My adult students range from recent high graduates to retirees! Research shows that engaging in music study is beneficial for our brains, especially as we age. I have so much respect for my adult students for doing something new that is so far outside of their comfort zone. Playing the piano in front of another person can cause nervousness for some - this is normal! I do everything I can to make it fun, relaxing, and engaging!

The short answer is YES. Learning piano is a combination of learning a new (musical) language and a new physical skill set. This will take daily practice at the piano. Students must have daily access to a piano even if it is not in your own home. Although there are acoustic and digital options, I recommend acoustic first and foremost. If a digital piano is more affordable and available, at minimum they MUST have 88 keys and be weighted (touch-sensitive) with a damper pedal. Please talk with me about the many options there are for pianos. I am happy to help!

There are many free and inexpensive acoustic pianos available on Marketplace and other sales websites. There are many factors to consider before acquiring one of these pianos. Has it been properly maintained? (Regularly tuned.) Where has it been stored? (Climate-controlled storage is a must.) How much will it cost to move? (Pianos are HEAVY and often require professional piano movers.) What is the yearly cost to maintain an acoustic piano? (They should be tuned 1-2x a year.)

For pre-college students, I recommend having a lesson once per week. It can be challenging to make satisfactory progress otherwise. I am happy to work with you on an alternative schedule if it is needed. I offer 30-minute, 45-minute, and 60-minute lessons. Ideally, I would love to have every student in a 45-minute lesson because of all the activities we need to try to fit into a short lesson, but I also understand that schedules and finances can make this difficult.

For adult students, I am happy to offer a weekly lesson or you can schedule a lesson with me as needed. In the case of the latter, I would invoice only for each lesson as scheduled.

There is so much that goes on behind the scenes in a piano studio! In addition to significant and detailed training from a young age, there is often undergraduate and graduate degrees, continuing education, certification, and professional development. As teachers, we are also running small businesses. We have costs that include instrument insurance, business insurance, music library, office supplies, teaching supplies, technology, and professional organization memberships. Our time includes not only one-on-one time with students but also lesson planning, repertoire planning, problem solving, webinars, meetings, event planning and organization, professional development, and more. The amount of time I spend one-on-one with your student is also matched by an equal amount of time I spend developing a personalized lesson for your student each week. Music study is a valuable investment! Research continually proves the benefits of music study for children. A love and appreciation for music is a lifelong benefit as well.