Lessons are 45 minutes long. This allows plenty of time not only for playing the instrument, but also for listening and learning “off the bench.” Students are paired with someone of similar age and ability. There are several advantages to this type of arrangement, including regular opportunities to play in front of people other than a family member or a teacher, practicing essential social skills like listening and developing patience, and collaborating musically with duos and duets. Not only do we play, but we move and sing to internalize the rhythms and melodies, and we work on music theory to help us find patterns and make music of our own.

The studio is in Millennium Plaza in Brandon, close to Brandon Parkway and Brandon Exchange.

Lessons are scheduled either weekly or biweekly for a total of 44 or 22 lessons, allowing time for school breaks. 6 of the 44 lessons (or 4 of the 22 lessons) occur in the summer months - studio musicians are expected to make music all year long! Lessons are billed monthly.

Tuition reserves your scheduled lesson time. Once you reserve your slot in the studio by paying the annual fee, all music, music scores, technology subscriptions, and memberships that allow for performances are included.

There is an expression associated with physical fitness - “Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym.” The studio is like the gym, where we learn the techniques to bring home! A well-maintained piano or a full-sized digital keyboard with weighted keys is essential for the best “cooking.” The full size ensures that our young musicians are learning the orientation of the keyboard correctly, while the weight helps students develop proper technique as they learn to play a wide range of sounds.

I like to tell my students that any day they have a meal is a great day to practice! It’s quite difficult to learn how to play the piano without playing the piano. This means making music at home at least 4-5 days week for a minimum of 10 minutes at a time. When parents are engaged with this work, the time often flies! Time can vary based on age and student assignments.