What is the youngest age student you take? Do you teach adults also?
The youngest students we take for piano / keyboard and voice lessons is 4.
The youngest students we take for clarinet or saxophone lessons is 7.
We absolutely teach adults. It’s never too late to learn!
The youngest students we take for clarinet or saxophone lessons is 7.
We absolutely teach adults. It’s never too late to learn!
Do I/we need to have a piano?
Students need to have an instrument to take lessons on whether at home or remotely and to practice on between lessons. Keyboards are fine and if you don't currently have a piano, it is the most cost-effective way for a beginner to get started. We can make a specific recommendation regarding a purchase.
Tell me about your musical background and experience.
Scott and Kathy both have formal training and are lifelong musicians.
While Kathy just joined Scott in his music school in early 2024, it was not long before she started having families refer her to their friends.Scott has been providing piano and keyboard lessons since 1993 and still has staff members who first joined his school over 10 years ago.
Recruiting any additional staff members in the future will involve a careful vetting process among experienced private piano teachers who are looking to take on additional students through employment with our long established music school..
While Kathy just joined Scott in his music school in early 2024, it was not long before she started having families refer her to their friends.Scott has been providing piano and keyboard lessons since 1993 and still has staff members who first joined his school over 10 years ago.
Recruiting any additional staff members in the future will involve a careful vetting process among experienced private piano teachers who are looking to take on additional students through employment with our long established music school..
How long are the lessons and how often? Can I/we just have lessons every other week or once a month? What if it's hard to find time to practice?
Students have a choice between 30-minute, 45-minute and 1-hour weekly lessons with a regular schedule for lessons on the same day & time each week. 30-minute lessons are sufficient for young beginners.
Weekly lessons are important for consistency in learning and progressing. With so many families interested in and willing to commit to weekly lessons and some of them waiting for a timeslot that works for them to open up / become available - we are not able to give time slots to families who can not commit to a regular consistent weekly lesson schedule.
Students always progress at a faster pace when there is a consistent practice routine. However, students will still progress just by virtue of instruction time so if you are / were wondering about less frequent lessons based on such a concern - know that we are patient and understanding and that a student can and will always benefit from instruction even if they found little to no time to practice – as long as they are attentive to the instruction and following directions during their lesson time. The same goes for adult students who at times may sometimes have difficulty finding adequate time to practice.
Families who are committed to the benefits of music lessons for their children will often keep them enrolled for years – knowing full well that there may be periods of time that getting them to practice enough may be a challenge.
It is best to establish a regular practice routine from the start if possible. Many of our students practice in the morning before they leave for school or right after school before they begin doing homework.
Giving students opportunities to learn music they truly love – once they learn the fundamentals – can be motivating – and this becomes an integral part of their lesson experience once they have progressed…
Weekly lessons are important for consistency in learning and progressing. With so many families interested in and willing to commit to weekly lessons and some of them waiting for a timeslot that works for them to open up / become available - we are not able to give time slots to families who can not commit to a regular consistent weekly lesson schedule.
Students always progress at a faster pace when there is a consistent practice routine. However, students will still progress just by virtue of instruction time so if you are / were wondering about less frequent lessons based on such a concern - know that we are patient and understanding and that a student can and will always benefit from instruction even if they found little to no time to practice – as long as they are attentive to the instruction and following directions during their lesson time. The same goes for adult students who at times may sometimes have difficulty finding adequate time to practice.
Families who are committed to the benefits of music lessons for their children will often keep them enrolled for years – knowing full well that there may be periods of time that getting them to practice enough may be a challenge.
It is best to establish a regular practice routine from the start if possible. Many of our students practice in the morning before they leave for school or right after school before they begin doing homework.
Giving students opportunities to learn music they truly love – once they learn the fundamentals – can be motivating – and this becomes an integral part of their lesson experience once they have progressed…
Is there a long-term commitment? How much should students practice?
There is not a long-term commitment required as far as a business policy or contractual obligation goes. This is just a simple month-to-month agreement. However, if your goal is for you and / or the student(s) in your home to develop / build life-long skills it is a process for which you & your family should be dedicated to the idea of remaining enrolled for at least a few years if not longer.
We are happy and grateful to work with any family regardless of how much they are looking to benefit from the opportunity that taking lessons presents.
We realize that parents are looking to enroll their child(ren) on a wait and see basis. We also understand that there may be competing priorities and that each family must determine for themselves how well and for how long piano/keyboard lessons fit into their lives.
Many students, including adult students and the parents of our students are just looking for the student(s) in their home to learn the basics and for their child(ren) to become more well-rounded.
In this kind of most common scenario - playing through assigned pieces a few times at a setting a few times a week is enough to ensure steady forward progress.
We are happy and grateful to work with any family regardless of how much they are looking to benefit from the opportunity that taking lessons presents.
We realize that parents are looking to enroll their child(ren) on a wait and see basis. We also understand that there may be competing priorities and that each family must determine for themselves how well and for how long piano/keyboard lessons fit into their lives.
Many students, including adult students and the parents of our students are just looking for the student(s) in their home to learn the basics and for their child(ren) to become more well-rounded.
In this kind of most common scenario - playing through assigned pieces a few times at a setting a few times a week is enough to ensure steady forward progress.
Can I talk with some of the families you work with?
Some families are happy to make a little time to do that - We can ask a few families if it is OK to give you their contact information.
You are also encouraged to read our Google reviews.
You are also encouraged to read our Google reviews.
Do we get to meet you or our teacher first?
Since my first student & family I ever worked with way back in April of 1993 and ever since not only have I offered the free meet & greet sessions, but I require this prior to our first lesson. I think it is important that we get to know each other better and that you have the chance to have any further questions you may have answered. This also gives me the chance to demonstrate my musical skills which I hope will inspire you and / or the student(s) in your home about the benefits of the opportunity they are being granted by enrolling in lessons.
Kathy also does meet and greets – and if we assign another staff member they will reach out to you to speak with you and introduce themselves prior to their first lessons with your family.
Kathy and / or I will also hole a remote meet & greet with those of your whom we assign to another instructor as well.
For families that will be doing their lessons remotely – the meet and greets are also conducted remotely – but if you are local enough and we can find a mutually agreeable time that works for both of us – these may also be held at your home.
Kathy also does meet and greets – and if we assign another staff member they will reach out to you to speak with you and introduce themselves prior to their first lessons with your family.
Kathy and / or I will also hole a remote meet & greet with those of your whom we assign to another instructor as well.
For families that will be doing their lessons remotely – the meet and greets are also conducted remotely – but if you are local enough and we can find a mutually agreeable time that works for both of us – these may also be held at your home.
How long does it take to learn?
Every student is unique with a different aptitude combined with variations in how much time they are willing and able to set time aside for regular, consistent practice. This is also an open-ended question because there is a big difference between playing something like Yankee Doodle with single notes and something more advanced like Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.
Most students are typically playing simple songs in which they are reading real notes on the music staff within the first 3 to 4 weeks and songs with both hands together within the first year - and sometimes within as little time as 6 months or less. Every student’s musical journey is different…
Students who are less than 6 years old will often spend some months in a book in which reading real notes will not begin for a few to several months, but they will still be playing simple songs and in most cases beginning to understand rhythm and timing early on as well.
Most students are typically playing simple songs in which they are reading real notes on the music staff within the first 3 to 4 weeks and songs with both hands together within the first year - and sometimes within as little time as 6 months or less. Every student’s musical journey is different…
Students who are less than 6 years old will often spend some months in a book in which reading real notes will not begin for a few to several months, but they will still be playing simple songs and in most cases beginning to understand rhythm and timing early on as well.
Can students really learn effectively through remote / online lessons?
When I first began offering remote lessons, I was not sure at first until I gained some experience in teaching that way. Most of my students who were on my schedule at the time of the pandemic shutdowns elected to continue their study and switch to remote lessons. Not only did all of them choose to continue with remote lessons even as health and safety concerns largely subsided, but many newly enrolling families have chosen the remote option with their young beginner students and have seen great progress. Now that I have been actively promoting that option for a few years, I have been able to witness firsthand that beginner students can progress through their lesson books as well as supplementary music in s similar fashion to students who take lessons with me in person. Most of them have also been in and continue to participate in Zoom recitals and others even participated in our in-person venue when this option was happily reinstituted in 2024.
The bottom line is that my students and I can see and hear each other, are both at our instruments and have the same materials in front of us.
As long as I can clearly see them and hear them, then I can even be sure to adapt to and be sensitive to how they are feeling since I can then still pick up on facial expression, body language and other cues that I had been more used to tuning into in person.
Other instructors on my staff have found remote lessons work well for them and their students as well.
The bottom line is that my students and I can see and hear each other, are both at our instruments and have the same materials in front of us.
As long as I can clearly see them and hear them, then I can even be sure to adapt to and be sensitive to how they are feeling since I can then still pick up on facial expression, body language and other cues that I had been more used to tuning into in person.
Other instructors on my staff have found remote lessons work well for them and their students as well.
Do you have recitals? Are they required? Do/can beginners participate? Can I/we watch one?
Recital participation is not mandatory, but strongly encouraged. Even total beginners that started just a couple of months before recital season started may play one or two short pieces from near the beginning of their first lesson book. New students and families who may prefer to wait until the following recital season to participate are more than welcome to connect to one of the remote events so they can get a feel for them the season before the student(s) in their home perform for the first time.
Our Zoom subscription allows for up to 100 connections to any event we host so we also welcome anyone that has been considering lessons for themselves and / or their children to join and watch.
Beginners may also come to watch or may participate in one of our in-person recitals which are a decades long tradition which was just resumed in 2024 after a few years of remote recitals only during the pandemic…
Our Zoom subscription allows for up to 100 connections to any event we host so we also welcome anyone that has been considering lessons for themselves and / or their children to join and watch.
Beginners may also come to watch or may participate in one of our in-person recitals which are a decades long tradition which was just resumed in 2024 after a few years of remote recitals only during the pandemic…
What if we have to miss a lesson?
We understand that things come up. Like most music schools and private music instructors, tuition charges are based on enrollment, not on attendance. No credit is given even if the missed lesson(s) is / are not made-up / rescheduled. However, we may provide options to make up such missed lessons.
Sometimes, due to a heavy teaching schedule – this may require doing the weekends or waiting until a school break or any time of the year that school is out of session for our younger students when it is easier to provide a time prior to the usual after school teaching hours.
Sometimes, due to a heavy teaching schedule – this may require doing the weekends or waiting until a school break or any time of the year that school is out of session for our younger students when it is easier to provide a time prior to the usual after school teaching hours.
Are your lessons year-round? What if we want to take a summer break?
We provide lessons year-round - and staying consistently officially enrolled and actively taking lessons is strongly encouraged for maximum benefit.
During the summer – it is easier to make up a few missed lessons due to vacation travel by rescheduling for an earlier time during the day and as charges still apply – we are happy to try to work out such arrangements.
If a student wants to take a break of 4 weeks or longer (even non-consecutive weeks) then there will be no charges for those missed weeks.
For those taking an extended break of one or two or three consecutive months – there is no guarantee that your timeslot will be reserved or held for you. But if such a promise is made – it will be honored.
This is more likely to be done for families that have taken an extended summer break in the past and have shown a commitment to resuming lessons again in September.
During the summer – it is easier to make up a few missed lessons due to vacation travel by rescheduling for an earlier time during the day and as charges still apply – we are happy to try to work out such arrangements.
If a student wants to take a break of 4 weeks or longer (even non-consecutive weeks) then there will be no charges for those missed weeks.
For those taking an extended break of one or two or three consecutive months – there is no guarantee that your timeslot will be reserved or held for you. But if such a promise is made – it will be honored.
This is more likely to be done for families that have taken an extended summer break in the past and have shown a commitment to resuming lessons again in September.
My child(ren) has/have special needs. Do you teach students with challenges/disabilities?
I worked with adults with developmentally disabilities in group homes as well as at a residential school for children with autism for 4 1/2 years from 1989-1993 before I began my long-standing music education career. I continue to work with special needs children and young adults who are enrolled in piano / keyboard lessons with me, both at their homes as well as remotely. It has been a very personally rewarding way for me to have moved forward in this long journey as a free-lance business owner without leaving the cause of and my strong sentiment of advocacy and support for those special people whose qualities remind us that each of us is truly unique and differently abled and just how interdependent we really are...
Kathy has special needs experience as well – as do some of our staff members.
Kathy has special needs experience as well – as do some of our staff members.
What if there's a waiting list? How long until you can work with us? You have other teachers?
There was a time that I had a waiting list – which is how my music school originally grew into involving my late wife of blessed memory for 20 years as well as growing a team of additional instructors.
It is quite possible that by the fall of 2025, with the stronger internet presence that will be achieved by then that myself and my new bride Kathy who joined me in my music school in 2024 could be at full capacity as well as the few instructors that we have on staff.
While heading up a more limited team could still result in us and our team being booked to capacity – we will limit our staff to no more than 30 students while we ourselves are at full capacity as we wish to ensure that all of our students are receiving quality instruction while we ourselves do the majority of the teaching.
We certainly understand if your family is not willing and able to wait to begin lessons and look for other options.
Should we develop a waiting list – we will keep everyone posted regarding any openings – and those first in line will typically likely be able to be scheduled within a few to several weeks if any of those new schedule openings work for them – and if not – we will reach out to those further down the list.
With the number of students we work with at full capacity and many students taking just a few years of lessons on average – there are always bound to be a few students discontinuing their lessons within a few weeks at any given point in time.
It is quite possible that by the fall of 2025, with the stronger internet presence that will be achieved by then that myself and my new bride Kathy who joined me in my music school in 2024 could be at full capacity as well as the few instructors that we have on staff.
While heading up a more limited team could still result in us and our team being booked to capacity – we will limit our staff to no more than 30 students while we ourselves are at full capacity as we wish to ensure that all of our students are receiving quality instruction while we ourselves do the majority of the teaching.
We certainly understand if your family is not willing and able to wait to begin lessons and look for other options.
Should we develop a waiting list – we will keep everyone posted regarding any openings – and those first in line will typically likely be able to be scheduled within a few to several weeks if any of those new schedule openings work for them – and if not – we will reach out to those further down the list.
With the number of students we work with at full capacity and many students taking just a few years of lessons on average – there are always bound to be a few students discontinuing their lessons within a few weeks at any given point in time.