What's included
Meets on Demand
schedule meetings as needed30 mins
per sessionTeacher support
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Students should practice every week. Young beginners should practice at least 15 minutes a day, 3 to 5 days a week. Intermediate to early advanced students should practice 20-40 minutes a day 5 to 7 days a week. Again, it depends on the student's age, level, and goals. Have I taught students that don't practice at all? Yes, and I will continue to. Life is busy and I'm forgiving, but it is highly recommended that students DO practice in order to get the most out of their lessons.Assessment
I will use informal assessments of progress as we go. Once a song or concept is mastered, we move on to the next. If the student is using Royal Conservatory of Music literature, we can prepare for real exams or mock exams to be done in class. Exams are not mandatory however!Class Experience
US Grade Kindergarten - 12
Beginner - Advanced Level
This ongoing, once-a-week class is for students who want to learn piano and music theory. I tailor my lessons to the individual. From beginners to early advanced, I have been helping students achieve their musical goals for over a decade. **Please let me know in advance of your child's first lesson what they would like to learn and if they have had music lessons before. If you do not see a time that works for you, reach out to me. I may have other availability during the week. If you would like 45 minute or 1 hour lessons (best for intermediate/advanced) I offer that as well.** Piano: I use a method like Faber’s Piano Adventures or the Alfred Series with beginners. I will meet intermediate/advanced students where they are and we will go from there. I can prepare students for Royal Conservatory of Music / ABRSM exams, or we can just use the material without exams in the mix. These books include classical repertoire, studies, technique, and sight-reading/ear training. Students who want to learn their favorite songs from the radio, we can do that too provided you have already done some work in a method book and can read some music! To students who have done some work in a method book and have a few years of lessons behind them, I can also teach comping/chording, which is a type of accompaniment playing for those who want to sing along with their playing or accompany other musicians (in a band, for example.) This type of lesson includes understanding key signatures, the circle of fifths, scales, chord types, chord inversions and how to use them, roman numerals and chord symbols, etc. Not sure? No problem, I am happy to consult on materials and goals. Theory: Music theory is an important part of any music lesson and will generally be taught alongside piano. However some students just wish to take a theory class as a standalone, and I’m happy to oblige. Whether the student is prepping for a theory exam or just wants to learn the ins and outs of music-reading, I can provide tutoring in this subject. All that is needed is a theory workbook at the appropriate level, which I can recommend if needed. There is really no limit to what we can achieve in our piano classes. The most important thing to me is that students are having fun and enjoying the process of learning music!
Learning Goals
Students' goals will depend on their age, level, and interests. We will discuss specific goals before our first class and evaluate them as we go. Most importantly, we want to have fun learning to play the piano.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
We may occasionally use YouTube to view and listen to music and song lyrics. I will often just screenshare YouTube with the student, but sometimes I may place YouTube links into the classroom for students to watch on their own time. Students will not need their own YouTube account for this.
Parents are asked to keep track of what students are playing, particularly if the student is learning popular music. Song lyrics vary widely and so do parents' thresholds for what they are okay with their children learning. I filter songs the best I can for language and content, but parental input is extremely valuable and necessary. If you have a concern about any of the material, bring it to my attention so that we can adjust or use different material!
We may occasionally use musictheory.net as a learning resource. Most of the time, if we use the site at all, I will just screenshare the website with the student in order to play note-naming games. Occasionally I may put a link to the website in the classroom so that the student can note-name on their own time. Musictheory.net is COPPA compliant, and students will not be required to sign up with their own account for this type of usage.
Supply List
A piano, a pencil, and any books or sheet music that may be required for lessons. If you have books already, great. If not, I will recommend the best music books for your learner depending on their age and experience. Students may need to tweak their Zoom settings to make it functional for music lessons, which may require parental help upon initial set-up. I can walk parents/students through this easy process (some minor changes in Zoom's audio settings) if they're needed.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Texas Christian University
I have a BA in Vocal Performance from Texas Christian University and was certified to teach Music grades EC-12 in the State of Texas for many years. I have taught private piano, singing, and theory lessons for over a decade to students from ages 4 all the way to adults post-retirement.
Reviews
Live 1-on-1 Lessons
$36
per sessionMeets on demand
30 min
Completed by 6 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 6-18