I teach students of all levels, beginner through advanced.

Minimum age is 5, able to start counting and writing letters. If your child is younger, you can prepare them for future lessons by singing songs and rhymes, exploring musical instruments, and listening to a wide variety of music.

Adult students are welcome.

I offer private in-home lessons on a weekly basis. Lesson options are 30 min, 45 min, or 60 min.

For young beginners age 5 to 7, I recommend 30 min or 45 min lessons. For later beginners through intermediate, I generally recommend 45 min lessons. For late intermediate through advanced, I recommend 60 min lessons. I may recommend a different lesson time based on individual needs.

Note for beginner students: 30 min lessons usually offer just enough time to cover the basics. 45 min lessons provide more room for in-depth learning and creativity.

I recommend setting aside 15 minutes once a week (before or after the weekly lesson works well) for students to complete theory and listening assignments. Parents with younger children, please prepare to help your child with these supplemental assignments.

A strong practice habit is essential for students to have a positive and meaningful experience with piano. The goal of practice is to complete the assignment! As such, practice time should be be however long it takes to complete the assignment sheet. Students are expected to practice at least 5 days a week to develop finger strength. Many correct repetitions are a necessary part of learning piano.

For a frame of reference, a ballpark estimate of how long a typical practice session might take can be taken as 3x the age of the student, in minutes (i.e. 15 min for a 5-year old, 30 min for a 10-year old, 45 min for a 15-year old).  Breaks may be taken for longer practice sessions for optimal focus at the bench. The more high quality practice students invest, the more they will excel and enjoy playing piano.

I will provide an assignment sheet after each lesson with three main parts: warmups, pieces, and supplemental (theory or listening). Enough time should be spent to complete all warmups and run through short pieces (or sections of longer pieces) 3x each. Supplemental assignments, when given, can typically be done in a 15 min time slot once a week.

I’m glad you asked! Here are a few tips for setting up a good practice atmosphere.

Eliminate distractions- please turn off the radio or TV, and eliminate as much background noise as possible. Music is the art of sound, so the student’s aural space should be a blank slate.

Establish a routine of practicing at the same time every day. Before school may be a good time for young children; before dinner may be a good time for teenagers. Pick a time when the student feels alert and not tired.

Listen for good practice effort- when your child is stopping to correct mistakes, counting out loud, or repeating a small section over again, that is good practice. When they finish playing a piece well, clap for them, even if you are in the other room!

Parents of young beginners, plan to sit with your child for practice! This is so important in the first year or two. As they grow and become accustomed to the process, you will find that they can start to practice more independently.

If at any point during the week the student is having a hard time with any part of their assignment, please contact me via text and I will be happy to help them get unstuck.

For beginner through intermediate students:  An upright acoustical piano is highly recommended for developing appropriate finger strength and touch. I am happy to recommend reputable brands. Acoustic pianos typically need tuning at least once a year.

For advanced students: A baby grand or grand piano has the most suitable action, sound, and pedals for playing technically demanding and advanced level repertoire.

What about a digital piano? A good quality digital piano with weighted keys and pedal will be adequate if your practice environment can’t handle an acoustic piano (i.e. apartment with thin walls), or if you are saving up for a good quality acoustic.

I offer ABRSM exam preparation for students who have been with me for at least a year, and may recommend increasing lesson time if a student is interested. For those new to ABRSM, it is a UK-based global evaluation board for music students, and offers grades 1 through 8. There is a selection of 3-4 pieces which the student will need to master, and if doing the practical exam, a technical, sight reading, and aural portion. There is an optional but recommended theory component, with grade 5 theory being a prerequisite to the higher levels. Exam fees will be additional, as they are not included in tuition. For more information, see https://us.abrsm.org/en/

The in-person exam typically takes place during a weekday in the greater bay area, so students will need to take some time off of school on their exam day. Alternatively, there is an online performance-only option, in which students can record their pieces from home and submit for evaluation. Exams can be a good motivator for students, and offer an independent third party commentary on student’s level and performance. Exams may not be for everyone, please discuss with instructor if interested.