Frequently Asked Questions
Still have a question? Here we answer some of the most frequent to help you learn more about what to expect on this musical journey! If you still find yourself wondering something, or have a specific situation not addressed below, please feel free to contact us via phone or email (Full Contact Info found at the bottom of Home, Meet the Teacher, and Studio Policies). Or, send me an email by clicking this button!
GENERAL
Are online lessons really as effective as in person lessons?
This is the most common question! There are a variety of ways to learn piano effectively, and everyone's needs are different. This is why we offer a trial lesson with no financial commitment so you can see how well the online experience works. Many students love the convenience of learning from home on their own instrument instead of sitting in traffic after work scrambling to get to a physical studio on time to play on a different piano. Parents love not needing to sit and wait while their young learners are in their lessons. Online lessons come with many conveniences.
But can a teacher see when I've made a mistake if we're online?
Well...sort of, yes! Qualified teachers actually don't need to SEE you at all to know if you made a mistake in your playing. They will hear the mistake before seeing it, even if sitting in person! If the teacher is experienced, they will likely know WHY you made the mistake and how to fix it before it even happens.
I don't have my own piano yet, do you have any recommendations?
Yes! There's a variety of pianos you can buy depending on your budget and space at home. While the best piano you could own is a grand piano, it is NOT necessary for a beginner! An electric piano is a great option at an affordable price! When at a music store, ask to see pianos with 88 weighted keys, access to a sustain pedal (also called a damper pedal), and key velocity for dynamics. A bench is also a nice perk, but not necessary. Access to a headphone jack is also nice so you don't disturb anyone else you may live with, but built-in speakers will be necessary for sharing your music with others or over a Zoom lesson when needed. While a variety of sounds on these keyboards are fun, they should not be a selling point and will not be used in learning how to play.
If you're looking at buying an acoustic piano, there are a few different things to keep in mind. First, make sure it is in good condition and can be maintained. While all acoustic pianos will require occasional tuning, some may also have additional maintenance such as hydration. Ask the seller about these details before purchasing. Pianos tend to get knocked out of tune due to things like weather, humidity, and especially movement. If you have an acoustic piano moved to your home, you may want to hire a professional piano tuner to come and get it back into shape. Be sure to check the pedals are operational as well. There should be 3 down at the bottom. The right should sustain notes when pressed down, the left should make all notes softer, and the middle could do a variety of things that aren't too important. However, if the middle pedal has a small notch to lock it into place when pressed down, this makes for a good "practice mode" so it plays softer to avoid disrupting others.
Which piano you choose depends on your needs. While you may be able to get an upright acoustic piano for very cheap (many times even for free!), they do require maintenance and upkeep which requires a little extra money. Acoustic pianos also require more space in your home, so if you're on the go a lot and moving frequently, this may not be a good choice for you. On the other hand, electric (also called digital) pianos save on space and won't require frequent upkeep (besides the occasional dusting). Feel free to ask if you have more questions about this big purchase!
I have some experience with music already. Where do I start?
This is great! You can expect to play a little for your teacher in the first lesson so your skill-level can be correctly assessed. In addition to discussing your goals and prior experience, a decision will be made about where to place you in a curriculum suited to your needs.
I want to take the Summer off and resume in the Fall. What do I do?
Lessons run for all 12 months of the year, and so if a student wants to pause lessons for an extended period of time, they have 2 options. First, they can have their spot saved on the Studio Schedule by paying 50% Tuition during the months off. Please note that this only pays for a reservation on the schedule, but no actual lessons will be held that month unless full tuition is paid.
Alternatively, the student can un-enroll and re-enroll when they are ready to resume lessons. Un-enrolling will trigger the 1-Month notice and the Tuition Deposit will be applied for the Final Invoice. Unfortunately, that spot on the Studio Schedule will be filled by another prospective student waiting to begin lessons. This also runs the risk of not being able to re-enroll later if the Studio Schedule is full. In such an event the student is placed on the Wait List and contacted when a spot becomes available again, at which point a new Tuition Deposit will be due.
PAYMENT POLICIES
How much is a single lesson?
Lessons are not charged in a Pay-Per-Lesson format, and instead students are charged monthly tuition. Think of tuition more like a membership fee to stay enrolled, similar to a gym. The amount you pay each month is the same regardless of how many lessons are scheduled. Some months will have only 2 lessons scheduled, while other months will have 5 lessons plus a recital opportunity. Just like you won't pay extra for the month with 5 lessons and a recital, students will also not pay less for months with only 2 lessons during the Holidays. This results in an easy, predictable amount owed each month and a lot less record-keeping for the teacher: a win-win!
But if you're still looking for a number, $35 per 30-Minute Lesson was the figure used to calculate monthly tuition.
MISSED LESSONS
I need to reschedule a lesson. What do I do?
There is never a guarantee that a missed lesson can be made up. Missed lessons are only made up when given proper notice and if a spot on the Studio Schedule is available within the same week. Proper notice is a minimum of 24-hours. If you need to reschedule a lesson, please text or email me as soon as possible.
Try not to be too let down if a lesson is unable to be rescheduled! Remember that there are 2 Student-Missed lessons built into tuition, so unless a student is canceling frequently in addition to Holiday breaks and Teacher Vacations, tuition is not being wasted.
What are Bonus Lessons?
As mentioned above, Tuition has 2 Student-Missed lessons built into it. Here's what this means: there are 44 lessons scheduled (plus 3 recital opportunities), but students are only charged for 42 lessons, which means a student can cancel 2 lessons and not lose any money since it was never charged in the first place! But then what happens if a student never cancels and attends all lessons? Then they get those 2 lessons for free: Bonus Lessons!
What happens if the teacher cancels a lesson?
Sometimes the teacher gets sick or goes on vacation, too! Students will always be given as much advanced notice as possible when this happens. Keep in mind that there are 6 Missed Lessons built into Tuition (4 for the Teacher and 2 for the Student). These lessons are not made up, but lessons missed in addition to these (due to Teacher cancellation) will either be made up or refunded. Lessons are not taught on the following US holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. Please see the Holiday Schedule to see how your lesson will be impacted for this specific year.
VIRTUAL LESSONS
What can I expect from an online lesson over Zoom?
Once you have booked a lesson with Jordan, you will receive a Zoom Link which will take you into our lesson at your scheduled time. You don't need anything fancy, just a device with video and microphone will do. Most students choose to use a laptop as it is easiest, however a phone, desktop computer, or tablet will work too! Position the device in a way so Jordan can have a side view of you and your keyboard, and you'll be able to get started! If any adjustments need to be made, Jordan will guide you through those steps at the start of the lesson. For optimal sound, you will need to set up "Original Audio for Musicians" in your Zoom settings. Sometime this can be difficult to find on your device, and it is recommended you Google how to find it for the most current way to set it up. Otherwise, Jordan can walk you through it at the beginning of your first lesson.