PRIVATE PIANO LESSONS

Interview (Meet & Greet) Process

There is an interview process for all new students so that we can meet face-to-face to see if this is the right fit for all parties involved. Once the interview is complete, I will contact you to set up your schedule and complete all necessary paperwork and payments.

Curriculum

I like to focus heavily on note-reading and rhythm training first. Once the students are comfortable with those two things, we work on their performance skills. I teach a wide range of songs from classical, jazz, and pop but there is no specific set of songs that I teach every semester or year. I allow my students to pick their own songs based on preference after we’ve covered the basics, as it motivates them to practice more often.

Age Requirement

I accept students ages 5 and up (yes, I do take adults too!). Typically at this age, they are able to sit through an entire lesson and understand instructions clearly.

Location

I teach lessons out of my home studio in Waipahu, Hawaii. If you are interested in enrolling and want to start the interview process, I will provide my address at that time.

Instrument Requirements

I require all students to have something they can practice on at home. This can be a piano or a keyboard, as long as it has at least 88 keys. If you or your child are just starting, a 61 or 76-key keyboard is also sufficient.

Books

Copying music is illegal, so students are required to purchase their own books and bring it to their weekly lessons. If the student is at a more advanced level and can find their music (or preferred songs) online, I do offer to purchase their music sheets via a third-party website. You will be required to pay for any purchased music sheets at the following lesson.

Cost

Tuition payments are collected on the first day of every month and can be made by cash, personal check, Venmo or PayPal (online payment services).
A fee of $25 will be collected along with tuition on the first day of each semester (January 1 & July 1) to assist with the cost of studio supplies, piano tuning/maintenance, professional development and organizational dues.
If a payment is late, a $30 late fee will be added to the next month’s tuition payment due.

Contracts

A studio contract must be signed prior to beginning lessons each semester. Once a contract is signed, you are considered locked in for the weekly timeslot assigned.

Practicing

Students are expected to practice at least 4-5 times a week. Parents are encouraged to practice with their kids, especially the younger ones, who may have difficulty practicing on their own. Just like learning another language, learning to play the piano requires a daily investment of time and repetition in order to master it.

A full list of policies and a sample contract are available upon request.