Private Lessons:
Weekly 30, 45 and 60 minute lengths.
Exam preparation for Royal Conservatory of Music, Conservatory Canada Classical, Conservatory Canada Contemporary Idioms.
Please contact me for rates.
For new beginners, I strongly recommend taking TWO lessons per week for the first year. Why? I have discovered that this method yields students who learn much quicker, and tend to retain concepts and information much better. This sets the student up to learn new material much faster, and when the student progresses faster, they feel more empowered and have more fun!
Group Lessons:
I am unable to provide this yet, but will keep you posted. I hope to have group lessons in lieu of private lessons once a month to allow students to play in ensembles and develop performance skills. Group lessons will also focus more on rhythm. listening and theory skills.
Missed Lessons or Canceling:
Please notify me as soon as possible if you will miss a lesson (makeups only if notified at least 24hrs in advance). Only 3 makeup lessons per year may be scheduled, but are not guaranteed.
If you does not attend school/work due to sudden illness, please cancel your piano lesson for that day.
Payment for missed lessons will be credited onto the next month’s payment. If I am sick or away on vacation, you will not pay for the missed lesson.
One month’s notice is required prior to the first of the month to permanently cancel lessons.
Participation in other events:
As a Registered Music Teacher with the Ontario Registered Music Teacher’s Association, students will be eligible to participate in events throughout the year including:
-Halloween Children’s Recitals
-Central Toronto Branch auditions (Nov and April each year)
-Composition contests
-Adult recitals
Students may also participate in various music festivals across the GTA, such as the North York Music Festival, Kiwanis festival.
Students are strongly encouraged to perform outside the studio to enhance their learning experience, and to develop performance abilities.
Teacher Role
Determines music, practice and schedule time for the weekly lesson
Maintains contact with students and parents
Tries to create an environment from which students can learn different aspects of music
Student Role
Arrives on time with necessary materials
Schedules daily practice and acknowledges the importance of the priority of practice
Positive, open attitude
Parent Role
Supports the fulfilling of the student’s responsibilities and encourages progress
Attends lessons for young beginners (5 and under)
Offers support and encouragement during home practice
Practice
Regular home practice is essential for student success. Many parents (and students) assume that they will progress with one weekly lesson. However, this will ultimately result in very slow progress, which usually ends with premature cancellation of piano lessons in lieu of other activities. The bulk of the work to learn piano is during the rest of the week at home.
Ideally, students should aim for at least 5 days of practice each week. Piano practice must become a habit, like brushing your teeth or cleaning your room. You wouldn’t neglect brushing your teeth daily, then vigorously clean them the day before seeing your dentist, and expect no cavities!
Similarly. shorter daily practice sessions are better than cramming one or two long sessions per week. In fact, I encourage students to practice right after piano lessons in order to retain new knowledge.
In my experience, parental involvement in home practice is crucial for student success. Parents are important in setting a practice routine (making time!), and reminding the student to practice. Even if the parent does not sit with the student for the entire time, just having them in the room while they practice, or sitting with them once every few practice sessions will greatly help encourage the student. The parent’s attitudes strongly influence the student’s outcome.
Equipment
All students must have an acoustic piano or weighted digital piano for home practice. Some digital pianos with fewer than 88 keys, and no weighted touch are much cheaper, but ultimately result in poor technique, delayed skill development affect their potential for success.
Students are also expected to purchase a metronome (some digitals have built-in metronomes already; in which case you can certainly use that!) or download an app with the metronome.
Students may purchase books and materials at music stores such as Long and McQuade or Remenyi Music, or if you prefer, you may purchase them from my studio.
