FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the earliest age for a child to start lessons with you?
A: It really depends. If you answer "yeses" to ALL the questions below for your PreK child, and if your child isn't fidgety or hyperactive, I would consider meeting with you and your child:
a) Does your child show a strong interest in music, such that he or she can already play and is motivated to play a song on the piano by ear?
b) Can your child read all 26 alphabets?
c) Can your child count to 100?
d) Can your child put one finger per key on the piano without stretching his or her fingers out, thereby each finger falls comfortably onto five adjacent keys?
e) Is there a parent willing to sit next to the student everyday to assist and supervise the child's practice and learn along with the child?
If you answer "yes" to only some, but not all of the questions, then I'm not the right teacher for your child at this time.
Q2: What if my child is older than PreK and he/she doesn't meet all the conditions in Q1 (a) through (d) above, does it mean he/she isn't ready to begin lessons with you?
A: Not necessarily. Older children usually have more knowledge and school experiences that I can keep many of them engaged in lessons. However, if your child is fidgety, hyperactive, or has ADD, I'm not the right teacher for your child anymore.
Q3: What brand or model of instrument should I buy? I don't want to buy one until I know my child will stick to lessons.
A: I understand the hesitation to invest in an instrument when you don't know whether it will be a battle to get your child to learn it. I would ask local piano stores whether they have a rental program. I know one of my former students rented a piano from Evola music in Canton. Please do call King's Keyboard House in Ann Arbor to inquire as well. Regarding what brand or model to buy, it really depends on your budget. If you have a brand new, or a well maintained, acoustic piano, it is more than good enough to start lessons for a beginner. If you want to buy a digital piano, make sure it has 88 weighted keys with pedals or the capacity to hook up a pedal.
Q4: How long do I need to wait on the waiting list?
A: I cannot answer this question definitively because your spot on the waiting list doesn't correlate well with how soon you can get into my studio. The reasons are:
a) not everyone on the waiting list is still waiting,
b) not everyone on the waiting list can get into the time slot that opens up (for example, #1-4 on the waiting list cannot take a 4 PM slot because they would still be just getting out of school, while #5 on the waiting list can),
c) there is no formula that predicts when a student will leave my studio other than high school graduating seniors,
d) siblings of my current students might want to begin lessons and my policy is to serve enrolled families first,
e) if too few of my students are at the intermediate or advanced level at the time of an opening, then a prospective student at that skill level will be contacted before beginners who are ahead of that student on the waiting list. In the past, a beginner student might have waited a few years in order to get in, and another waited for only a few months. It just really depends.
f) similar to reason (e) above, if too many of my students are already in the 5- to 7-year-old group, I would likely contact an older prospective student for the trial lesson before the younger ones on the waiting list.
Q5: Could you recommend any other piano teacher?
A: In order for me to refer a student to a teacher, I need to know a student or a family well enough to know what kind of teacher best serves the student's needs. Therefore, without knowing much or anything about a prospective student, the best I can do is referring you to the Ann Arbor Area Piano Teachers' Guild's "Find a Teacher" page. There are many well qualified piano teachers in town. I'm sure you will find someone who can work well with you when I have no openings to serve your needs. Thank you for your interest in my piano studio!
Q1: What is the earliest age for a child to start lessons with you?
A: It really depends. If you answer "yeses" to ALL the questions below for your PreK child, and if your child isn't fidgety or hyperactive, I would consider meeting with you and your child:
a) Does your child show a strong interest in music, such that he or she can already play and is motivated to play a song on the piano by ear?
b) Can your child read all 26 alphabets?
c) Can your child count to 100?
d) Can your child put one finger per key on the piano without stretching his or her fingers out, thereby each finger falls comfortably onto five adjacent keys?
e) Is there a parent willing to sit next to the student everyday to assist and supervise the child's practice and learn along with the child?
If you answer "yes" to only some, but not all of the questions, then I'm not the right teacher for your child at this time.
Q2: What if my child is older than PreK and he/she doesn't meet all the conditions in Q1 (a) through (d) above, does it mean he/she isn't ready to begin lessons with you?
A: Not necessarily. Older children usually have more knowledge and school experiences that I can keep many of them engaged in lessons. However, if your child is fidgety, hyperactive, or has ADD, I'm not the right teacher for your child anymore.
Q3: What brand or model of instrument should I buy? I don't want to buy one until I know my child will stick to lessons.
A: I understand the hesitation to invest in an instrument when you don't know whether it will be a battle to get your child to learn it. I would ask local piano stores whether they have a rental program. I know one of my former students rented a piano from Evola music in Canton. Please do call King's Keyboard House in Ann Arbor to inquire as well. Regarding what brand or model to buy, it really depends on your budget. If you have a brand new, or a well maintained, acoustic piano, it is more than good enough to start lessons for a beginner. If you want to buy a digital piano, make sure it has 88 weighted keys with pedals or the capacity to hook up a pedal.
Q4: How long do I need to wait on the waiting list?
A: I cannot answer this question definitively because your spot on the waiting list doesn't correlate well with how soon you can get into my studio. The reasons are:
a) not everyone on the waiting list is still waiting,
b) not everyone on the waiting list can get into the time slot that opens up (for example, #1-4 on the waiting list cannot take a 4 PM slot because they would still be just getting out of school, while #5 on the waiting list can),
c) there is no formula that predicts when a student will leave my studio other than high school graduating seniors,
d) siblings of my current students might want to begin lessons and my policy is to serve enrolled families first,
e) if too few of my students are at the intermediate or advanced level at the time of an opening, then a prospective student at that skill level will be contacted before beginners who are ahead of that student on the waiting list. In the past, a beginner student might have waited a few years in order to get in, and another waited for only a few months. It just really depends.
f) similar to reason (e) above, if too many of my students are already in the 5- to 7-year-old group, I would likely contact an older prospective student for the trial lesson before the younger ones on the waiting list.
Q5: Could you recommend any other piano teacher?
A: In order for me to refer a student to a teacher, I need to know a student or a family well enough to know what kind of teacher best serves the student's needs. Therefore, without knowing much or anything about a prospective student, the best I can do is referring you to the Ann Arbor Area Piano Teachers' Guild's "Find a Teacher" page. There are many well qualified piano teachers in town. I'm sure you will find someone who can work well with you when I have no openings to serve your needs. Thank you for your interest in my piano studio!
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