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After
School Piano Lessons at Kiker, Hill, and St Francis
Summer Piano Camps Drum Set Lessons for Children & Adults Piano & Drum Lessons Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) What is your general philosophy about teaching lessons? “People making music for
life.” Our teachers love what
they do and it shows! Our degreed music teachers work hard to build relationships
with their students by inspiring, motivating, and giving them the tools they
need to succeed. Consistency, repetition, technology aids, and practice are
some of the keys to learning. What are private lessons? A private lesson may be the right choice for students of all ages and levels of experience who need flexibility in scheduling or for those who have moved at a quicker pace or need one-on-one attention. Private lessons are generally scheduled once a week for thirty minutes, although longer lesson times are available. What are group lessons? Sharing with friends and family is
important to children and adults. In
the nurturing atmosphere of our group classes, enthusiasm and natural
abilities are brought together for learning musical skills. With the support of parents, teachers, and
peers, students pass through the critical, initial periods of accomplishment
without becoming discouraged. We highly recommend group lessons for any
student and especially beginning students!
Classes meet once a week for fifty minutes with students grouped
according to age and experience. What is “Music for Little Mozarts”? Music for
Little Mozarts was written to provide appropriate piano instruction for
four-, five-, and six-year olds while simultaneously developing listening
skills. The series was designed to provide a balance between the discipline
necessary for playing the instrument and the enjoyment one gets from the
process of music-making while catering to their energy level. The course centers
around the story of Beethoven Bear and Mozart Mouse as they learn about
music. Click to learn
more. What is a Music Tutor? The Music Tutor is your
“in-between-lessons practice partner”. Music students face many hurdles such as
making the hands or fingers respond correctly to reading notes and rhythms, getting
both hands to work together (and feet for drum students). In traditional music study this is a challenge
because students receive a teacher’s instruction and guidance for only
30 to 45 minutes per week. (By comparison, beginning band students not only
take private lessons, but also work with their band director for an hour each
day!) The Music Tutor is a “virtual orchestra” that uses
interactive music files (MIDI, MP3, or .wav) to assist music students while learning, rehearsing
or playing. This tutor guides students
to play correct notes and rhythms as well as allowing adjustment to a comfortable
tempo, key or eliminating accompaniment tracks. Although the Music Tutor
doesn’t replace a teacher, it does become an
“in-between-lessons” practice partner, providing a correct model
and background accompaniments each time the student plays. When students
enjoy the music they make as they learn, the more they enjoy learning; when
an activity is rewarding as its skills are being developed, success and
motivation go hand-in-hand. Our instruction studios are furnished with state-of-the-art Roland Digital Pianos, Roland V-Drums, Music Tutors and interactive software rival those at major universities, many of which (The University of Texas, Baylor University, Southwest Texas State University, Southwestern University, North Texas State University, Texas Christian Univesity, University of Southern California, for example) are comparably equipped. Additionally, each student in our lessons program is provided with a Music Tutor for home use. (A Music Tutor can be located inside a Roland digital piano or available as an individual module, and it can be used with any instrument.) Teachers, parents and students agree: Music lessons are simply more effective and enjoyable with the use of a Music Tutor! Why choose music study? According
to the Gallup Survey of American Attitudes Towards Music (2000), 95% of
Americans believe music is part of a well-rounded education, and 90% of Americans
believe music brings a family closer together. Studies show that young piano players
become better learners. College-bound
seniors who’d had music experience scored 52 points higher on the
verbal portion of their SAT’s and 37 points higher in math than those
without arts instruction. The Students need a teacher who will inspire and nurture them as they grow musically – someone whose techniques are appropriate for their personality and learning style. The teacher closest to where you live or the one who charges the least is not necessarily the best choice. If your child is the one interested in music, it is especially important to find a good educator. Your child will develop a special relationship with his or her music teacher – a person who should help instill a lifelong love of music in your child. Another key factor in making music lessons successful is your involvement. Parental support in the learning process is vital. Whether or not you know anything about music, make time to listen to your child play, provide a quality instrument and practice space, encourage them to play every day, and celebrate their continued accomplishments. Logic tells us that children and adults who enjoy the “journey” of learning simply do better! How can I learn more about the educational and health benefits
of music study? For a wealth of information concerning the
many benefits of music study, visit the Educational CyberPlayground
website. Can someone over the age of 50 really learn to play the piano? Yes! Seniors as can learn to play golf, learn to
crochet, learn to use a computer or any other hobby, why not learn to play
the piano! Seniors are fun to teach
and it can be very satisfying for the student. Click Seniors to learn
more. What is Music Tutor Interactive? It is the integration of piano
lessons and technology. Click Music Tutor
Interactive to learn more. What type of instrument do I need before I can begin
piano lessons? Statistics overwhelmingly
support the fact that students' motivation is much higher and progress is
faster when they practice/play on an adequate instrument; therefore, our
program requires that students must have a digital or acoustic piano with 88
keys and a hammer action for home practice/play. If you're concerned about
the student's commitment or interest in music before making an investment in
the right instrument, you can rent-to-purchase
the right instrument from us for about the same cost as an inexpensive
keyboard. We recommend a Roland digital piano with Music Tutor Interactive as
the ideal instrument to learn to play the piano on. Acoustic pianos should be
tuned before your first lesson and at least once every six months thereafter.
Your piano should be placed in a well-lit, central part of your home. Digital
pianos should have headphones readily available. Neither pianos in poor
condition nor keyboards are sufficient for this piano program.
What type of instrument do I need before I can begin
drum lessons? You definitely have to have a drumset at home. We recommend digital drums, and in particular the Roland V-Drums. When you practice on an acoustic drum set at home, you tend to disturb all activities going on in the house, thereby, severely limited your practice time. With the Roland V-Drums, simply plug in a set of headphones and practice anytime you want without disturbing others. Roland makes the highest quality electronic drums that have the most accurate touch, feel, stick bounce, and sound quality. Most Roland V-Drumsets even have features that help you solidify your rhythm. We sell Roland V-Drums and even have a special low cost rental plan for our students to get started: Drum Rentals
.
How long is the semester? Our fall
semester is September through December, the spring semester is January
through May, and the summer semester runs from June through August. The
schedule incorporates some vacation weeks to allow students time off
throughout the year without losing momentum and skills. The summer schedule
offers a variety of options for student who travel or desire a more flexible
schedule. The final lesson/class meeting of each semester for all students is
an end-of-semester recital. Initial commitment to lessons is a minimum of 4
months. After that, a 30-day notice is required to discontinue lessons. Do you
think learning music should be enjoyable?
How do you make lessons enjoyable but still productive?
The
mission statement of How much
teaching experience do you have? What
level do you teach?
Our faculty is comprised
of professional teachers who each have from five to thirty years’
experience teaching music and piano to students of all ages and levels of
experience. What is
your professional and educational experience in music?
All of our teachers have earned at least a
Bachelor of Music degree from a major university, and most hold graduate
degrees in piano performance or pedagogy (the art of teaching). Our teachers
have received special certification in disk-based pedagogy; in fact, several
members of our faculty regularly conduct training workshops for other
teachers in this area. In addition to their teaching expertise, our teachers
are active as performers in What professional
publications do you use? We currently subscribe to two professional
journals, Keyboard Companion and American Music Teacher, as
well as quarterly newsletters and publications such as Keyboard Educator
and Contemporary Keyboards.
Additionally, we are able to access a wide variety of resources
concerning all aspects of piano performance and teaching via the Internet. What are
your studio policies regarding fees, cancellations and make-up lessons?
Please see the registration form above for
detailed information. (Interesting article: Make-up lessons
from an Economist’s Point of View) Do you
periodically conduct parent conferences to evaluate student progress?
Yes.
Parent conferences are held in person or by phone just before our
end-of-semester recitals.
Additionally, parents are encouraged to call any time they have
questions or concerns regarding their child’s lessons. What
instructional materials and methods do you use? Do you tailor material to students’
particular needs?
How much
practice time do you require each day?
Do you spend time during the lesson helping students learn good
practice habits?
Students should plan to spend 15
to 45 minutes (depending upon age and level of ability) playing the piano
daily. Our teachers model good practice habits for students during lesson
time to help make piano playing at home fun and rewarding. Each student will be more successful when
1) you listen to your child play regularly to show your support (much like
attending soccer games), 2) you exchange the word “practice” with
“play” at every opportunity, 3) you encourage your child to set the
daily goal of playing the assignment correctly several times (using the
“Recipe for Success” along with the Music Tutor and MIDI Files)
rather than setting a certain time limit, 4) you have the appropriate
equipment and materials with which to learn, and 5) you communicate regularly
with the teacher. Do you
provide performance opportunities for your students, such as festivals,
competitions, and so forth? Do you
require students to perform a certain number of times per year?
All
students who are prepared are encouraged to perform at our end-of-semester
recitals. The last lesson or class of
each semester is a recital, which is also a great educational
experience! Additionally, students
have the opportunity to participate in various festivals, competitions, and
ensemble performances throughout the year, although there is no minimum
requirement. What do you
do in the way of ongoing professional development?
Do you
teach any music other than classical music?
What if my child wants to play pop, or I’m interested in
learning to play jazz?
Our
teachers are able to teach any style of music! Our faculty’s broad base
of knowledge and experience encompasses many styles of music including
classical, jazz, popular, and gospel. Do you
teach students how to improvise? Memorize? Play by ear? Compose? Do you work
on sight-reading in the lesson?
We do
all of the above according to the level of development and appropriateness to
the students’ abilities and interests. Do you
teach music theory? Music history? Technique?
Music theory, music history and technique
are incorporated into our lessons as an important part of a comprehensive
music education. Extra enrichment
classes are available for students wishing to learn more. Do you use
technology in your studio, such as computers, music instruction software,
electronic keyboards?
Each of our students uses the Roland Music
Tutor, a ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Which
would be better for you or your child? After
teaching group and private piano lessons in
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(c) 2008 Capital Music Center, Austin, Texas (TX)