What is unique about Merrell Piano Studio?
What kind of piano should I have?
An acoustic piano (which is regularly tuned!);
-OR-
A full-size (88 keys) digital piano with weighted keys. A keyboard without weighted keys or with less keys is only sufficient through the first few months, perhaps first year, of a student’s piano experience. After that, a lack of weighted keys significantly hinders their musical progress.
How often should I get my piano tuned?
Every 6 months. Pianos slip out of tune gradually, so the student will be hearing the wrong pitches of the notes long before your ear tells you the piano needs to be tuned. Just as in a vehicle, you want to get the oil changed long before you notice problems resulting from the oil not being changed! Regular tunings will also extend the life of your instrument. Leaving a piano untuned for years will make it much more costly and sometimes impossible to be restored to proper pitch.
Why is the semester tuition divided into equal monthly payments instead of paying per lesson?
The semester tuition rate covers much more than a specific number of lessons. For a thorough list of what tuition covers, see Semester Tuition.
Also, it’s easier for students/parents to budget since it’s a set amount each month instead of changing dependent on the number of weeks in the month, holidays, etc.
How much am I required to practice?
Daily practice makes a significant difference in a student’s musical progress. Weekly assignment sheets detail specific sections of music and how many times it should be practiced daily while focusing on specific goals. I will discuss an approximate time amount with students, but we focus on accomplishing the assignment and meeting the goals set at each lesson.
Why do I need a metronome?
A metronome helps the student to build a solid sense of rhythm. We do this through lots of other activities as well, including ensembles, cup rhythms, etc. HOWEVER, a student needs to develop a sense of the beat in relation to each piece they are playing. A metronome will help them to do this. We will not always use it, but we will often use it!
Recommended options:
What if my child wants to stop taking piano lessons?
In almost every professional musician’s life, there came a time when they wanted to stop taking lessons, didn’t want to practice, etc. Please know that your child’s interest will wax and wane, just as with any other interest. Would you let your child stop brushing their teeth at their first complaint?
Parents need to be consistent in their support of piano lessons, specifically through setting a schedule for daily practice and helping a child understand that learning any skill does take work and commitment. Acknowledge your child’s feelings but continue with lessons for awhile longer to see if interest is rekindled. Also, please contact me so I am aware and can incorporate favorite activities or new repertoire that will be of interest to them.
- Development of the complete artist’s skills, including expressing themselves through music & creating the students’ own music through composition and improvisation.
- Yearly and seasonal themes/incentive programs which keep students motivated to progress in all areas of musicianship.
- Technology used: kids LOVE technology! At Merrell Piano Studio, they will develop their musical skills as they explore methods of combining technology with music…and they often don’t realize that it counts as practice!
- Comprehensive musical education, including a solid base in theory, sight reading, composition, improvisation, technique, performance, music history, and transposition.
What kind of piano should I have?
An acoustic piano (which is regularly tuned!);
-OR-
A full-size (88 keys) digital piano with weighted keys. A keyboard without weighted keys or with less keys is only sufficient through the first few months, perhaps first year, of a student’s piano experience. After that, a lack of weighted keys significantly hinders their musical progress.
How often should I get my piano tuned?
Every 6 months. Pianos slip out of tune gradually, so the student will be hearing the wrong pitches of the notes long before your ear tells you the piano needs to be tuned. Just as in a vehicle, you want to get the oil changed long before you notice problems resulting from the oil not being changed! Regular tunings will also extend the life of your instrument. Leaving a piano untuned for years will make it much more costly and sometimes impossible to be restored to proper pitch.
Why is the semester tuition divided into equal monthly payments instead of paying per lesson?
The semester tuition rate covers much more than a specific number of lessons. For a thorough list of what tuition covers, see Semester Tuition.
Also, it’s easier for students/parents to budget since it’s a set amount each month instead of changing dependent on the number of weeks in the month, holidays, etc.
How much am I required to practice?
Daily practice makes a significant difference in a student’s musical progress. Weekly assignment sheets detail specific sections of music and how many times it should be practiced daily while focusing on specific goals. I will discuss an approximate time amount with students, but we focus on accomplishing the assignment and meeting the goals set at each lesson.
Why do I need a metronome?
A metronome helps the student to build a solid sense of rhythm. We do this through lots of other activities as well, including ensembles, cup rhythms, etc. HOWEVER, a student needs to develop a sense of the beat in relation to each piece they are playing. A metronome will help them to do this. We will not always use it, but we will often use it!
Recommended options:
- Apps: there are many free and inexpensive metronome apps
- Matrix MR500 Metronome Metronome on amazon
What if my child wants to stop taking piano lessons?
In almost every professional musician’s life, there came a time when they wanted to stop taking lessons, didn’t want to practice, etc. Please know that your child’s interest will wax and wane, just as with any other interest. Would you let your child stop brushing their teeth at their first complaint?
Parents need to be consistent in their support of piano lessons, specifically through setting a schedule for daily practice and helping a child understand that learning any skill does take work and commitment. Acknowledge your child’s feelings but continue with lessons for awhile longer to see if interest is rekindled. Also, please contact me so I am aware and can incorporate favorite activities or new repertoire that will be of interest to them.
