Frequently Asked Questions

All other things being equal, seven years of age is ideal.  By that age, a child's reading and math skills and their ability to follow through on daily practice have developed to the point where he or she can become a very self-sufficient musician.  (But see next item.)

Children as young as four or five can be successful piano learners.  They will need more help practicing at home, but if they are highly motivated and especially if there are other musicians in the household, they can do quite well. 

Later beginners can usually "make up for lost time" quite easily.  They generally have a good solid base of musical knowledge from their school and often have been waiting anxiously to start lessons.  They have good hand-eye coordination and the ability to pick up new concepts quickly.  In addition, because they have such an affinity for music, practicing is very enjoyable to them.

Beginning and returning adult students are most welcome.  Playing the piano simply for pleasure and relaxation can be a rewarding experience.  Adult students usually find learning to play the piano to be very easy, and those who had lessons as children regain their skills quickly.  Some adults find they are much more motivated than they were as children because now THEY are choosing to learn to play.

The key words here are "each day".  Regular practicing is by far the best.  Beginners can start with as little as 10 or 15 minutes per day.  With guidance from the teacher, gradually working up to 30 minutes per day is sufficient for most students.  Advanced students should be aiming for 45 to 60 minutes.  Remember, all practice may be broken into smaller "chunks" of time and spread out through the day.  Another hint about practicing, students should be helped to find the BEST time of day to practice.  Having a regular time period for training fingers and brains is a real plus.

Lessons are scheduled for once a week.

Lessons are 30 minutes in length.

Lessons are given in a studio at my home in the Town of Grafton. (see Studio)

Yes, lessons are available during both the school year and the summer.  Summer can be a good time to work on new repertoire (pop songs, folk songs, show tunes) as well as maintain good playing skills.  In addition, most school age students actually have MORE available practice time in the summer because homework and other school activities have temporarily stopped.

Yes!  Sometimes playing the piano can be a rather lonely pursuit.  No one hears the student besides his or her teacher and family.  Recitals are a great way to hear others and to be heard. At the semi-annual recitals, students and their families hear new and interesting repertoire, some old favorites, and also are afforded a chance to hear how other students are progressing.

The Wisconsin Federation of Music Clubs, an affiliate of the National Federation of Music Clubs, sponsors a music festival each February. At the festival, participants can enter as soloists, duets, or in a variety of other ensembles. Students also have the option of being tested on their knowledge of music theory. Participating students prepare two memorized pieces to play for a judge. Each participant plays one required piece (from a published list of music) plus one piece of the student's own choosing.

The student is rated on a scale of 1-5 points (with 5 being the highest rating) and receives a certificate in addition to the judge's written critique. When a student has participated for at least three years, he or she may earn a gold cup. Thereafter, each time a multiple of 15 points is reached, another gold cup is earned. While the gold cups and the certificates are nice rewards, probably the best part of participating in Federation is actually preparing the two pieces in great depth and then performing them. It can be a great experience for the student.