Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you charge?
My base price is $60 for an hour-long lesson. I attach a $12 fee per lesson to cover my traveling expenses. So a one-hour lesson in your home runs you $72, while a half-hour lesson costs $36.
I charge by the term, however, and not by the lesson. My fall term is 16 weeks long; you can pay all at once or in four monthly installments. I spread those 16 lessons over an 18-week period, from late August to Christmas, to allow for some flexibility on both ends. Stuff happens!
My winter term is 12 weeks long (covering January to early April) and my spring term lasts another 12 weeks (early April through June). These are spread over 13 weeks each, again, to give us some wiggle room but also to limit absenteeism. I can't take on students who miss a lesson every month, that's not a good situation for them or for me.
An example for you number crunchers: The fall term costs $572 (16 times 36), which we can break up into four $148 payments to ease your budget. An hour weekly in your home will run you $1,152 for the term, or $288 for the month if you pay four times. Winter and spring terms are less costly overall but the monthly payment stays the same.
We can also arrange for lessons of varying lengths; anything up to 90 minutes is doable. If you wish to sign two or more family members up for lessons but are concerned about the total cost, rest easy: I sometimes will discount the second lesson rather than not take on another student.
Can we do lessons in your home instead?
Absolutely. The same base price applies, so a 60-minute lesson runs you $60 and a 30-minute one would be $30, multiplied by the number of weeks in the term. I live near Inglemoor High School in Kenmore.
I live sort of far away from there. How far are you willing or able to travel?
My borders are essentially the north Eastside: Highway 520 at the south, Woodinville at the east, Mill Creek at the north, and Kenmore at the west. If you live outside this area I will consider lessons at your place depending on the demands of my current schedule. Let's make it work for both of us. I'd much rather find a way to say yes to you than a reason to say no, and I do presently have a couple of students outside those borders.
Do you ever teach group lessons?
Not yet. I'm very busy with existing students and want to give them my full attention.
There are a million piano teachers in the area. Why should I choose you?
Good question. In my opinion, I've taken all the negatives out of piano lessons while keeping the positives. Instruction in your home is vastly more convenient for the parent and far more comfortable for the student. Kids will focus better, stress less, and perform better on their own piano in their own living room, and Mom and Dad often save an hour or more of driving each week. Then (and this is the heart of the matter), I don't teach "by the book." I plan lessons based on student-teacher collaboration, heavy use of positive reinforcement and student empowerment WHILE demanding high levels of practice and ensuring all students receive thorough music theory training. My educational materials are guides, not rigid textbooks to be followed line by line, page by page. I'm adaptable, flexible, and easy to work with but I also expect a lot from my students. In addition, I'm 49, I love the Seattle area, I'm settled here, so you won't have me retire on you or move away suddenly. Visit my teaching strategies page here or my background page here for more reasons you should choose me.
My child is four years old. Is that too early to start lessons?
I can craft lesson plans for children of any age. A four-year-old with rudimentary reading skills and a good attention span will learn quite a bit in my loosely structured system. I've enjoyed teaching my own boys, who are 6 and 4 a few simple tunes and some basic music concepts.
If you have any questions about your child's readiness I will gladly come to your home at no charge to help you make that evaluation. If we decide at that point that your child is not yet ready for lessons, I can give you some ideas of activities which will boost her or his preparedness.
My child is 10. Have I missed a learning window?
There is no "it's too late for you to learn piano" age. Some of my highest-performing students began when they were 9. You have NOT missed the boat if your child is in third or fourth grade and hasn't started piano yet! I routinely begin with kids as old as 13. If you want a concert pianist in your home, you're best off starting your son or daughter on piano before they even begin to read. But if your child's going to be good or very good at piano, it really doesn't matter at what age they begin.
Speaking of that, do you ever teach adults?
You bet! All ages are welcome. Although most of my students are children, I welcome the change of pace. I frequently teach a parent and a child from the same family and I currently have nine adult students.
What if I have to miss a lesson?
My term system allows for two missed lessons in the fall, one in the winter and one in the spring. Any more misses than that and we'll get creative, i.e. I might extend two lessons or I might swing by for an extra session on a Saturday afternoon. It's just that I have to know that I will get paid consistently when I accept you or your child or your children as students. Otherwise, my time is wasted and my pay is not maximized. Neither of those outcomes are OK.
Do you require a year-long commitment when I sign up?
At this time I do not. Some teachers do, and I might someday as well. For now, you and I are on a term-to-term basis once we begin lessons. Parents will often find it helpful in motivating their kids, however, to insist that piano lessons are going to last for a set period of time, at which point all parties can reconsider. The school year serves as that "set period" for many families.
Do your students do recitals?
I organize recitals twice yearly for my students, once in June and again in early December. Participation is mandatory -- except for adults. I usually cut them some slack on this one. Nevertheless, learning how to perform for an audience is a crucial part of my teaching philosophy. Contests on the state and regional level are also available for top-performing students to enter.
I took piano as a child and ended up hating it. How can you make sure that doesn't happen to my child?
You have to meet me and see me in action to get a really good answer to this question, but here are the strategies that work for me in my efforts to keep lessons enjoyable. I am a high-energy teacher. I prize collaboration between my students and myself. I reward students for reaching milestones. Kids get to play songs they like. I find every opportunity to provide positive reinforcement, while also demanding excellence. Even if the work is sometimes hard, the lessons can still be fun. Plus, because I'm still young, I relate to kids differently than a stodgy set-in-his-ways instructor.
What sort of experience do you have?
I've taught piano for 20 years and I have a B.A. in music, specifically in piano performance. Although I very much enjoyed my previous career as a newspaper editor and reporter, my passion has always been to bring great piano music to as many people as possible. Teaching kids (and of course adults too) is one way to accomplish that goal, and this profession has brought me great joy in the past few years. This is where my heart is.
What teaching method do you use and why?
I use the Alfred's Premier Piano Course curriculum, but I customize it freely to a student's needs. I occasionally use a different method if the student in question has spent considerable time with another teacher or if I feel a change of scenery is in order.
No two learners are exactly alike, so I MUST adapt my strategies to each student's unique skill set. To get a more complete answer, and to see what a typical lesson might look like for a beginner or an intermediate student, click here and scroll down to the "typical lessons" section.
My kids are home-schooled. Do you teach mornings?
I teach mornings and middays in addition to afternoon and evening lessons. I typically have a couple time slots open on Saturday afternoons, which is the last part of my work week to fill up every year, and also serves as a good time to make up lessons. I take Sundays off for my own sanity.
I'd like a reference before I consider you. Do you have any?
I'd be pleased to put you in touch with parents of current AND past students who would answer your questions about me. Just e-mail me and I'll set it up.
Do you teach anything besides piano?
I cannot teach your child guitar or saxophone... all I play is piano. However, in the past I have taught music theory to non-pianists, as a supplement to their other musical instruction. I do teach all styles of piano, from classical to jazz to gospel to pop, and I coach students in crafting their own original compositions.
Can I hire you for a special event, such as a wedding reception or dinner party?
I'd love for you to consider me. I take great joy in playing piano for people and events. I will charge $100 an hour the day of the event and $75 an hour for any preparations leading up to the event, such as formal rehearsals. I have a repertoire that spans all styles. For your convenience, I'm available on short notice. For more information, click here.