How much do private lessons cost?

Monthly tuition for both piano and voice weekly lessons are:

Monthly tuition is the same, whether there are 4 or 5 weeks in the month (ie. the "extra" week is "free"). Payment is always due on the first lesson of the month.

Alternatively, students or parents may pay for each lesson individually at the following rate:

I also offer a 20-30 min "meet and try out" lesson free of charge for potential new students.

At what times do you teach?  Will you come out to my neighborhood?

I currently travel to teach my students in their homes in Granite Bay, Folsom and El Dorado Hills. Please contact me to inquire about openings and locations.

How long and frequent should my/my child's lesson be?

Beginning piano and voice lessons for children are typically a half-hour. As the student advances in skill (and attention span) the lesson can be extended to 45 mins or an hour. Teens and adult voice students usually take 45 min. or hour long lessons. Lessons are typically once a week, but can be twice if there is sufficient interest and scheduling permits.

At what ages do you accept students?

I will consider teaching anyone at any age. Currently, my piano and voice students range from age 4 to middle-age adult. Most of my piano students begin study around age 6 or 7. Children before the age of 6 of course make slower progress, but ultimately gain the advantage of learning musical skills much more deeply and intuitively. Conversely, it is never too late in one's life to develop a musical talent; adults learn more quickly and gain a satisfying new dimension in their lives.

I'm not sure if I/my child should take singing or piano lessons.

Many times, especially with children, I highly recommend that my voice students also do some piano lessons with me. In that case, I usually teach a combination of voice and piano lessons in the given time slot. There are a couple reasons for this: First, I have found the beginning piano lessons crucial in helping my young/inexperienced students to sing in tune and understand the concepts of scales and intervals. The simple intervals and pitch repetition in these exercises are crucial in �formatting� the student's mind to music. Second, I believe that singing is much more than opening one's mouth and making noise. Every vocalist should have just as much training in reading and understanding music as any other instrumentalist. The easiest way to give this training is through basic piano instruction. At the very least, the singer should be able to play his or her own part out on the piano and not be at the mercy of others' talents to learn their music.

What if I am/my child is tone deaf or has no current musical ability?

It is my belief that music teachers should not be measured according to the level their most talented students, but rather the degree of progress that their least naturally gifted student has achieved. It has been my experience that anyone can learn to sing or play the piano to some level of proficiency. I take great care in developing methods of instruction that are individually shaped to meet each student's particular situation and goals. I recently developed and published the Singing Lessons for Little Singers method that addresses the unique needs of very young voice students including singing with proper pitch, tone and other fundamentals of music. Many of my students -- adults and children -- have started with some degree of difficulty matching pitch, reading music, playing scales on the piano, etc. and have gone on to become good musicians. The secret to successful lessons is good teaching, regular practice and enjoyment of the art.

I/My child had lessons before and quit because they didn't like the teacher.

It is difficult as a teacher to strike the right balance between pushing the student enough to foster maximum learning and yet not too much that it will discourage or cause the student to hate the lessons. I believe that even more important than quick progress is keeping the interest and enjoyment of the student. If a student begins to dread and rebel against the lessons the progress usually grinds to a halt, and if they begin to hate the instrument the teaching will end up going to waste anyways. In determining my method of instruction for each student, I take great care in making sure that the student will stay interested in and excited about the instrument. Conversely, if the student begins to show more interest and ability to make faster progress, I will immediately adjust my approach to fit his or her current interest and abilities.

Do you hold recitals for your students?

Yes. Studio recitals are generally held every 6 months and offer an exciting experience for students to perform some of their current work in front of their peers. Separate recitals are held for child and adult students. Participation is encouraged, but is completely optional.

I have other questions...

Great! I would love to hear them. You can reach me at musicteachergreg@gmail.com.