There are several things to keep in mind when choosing a piano such as the model and style but ultimately any weighted 88 key acoustic piano or digital keyboard is fine as long as you like it. For more click here

I travel to my students within the area of Boca Raton but please view our Teacher Directory to find a teacher near you. Some instructors may teach from home or online.

Students who practice for just 15 minutes a day will advance faster than those who practice for an hour twice a week. Your child should practice on a daily basis. Several short practice periods are usually more successful for younger students than one longer session. Beginners often start with 15 minutes of practice a day, gradually increasing to 30 minutes by the end of the year. More advanced students may practice for one to three hours a day. What truly matters is consistent quality practice, not quantity.

Accept the fact that most students don’t always like to practice, but realize that a child will never play an instrument well without regular practice. If your child is particularly resistant to practice on a certain day, substitute another music activity such as singing together. If this continues over a long period of time, discuss the problem with the teacher. Many parents establish a reward system for effective practice. This might mean rewards and incentives for playing and practicing. Encourage the student to follow the teacher’s assignment, but do not discourage experimentation and creativity. Additionally, if you try to incorporate your child’s favorite songs into the lessons… you will end up telling them to take a break from practice!

It depends on the age, maturity of the student, the amount of practice, and the level of family involvement. Students should progress through the books at a steady pace, always seeking a balance between being challenged and feeling comfortable. Some students may complete a level in three months, while others may take an entire year.

A few indicators to look out for are attention span and eagerness to learn. Watch for signs like constant humming or tapping with their fingers. These are early hints that show they are ready but if you really want to know then just ask your child. There is no “perfect age” to take music lessons but your child will need to show good conduct and be able to sit still while learning in a calm manner. Most students learn music around the age of 7 but the best way to determine if your child is ready for the commitment is to take a trial lesson. Even though older students progress faster, starting early is the best way of getting ahead!

Students are not forced to perform. However, if they are prepared well in advance for performance and rehearse until they feel confident, most students will conquer their performance fears. Encourage informal performances at home on a regular basis to prepare for more formal performances. Never force a student who is not adequately prepared to play. One bad performance experience can stay with the student for years. We encourage students to perform or at least watch other students at recitals.

Unfortunately, short fingernails are necessary to develop a good hand position and a fluid technique. Ask the teacher to further explain the importance of keeping the nails at a length that will promote good technical habits.

Dont worry! The success or failure of a student does not depend on a specific piece. However, if a student does not like a song, it is often because it seems difficult in some way. Students often discover that their “least-favorite” piece later become their “most-favorite” after some quality practice. Ask the teacher if there is something the child does not understand about the piece. If the student continues to dislike the piece, sometimes the teacher can find a substitute piece that teaches the same concept.

Most students dislike counting out loud. It is an important phase in gaining independence for students to learn to count for themselves. Counting with a steady pulse is an important step before using a metronome and it is a critical key to helping students learn to play with expression.

If your child has not shown a specific interest in one area of music I would strongly recommend starting with the piano for several reasons. The piano is a great way to introduce music because that knowledge can be transferred to other instruments including voice. This will allow the student to focus on learning general musical concepts that can be applied anywhere in the future.

Yes! Simplified arrangements of classical music are introduced from early levels. As students progress they are introduced to music according to their respective skill level.

YES! Many parents fear that their child may end up hating music if they take lessons because of the bad experiences they hear about teachers that are mostly boring or strict. Although it is true that a bad teacher can negatively impact a student’s musical progress, remember that it is impossible for anyone to hate music. I myself went through the motions of a music instructor that taught poorly but that never made me hate music. In fact, the reason I teach today is that I feel that we need more teachers who are fun and encouraging! I believe positive education that includes laughter is the most effective which is why I use musical games and other methods to ensure the student has fun while learning.

• A Stanford study shows that playing music engages areas of the brain which are involved with paying attention, making predictions, and updating events in our memory.

• Children who play music tend to have larger vocabularies and more advanced reading skills than their peers who do not participate in music lessons.

• When children learn to play music, their brains begin to process new sounds. This helps them develop a distinction between certain sounds that can aid in literacy.

• Children who study piano are more likely to excel in academics, work better in teams, have enhanced critical thinking skills, stay in school, and pursue further education.