Vahl Piano Studio // Passion, Excellence, Artistry

Expectations

1. How do I know when my child is ready to start piano lessons ?

    

   Don't judge your child by age. Instead look for these identifiers:

   • Can your child count from 1-10 and recognize the written numbers?

   • Can your child recite the alphabet and recognize the written letters A-G?

   • Is your child beginning to differentiate right from left?

   • Is your child able to focus on one activity and/or sit still for 10 minutes at a time?

   • Is your child expressing musicality (humming, singing, dancing, tapping rhythms, etc)?

   • And most importantly, is your child showing interest in music or asking about lessons?

   If you can answer yes to three or more of these questions, your child is probably ready.

    

   
   

2. How much are students required to practice?

   Once a student enrolls in lessons, it is expected that the student practice consistently throughout the week. Consistent and regular practice are the most important factors in successful music study. Specific assignments written in the assignment notebook should be completed. 30 minute lessons = 30 minutes of daily practice. 45 minute lessons = 45 minutes of daily practice.
   

   
   

3. Do I need to have a piano at home?

   Yes. Without a way to practice daily, the student will not be able to progress in his or her lessons. The piano must be in good working condition and must be tuned regularly. Please ask me for contacts with places to find a piano within your budget.
   

    

   
   

4. Is an electronic keyboard acceptable?

   An  acoustic piano is best. A digital piano should be full size, 88 keys, touch sensitive and have weighted keys. The keyboard must beable to make a regular piano sound and must have a sustain pedal.

   I discourage the use of digital keyboards because nothing can replace the touch and sound of an acoustic piano. In my experience students who practice on digitals make much slower progress and sometimes never gain the strength needed in their fingers, wrists, and arms to be a fine pianist.
   

    

   
   

5. What other equipment/materials might my student need?

   Your student will need access to a metronome and a CD or MP3 player.
   

    

   
   

6. What constitutes good practicing ?

   Many students love to play through their pieces from beginning to end at a very fast speed. This is not good practicing! Good practicing should sound disjointed. A student needs to practice one small section repeatedly, stopping to work on trouble spots, gradually increasing speed until the section is mastered. Students should also be doing the assignments written in their notebooks (counting out loud, practicing with the metronome, naming notes while playing, shaping the phrases, correcting details).

7. How do I get my child to practice?

   Once a student is accepted for study in the studio, daily practice is part of the agreement. It is important to establish a set time for piano practice every day. Piano should be treated as another academic subject and practicing is “homework”. Piano practice should not be negotiable, just like homework in non-negotiable. If the student doesn’t practice, they will not progress. There may be ups and downs, but constant encouragement will help your child stick to a practice schedule and see that consistency helps them improve. 

Format of Lessons

1. Where do you teach lessons?

   I conduct lessons in my home studio, which is located in Maple Grove, MN, by Highway 169 and 63rd Avenue, close to Eagle Lake and the Arbor Lakes shopping area.
   

2. What hours are available for lessons?

   Lessons are available on Mondays through Thursdays from late morning through 8:30 pm.
   

    

   
   

3. Can the parent be present during the lesson?

   My door is always open for parents to attend their student's lesson. It is advisable for preschool students through 1st grade, and all begginers to have a parent present who will help them throughout the week of practice.
   

   Parents are asked to silently observe the lesson without interruption.

    

   
   

4. Do you offer group lessons?

   Yes. Two to Four times a year group lessons take the place of private lessons that week. Group lessons will be performance opportunities for students to share with others pieces they have been learning. If time allows student play music games to reinforce concepts of music theory.
   

5. What is different about your piano studio?

   The studio is committed to positive encouragement in music study, providing a friendly environment where students enjoy lessons while making progress. Each student receives a user name and password to musiclearningcommunity.com which allows them to practice theory games on their home computer. Also, the studio runs year long incentive programs with composer bucks awarded for great lessons, plus a piano performance trophy that all students may earn.
   

Performance Opportunities

1. Will students have the opportunity to perform at recitals?

   Yes. The studio offers 3 recitals per year: Fall Recital (October or November), Ribbon Festival Recital (late January), and the Spring Recital (mid May.)

2. Are competition opportunities available to students?

   Yes. As an active member of Minnesota Music Teachers Association, my students are welcome to participate in the annual State Piano Contest or the Young Artist Contest. Parents are responsible for all financial costs associated with their students'participation in competitions.

3. Will my child be ready to perform in recitals, festivals, piano exams or contests??

   Every student is different and has their own rate of learning and advancment, and their comfort level with performance. Both the MMTA State Contest and Piano Exams are structured so even a beginner is able to participate on their level of advancement. Students can participate in recitals after only a few lessons. Participation in any event is completely voluntary, and students are asked to participate when I feel they are ready and can handle it. The students and the parents make the final decision to participate or not. 

Policies

1. Should I consider 30, 45, or 60-minute lessons?

   Young children who are just beginning will probably do best with 30-minute lessons. Children who have reached  Level 2 in their curriculum should consider 45 minute lessons. High School students should consider taking hour lessons, particularly if they plan to play in competitions or exams.
   

2. When is tuition due?

   The studio year runs from September through July. Tuition is paid in 11 equal payments with each installment due on the first scheduled lesson of the month, September through July, and is based on a total of 38 lessons from September through July.  Tuition statements are emailed on about the 21st day of the month. Discounts are given for payment on or before 1st day of the month. Invoices are sent by email around the 21st day of the previous month.
   

3. What if a student needs to miss a lesson?

   The student is responsible to come to the regularly scheduled lesson or try to swap lesson times with another student, consulting the schedule and swap list that is placed in every student’s assignment notebook.
   

What ages do accept as students?

1. Do you accept adult students?

   Themajority of my students are in grades K-12. However I do accept adult students if they are willing to commit to regular practice and who will stick with lessons for at least a year.
   

   
   

   
   

    

   
   

2. Is my child ready to start lessons?

   Childrenare old enough to begin lessons if they can wiggle their fingers independently, say the alphabet, recognize and write the letters A-G and the numbers 1-5, and know left from right.

   
   

    

   Parental readiness is equally important. Can you commit to the time and cost necessary for successful piano study? Can you provide an appropriate practice environment and encourage your student to practice regularly? Is there adequate time in your family's schedule to accommodate lessons and practice?

    

    

   
   

3. What can I do to prepare my child for piano lessons?

   1. Play quality music in the home.
   

    

   2. Sing with your child and do lots of motions. Help your child match thepitches that you are singing and help him walk, or clap, or swing, or do anymotion to the beat of the music.
   

    

   3. Let your child experiment with musical instruments. On the piano, black key melodies are good as first pieces.

    

   
   

4. What ages do you teach?

   I teach preschool children all the way to adults. Many teachers will not teach a student before the age of 7 or 8, but in recent years some fabulous curriculums have been created for preschool and kindergarten.  I am also experienced with teaching advanced repertoire, and work with many elementary school, middle school, high school, and adults.
   

5. I want to get back into music, but I'm nervous about starting again. Can you help?

    

   Absolutely. I have many students with some experience, but who need guidance taking their playing to the next level. I'm here to help you accomplish that.

    

    

Teacher

1. What is "NCTM" next to a teacher's name ?

   This means “Nationally Certified Teacher of Music”. National Certification is a program designed by MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) to help the public identify qualified music instructors in their area. A teacher who is nationally certified has passed rigorous requirements and proven competency through testing and college coursework in the following areas: music theory, music history, piano pedagogy, piano performance, music education and business practices, collaboration with other teachers, and serving the community.