FAQ

At what age do lessons begin?

Typically around 2.5 - 3 years of age is an ideal time to start piano. At the intake interview Greg will determine the child’s readiness for piano lessons.



How long are the lessons?

Lesson length is determined at the interview but usually lessons are 15-30 minutes for beginners. For diploma students the lessons can last up to 2 hours.



Where are the lessons?

All lessons are either in person at Greg’s studio or online.



How often are the lessons?

Lessons are typically once a week with 36 lessons during the academic year.



What methods do you use?

For the young beginner, Greg often uses the Bastien series method book, and for an older beginner he uses Alfred. After one or two methods books have been completed, Greg has numerous level appropriate pieces for each student that they can choose from.



How do you keep students inspired?

Greg allows students to choose their own repertoire based on his performance of the pieces. Students stay motivated and practice on their own because of this.



How often should students practice?

Students should practice daily if they are competing or preparing for an exam. Time expectations for exam candidates are specified in Greg’s studio contract. Students who are not taking exams should practice 5 days a week and the daily length of practice should equal their lesson length.



What is the parent’s role?

Parental support is an extremely important factor in musical training. Students whose parents take an active role in their progress tend to be more enthusiastic and productive. Active involvement, genuine interest, and positive reinforcement are all constructive motivating acts that the parent should present. Parents should establish a daily practice routine for the student that doesn’t compete with other activities. They should help young children maintain this by initialing the daily practice schedule that Greg provides to track the student’s progress. Consistent, dedicated practicing is absolutely essential to the student’s success.



Is an electric digital piano okay to use at home?

There are many models on the market but ideally it should be weighted and also touch sensitive. It’s okay to start out this way but eventually students will want to progress to an acoustic piano.



What piano tuner do you recommend?

Enrolled students can ask Greg for piano tuner contact info at any time. The tuner will tell you how often to tune the piano based on the condition of the piano and the environment it’s in.



Is there a contract to sign or can we try it out to see if it works?

For young beginners,Greg can defer his contract until he determines that they are ready and have had some lessons to see how things develop.



How does your waiting list work?

Greg’s waiting list operates on a first come first served basis.



Are there lessons in the summer?

Greg recommends summer lessons because they assist in not having to spend time relearning music skills after the long summer break and ensure a strong head start on next year's piano curriculum. However the summer lesson commitment can be more flexible than during the regular season to allow the student to fit it around their holidays and other summer activities.



Do students need to take exams?

Exams aren’t for everyone and this is a discussion on a case-by-case basis with each individual student.