Tates Music Studio

Love this question! 

I accommodate my student's needs. When I am first contacted in whichever form, my turn-around time is usually within 2 weeks.

When working with new students I always ensure the student has everything they need to start working with me. 

First, I always ensure the first lesson is free, I don't even like to call it a "lesson" more-so than a consultation. 

My student is the number one priority, and I always start off with what they want to do, how they want to achieve a certain kind of sound, what genre's they are interested in learning, and most often allow them to speak first. 

Once the gauge has been set, I talk about how we can achieve these goals at a pace that fits the student, and what methods of teaching I use to get them there. 

For example, I have a student who is dyslexic and a student who is blind. 

There are so many types of people who learn piano, and accommodations are necessary when the unordinary or unique comes in with a flying passion to learn. I match the criteria, and if the first consult goes well and I finish my small portfolio of my student, I create a unique profile for each student and in follow up, again 2 weeks being the turn around to design the right methodology for the student, we can proceed and start lessons.  

I have 25 years of experience learning how to play and master piano, the instrument I most commonly teach. 

Not only have I performed, taught, recorded and took some common courses, I recently decided to further my knowledge by the Cal Plan offered from MTAC. A very prestigious and almost even more collegiate in particular studies than other schools of music education.

Please note, these can and will change at the discretion of my own private business needs. 

For more information, please provide a detailed quote on Lessons.com.

Openings for private sessions have just become available to the public again, May 2023. 
Due to the high volume of requests to utilize this opportunity, all incoming students are required to prove motivation. Any student who fails to uphold the standard they are held to will be dismissed after 3 consecutive sessions if any of the following apply; skipping sessions, canceling 3 times last minute, late, no call no show, uncooperative, and lastly if no progress is made within the 3 session dismissal. 

My teaching piano happened by pure accident. I started teaching close friends how to read music, and after requests to play songs for them, I sat down and taught them in the capacity that they could remember and understand (Don't forget, everyone learns differently). I realized how much progress was being made by my accidental lessons and the enjoyment of the person playing. Watching the light go off when a new term or type of notation was once gibberish and suddenly understood that particular symbol and what it was referring to in reading it. I think that was when I decided this was a great idea, scary, hard, totally awesome decision to become an instructor. 

Name it, I will take them in and do the best I can, otherwise, I have worked with all age groups, in addition to some of the following information below.

Because of the range of students I teach, I have the advantage to really prepare what is best for the coursework and how to match it to the style of music the student wants to learn, all ages, blind, dyslexic, etc.

I am on my way to specializing in mental capabilities, which include Autism, Aspergers, Down Syndrome, and other neurological categorical "disorders", I have experience teaching and 25 years to accommodate what I was meant to have and to give back with the experiences I was so lucky to express growing up.

The most common age groups are 4-10yrs old, adults of any age are the second most common. I would say the 3rd group is rare but still happens! 

I couldn't if I tried! Every moment I am teaching and learning more while teaching, I never feel like I am "in time", and by this, I mean it serves a purpose of presence, something not everyone enjoys often enough. 

Do not put yourself into a shell. If you're teacher makes you feel less inclined to learn, and you feel forced, leave. I do not allow that negative behavior in my head space or work space. 

Do your research. Sometimes you may think the teacher with nothing much more than a picture and some email address is a pass. Maybe there is a teacher who's lessons are so expensive, that you think, well, this must be the better teacher. Consult, ask for references, check backgrounds. Its important. 

Never pretend you have no questions. Every single question is a very important question, if you have it, ask it. Don't be scared to ask! That is what we are here for, to answer!

What am I learning? What kind of music can I learn to play on piano? Can I learn to play the music without understanding music notation? Am I allowed to practice only during a lesson? If I don' like something, can I skip it? If I don't have time to practice, what should I do? Can you teach me how to sing and play instruments at the same time? 

There is no such thing as a stupid question. Don't worry, I encourage you to challenge your capabilities.