Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Lessons.
How much are piano lessons?
Piano lessons cost $40 to $80 per hour, depending on the location, their experience level, and session length. A piano lesson package costs $180 to $350 for five 1-hour lessons. Children's piano lessons and online lessons often cost less than average.
Piano lessons are available for all ages in most cities in the country. Music instructors teach:
Music theory
Sight-reading
Improvisation
How to improve playing or technique
At what age should you start piano lessons?
The best age to start piano lessons is 5 to 9 years, though learning how to play the piano doesn't have an age limit. Playing the piano strengthens fine motor skills, increases flexibility, and improves your memory no matter how old you are.
Are piano lessons worth it?
Piano lessons are worth the money and effort invested over time. Playing an instrument can be beneficial for mental health, and cognitive strength. For smaller budgets, book just a few lessons to get the basics down and continue on your own.
How long are piano lessons?
Piano lessons for beginners or children are typically 30 to 45 minutes per session. Intermediate or advanced lessons are 45 to 60+ minutes per session. Most people have 1 to 2 lessons per week.
Can you learn to play piano online?
Yes, you can learn to play piano online through a webcam or virtual tutorials. Search our list of online piano teacher near you to find an instructor. Online piano lessons are often more convenient than in-person lessons and cost 20% less on average.
How do I select a piano teacher?
Start by searching our list of piano teachers, then:
Get at least three free estimates to compare.
Read reviews on Lessons and Google if possible.
Ask for references from current or recent students.
Make sure they are kind and personable, especially when with children.
Get a written estimate and schedule before the first lesson.
Avoid making a large payment up front. Follow a payment plan instead.
After asking questions and browsing reviews, hire the best piano instructor in your area.
What questions should I ask piano instructors?
When hiring piano teachers near you, ask the following questions:
How long have you been teaching piano?
Do you have a degree in music?
What age do you typically teach?
What genre of piano do you specialize in?
Will you give me a contract or payment arrangement in writing?
Will you allow me to choose some or all of the songs we practice?
Reviews for Chicago piano teachers
Recent success stories from people in the Chicago area.
Narisi
Arbin is an accomplished pianist and we are lucky to have her as DS's piano teacher. Arbin taught DS since two years ago when he was 10. With her teaching, some bad habits, like finger movements, posture are corrected and DS got started on classical pieces. The progress in his piano skill was obvious and we constantly get praise from friends. During these two years, Arbin organized several rehearsals for her students on her own time, despite her busy schedule at school. She also invites us to concerts at her school (CSLB) to give DS more exposure to piano music. She communicated with us about the status of the DS constantly, letting us know if DS is tired or less motivated and what to work on for homework. She takes responsibility over her students' progress. If she finds it is difficult to handle certain student she will bring it up. In my other DS's case, he was not interested in piano and Arvin was quick to notice and told us directly that she is not the suitable teacher for him. We also went to a couple of her performances and was impressed by her performance and the audience's reaction. We are sorry that she left Socal and we hope we will be fortunate enough to find another piano teacher like her.
Overall, Arvin is a talented pianist, responsible teacher and a good friend.
Arvin G. Piano Lesson
Julian H.
I have known Gerald Rizzer for many years. He has a very easy going approach to teaching but on the other hand is extremely good at helping the student improve his or her performances and musical capabilities. He is especially interested in the structure of the pieces the student is working on and can improve interpretations by focusing on that structure.
He is the leader of the well known Chicago Ensemble and his abilities as a professional performing musician are beyond reproach. I highly recommend him.
The Chicago Ensemble
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