Allegro Piano School

My onboarding process involves a few steps. But don't worry... I try to keep it simple and much of the work is on my end. 😉

1. Students complete the registration form on the Contact page of my website, GreatPianoLessons.com. 

2. I confirm receipt of your registration via email. 

3. I call you to find our best mutually agreeable time (if not done previously). 

4. I send you a Zelle request for the annual music fee + the next month's piano lesson investment. I'll hold your spot for 48 hours. If I don't receive your Zelle payment during that time, I'll release the time to another student. 

5. I send your first music book packet via USPS, hopefully to arrive in time for your first lesson. 

6. I send a couple emails... a welcome email, an email about how to set up for a Zoom piano lesson and what to expect at the first lesson.

7. I send a Zoom link good for the first lessons. And look forward to meeting you on the call. 🤗

I've had decades of piano training and teaching... about 6 decades worth! Started teaching in Neenah, WI when I was 16. I'm now studying piano with a PhD who previously taught piano pedagogy at University of Texas.

Teaching piano is truly a passion and a professional calling for me... not a side gig based on a couple years of lessons. 😐

I'm always seeking ways to improve my teaching and your experience as a student. In addition, I do personalized music selection based on a broad knowledge of piano methods and supplementary music.

My style is upbeat, energetic, and positive. Yet I still give real feedback (gently). After all, isn't that what you're paying me for???

While in your lesson, I'm totally 100% present. I never text, snack, or talk on the phone during your lesson. 

I've been teaching for a long time (30 years) and know the hazards of learning something incorrectly. So if you have a question between lessons, I ask that you text or email me so you can learn it right. 

I've been immersed in piano since I was 5 years old. With my 6 decades of experience, I know I can take you from where you are today to where you want to go with piano! 

Your investment for piano lessons with me includes far more than "just" the actual lesson. It also includes access to me for questions via email/text between lessons, personalized music selection and shopping, encouragement and rewards, and more. I am committed to your success! 

Your investment starts at $45 per half hour lesson, $67.50 for 45 minutes, and $90 for one hour... payable at the beginning of the month for that month. Some people opt to do 2 lessons per week. For children, this is preferable to one longer lesson due to their attention span. It also offers greater accountability for practice. 🤣

When you enroll, there's also a $50 annual music fee, from which I supply all your music and make sure it gets to you when needed. 

Your monthly investment may vary depending on number of times your lesson day falls within a given month. For example, in March 2022, everyone on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday had 5 lessons if they were doing weekly lessons. 

When I was in high school, my piano teacher had a long waiting list. I was her most advanced student, so she gave me 12 people from her waiting list and coached me on how to teach them. That was my start. 

Since then I've taught for about 30 years... taking some breaks when my children were infants/toddlers, and for several cross-country moves. 

I've taught in 5 states, and with the aid of Zoom and extra cameras over my piano, am now teaching students in 10 states from my home in Oklahoma. 

Wow... I've worked with all types of students! 

Right now about half of my students are adults who've always wanted to play piano, or who played as children and yearn to get back to it. Some of these are as young as early 20's and others are now retired and in their 60's and 70's. 

The other significant group of students are kids ages 6 through 16. Some are new to piano... others have been in and out of piano lessons for any number of reasons. 

I've taught private piano to kids as young as 4... but I prefer to start students about age 6-7. Four year olds have a pretty short attention span.

Even with 6 to 8 year olds doing online lessons, it's important that a parent or teenager be present (at least at the beginning) to help adjust the camera angle and address hand position questions and the like, for at least the first couple months of lessons. 

I've taught autistic children, teens who are heading into collegiate music programs, children who find music easy and children who find music hard. 

This has challenged me to find good explanations for musical concepts that are relatable to a wide variety of learning styles. 

Yearning to learn piano... or  want to have a positive influence on a child or grandchild? Let's get together and make music a part of your -- or their -- life. 

My #1 recommendation would be to find out what their piano background is. Too many people put themselves out there as piano teachers when they only have 2-5 years of piano instruction. That's simply not enough to have gained proficiency in the many areas of piano pedagogy that a good teacher should know. 

Ask them how many years they've studied piano... who they studied with... what their highest playing level is... 

You want a teacher who is proficient at level 6 or 7 or beyond. 

Never hire the cheapest teacher you can find if you want to gain expertise. With professional teaching services you almost always get what you pay for. It's better to pay more and get the best. A true professional places a high value on their time and knowledge, and are highly committed to their students' success. 

Also ask what their fee includes. For example, does it include any access to the teacher between lessons or other things? 

Ask them to play something for you. What level are they playing at? How well did they play it? 

Students should think about the following questions before contacting a teacher...

1. Am you willing to stick with lessons for a long time? It takes time to become proficient in piano playing, just as it does to learn a foreign language to proficiency, or become a great surgeon, engineer, or accountant. 

I suggest you anticipate being in the game for at least 3-5 years, or even longer (depending on your goals). 

2. Do you have the budget to hire the best teacher? (See above question about what to know about hiring a piano teacher.

3. How much time can you set aside to practice piano? While I don't endorse a "quota system" of practice time ("thou shalt practice 60 minutes every day"), it will realistically take time to gain proficiency. You can start with 15 minutes a day, and progress to 30 minutes. Every day is better than a once a week cram session the day before a lesson. 

4. What are your goals for piano and how will you know when you reach them? How committed are you to those goals? If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time. You don't have to know music to set a goal. If you tell me you want to become a good intermediate pianist, I'll know what that means and help you define that. Generally it means you can learn and play music at "grade levels" 4-5. 

5. What type of music styles do you want to play? Be sure you find a teacher who'll be able to take you there. 

I'm very eclectic as a pianist and piano teacher. I was classically trained, but most of my life have played, taught, and enjoyed a wide variety of styles including classical (obviously), pops, rock, jazz, worship music, folk tunes, and more. 

6. Do you have a piano or decent keyboard to play on? You cannot learn to play piano without having an instrument at home to practice on. Having a relative down the street with the instrument does not work. Life gets in the way and there are simply too many obstacles to success. 

Ideally you have a well-tuned acoustic piano, or an 88-key keyboard with weighted keys. It is possible to learn on a smaller keyboard, but it is limiting, you will outgrow it quickly, it lacks the touch and feel of an acoustic piano, and it is certainly less than inspiring to play than a piano. 

For best progress with learning the instrument, acquire the best piano or keyboard you can possibly afford. There really is a "wow" factor with the sound of a baby grand piano!