We get many calls for music lessons, and we are often astonished that the only question we are asked is “How much do you charge?”  While this may be a factor in choosing a teacher, there are other very important issues.  If cost is the only criterion, and you choose a poorly trained or inexperienced teacher, you may be wasting your money and many years of your time developing bad habits and serious gaps in your training.  Be sure to inquire about:

• Musical background and training
• How much teaching experience the teacher has had
• What style(s) of music he teaches
• What is her method or approach in teaching?
• Is he an experienced performer himself?
• Does she offer student recitals, and how often?
• Does he work well with children and/or adults?
• Does she train students in sight-reading, ear training, and especially, theory?
• Can he prepare students for competition, college, and careers in music?

One good way to evaluate a teacher’s abilities is by seeing and hearing the results.  Ask if you may attend one of her student recitals or workshops, or if he is a performer, go and hear him play.  Then determine if this is where you (or your child) would like to be.

One last word of advice: If you want to learn to play the violin, don’t go to a piano teacher, and vice versa.  Although some teachers offer lessons on many different instruments, to get the best results, study with a teacher who specializes in the instrument that you want to learn, and can really play it well.  Only they will know the specific techniques that will make your progress faster and easier.

And remember, as with anything, you get what you pay for.  Never skimp on the quality of your child’s education.

Piano: 5 through adult; Guitar: 10 through adult.

At our teaching studios are in Rancho Santa Margarita, Camarillo, and Dana Point, California. Also, Virtual Online Lessons for Guitar and Piano are available no matter where you are located, as long as you have a good Internet connection, webcam, microphone, and headphones or ear pods. Usually, a laptop computer is good enough for online lessons.

How badly do you want to learn? Honestly, the more the better. As a general guideline, we say you need to practice at least as long as your lesson is, every day.

If you are taking private music lessons, you want to get the most out of your investment of money, time, and effort. So it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of your teacher.  Here is a point system totaling 100 points that you can use to “grade” your teacher.

• Does he truly play or perform on the instrument he teaches? Can he demonstrate? For example, if you are studying piano, make sure that piano is his main instrument. (This item is worth 10 points).
• As a beginner, did you learn to read fluently within 6 months?  Did you learn all the note names and time values? (10 points)
• Has she taught you how to count correctly as you play, and does she make sure that you do it consistently? (10 points)
• Does he emphasize proper hand position and posture and give exercises to develop it? (10 points)
• Can she explain the logic behind all of her methods and concepts until they make sense to you? (10 points)
• Has she given you training and exercises in music theory to help you understand the structure of the music you are playing?  Do you understand key signatures, chords and scales?  Can you play them using correct fingerings? (10 points)
• Does he help you isolate difficult passages, dissect them, and learn them bit by bit until they are no longer problematic? Does he give you effective shortcuts to learning? (15 points)
• Does she show you how to play with feeling and dynamics, and how to communicate the meaning of the music, even in simple pieces? (15 points)
• Do you feel fully prepared for a performance well in advance? (10 points)

If you feel that your teacher or your education is lacking in any of these areas, first talk to your teacher.  Second, if necessary, you may want to look for a new teacher.  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Our tuition is charged on a monthly basis, due and payable on the first of the month. By far the majority of students take one-hour lessons. All guitar students take one-hour lessons, and guitar students may pay an annual tuition with a substantial discount. Please read the Guitar Studio Policies for details. The piano teachers will  determine the appropriate length of the lessons for their students. Some circumstances may call for longer lessons or multiple lessons per week. Inquire with your teacher for specific rates.

For Studio Policies, Click Here.