Helpful Information

“Carol Cook is our mentor in a piano group of older ladies. Some studied piano as youngsters and some started lessons as adults. Carol has taught all of us how to get the most out of our music. She is a wonderful teacher with all sorts of helpful hints to maneuver across the keyboard. She listens to each one of us each week and points out ways we can improve. Such great pointers. We have a soiree every year and we play for our husbands the pieces we have learned over the year. Great fun!!! ”
— Soleta Baird
 

Piano Maintenance and Setup

  • The piano should be tuned at least every 12 months and be mechanically sound. Every six months is the ideal. Have the piano tuned after you turn on the heat in the winter and air in the summer.

  • When not playing the piano, the lid should be closed to protect the keys.

  • A bench of the appropriate height for the student at the piano should be provided.

  • A footstool for the young student to rest his/her feet to maintain the proper balance at the piano should be provided.

  • The piano room should be well-lit. An appropriate piano lamp is recommended.

  • The piano room should be free of distractions. TVs, toys, siblings, etc. are generally not a good atmosphere for the study of music.

  • Food & drink should never be present on or near the piano. Accidents can lead to costly repairs and possibly irreversible damage.

  • The piano should be placed away from windows, outside doorways, outside walls, and air vents. Frequent changes in temperature will cause the piano to go out of tune quickly. The piano is best situated along an inside wall away from any air vents.

  • Keep heavy items and décor off of the piano. Only music, pencils, metronome, & a piano lamp should be allowed to rest on the piano.

  • If you notice a problem with your piano, have that problem addressed promptly, otherwise this problem might cause more problems and repairs may be costly.

  • An in-tune piano is a joy to play and listen to. An out-of-tune piano can be both painful and difficult to play as well as unpleasant to listen to.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long are the sessions?

A: 30-minute, 45-minute, or 60-minute sessions, once a week.

Q: Do I have to own an instrument to take lessons?

A: Yes. You should have an instrument available to you at home. Many piano retailers will rent/lease pianos for 3 or 6 months. 

Q: May I begin lessons on a keyboard?

A: Yes. It should be a keyboard with 88 weighted keys. You can always upgrade to a piano once you determine piano lessons are something you or your child would like to continue.

Q: When is the best time to begin lessons? May we begin any time during the year or only at the beginning of a semester?

A: Lessons may begin at any time throughout the year.

Q: Do I have to purchase books?

A: No, I purchase the materials that my students need and parents reimburse me.

Q: Do you allow parents to sit in on the sessions?

A: Yes. It depends on each situation. For children ages 4-8, it is highly recommended that the parent be at the lesson. It is useful for parents to see what the student is doing in class so they can help with practice time at home.

Q: Do you work with adults?

A: Yes. I have adult students from beginners to advanced. I will customize your lessons based on your skill-level and goals.

Q: What age is appropriate for a child to begin piano lessons?

A: Any age is an appropriate age. My students range in age from 4 to 84. If your child can count to 5, knows right from left and can say the first seven letters of the alphabet, he/she can begin lessons at age 4. However, I will teach a four-year-old only with the understanding that the parent will attend lessons and work with the student at home each day.

Q: Do your students participate in recitals and festivals?

A: My students participate in at least two festivals and one recital each year. There are other opportunities available such as competitions, but only if the student is well-prepared.

Q: How much time should my student practice each day?

A: This depends on the level. If the student cannot practice one day, try to make up the time the following day.

   Primer Level                        15 - 20 minutes per day

   Level I                                 25 - 30 minutes per day

   Level II                                35 - 40 minutes per day

   Level III                               40 - 45 minutes per day

   Level IV and above           45 - 60 minutes per day

 

Q: Practice tips?

A:
1. Plan to practice. Parents, you need to manage your child's time so that they have a short practice session scheduled into their daily routine. Expecting your child to practice without help from you, is like expecting them to remember to brush their teeth without being reminded. You have to train them until it becomes part of their routine.

2. Practice slowly, with control. If you are playing too fast and making mistakes, then you are "practicing the mistake" and hindering your own progress.

3. Practice small phrases or passages until they become easy. Once you've mastered a segment, then you can practice linking it together with the next learned segment...until you have mastered the whole song! This may seem time-consuming, but it actually speeds your progress.

4. Practice the difficult stuff first. If you spend most of your practice session "playing" the easy stuff you already know, you'll never move beyond it to more challenging material.

5. Use correct hand position while practicing. Whenever you play, always remember to have correct hand position. Curve your fingers and play on your fingertips with your wrists up.

Q: I am ready to get started. What do I do next?

A: Complete the Contact form to schedule your free introductory consultation.