When in doubt, ask.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are your studio policies for COVID-19?
As of right now, all of my private lessons, group classes, recitals, and workshops are online. I hope to have in-person sessions in the future when the pandemic diminishes, but the best I can do right now is keep my family and students safe by continuing to teach online.
Do I need a piano at home to start piano lessons?
YES! For better success, it is recommended that students have an electronic keyboard or acoustic piano for practicing and completing weekly assignments. If you need help finding a piano that fits your home environment and budget, please email hellonatsha@gmail.com for recommendations.
Can I start piano lessons with an electronic keyboard?
Yes, you can! There is nothing wrong with an electronic or digital keyboard. I personally believe it’s a smart choice to start off with an electronic/digital keyboard first to make sure you actually like playing and learning the piano before investing in an acoustic upright or grand piano. Also, you do not need to tune an electronic or digital keyboard (which is a big con of acoustic pianos). With technology being so great nowadays, there are keyboards with realistic piano tones and weighted keys.
Here are a few of my favorite affordable keyboard brands and models I would recommend below.
How long will it take for me to be GOOD?
I find this to be a very interesting question because everyone has a different definition of what “good” is to them. If your goal is to be able to read music at a proficient level, it can take anywhere from between three months to a few years. It all depends on what kind of learner you are, and how often you practice. I have students that practice every day, but sometimes it still takes them a longer time period to learn a certain concept. On the other hand, I have some students that don’t need to practice often, but they are such quick learners, that it is easy for them to pick up on new techniques. If your goal is to be able to bust out a couple of songs on the piano without reading music, it can take the same amount of time as well, because you spend time trying to memorize the choreography of your hand and fingers moving on the keys and you work on a whole lot of ear training to catch mistakes or wrong notes, but without reading music, it causes you to rely on your piano teacher to learn new pieces. My definition of a “good pianist” is someone who is able to have an even balance of ear training, memorisation skills, and the ability to read music and sight read at a proficient level. With that said, most of my students usually take about 3 to 4 years to reach a point where they can be fully independent and read music on their own.
How much do I need to practice?
I believe in quality over quantity when it comes to practice. Most parents or students would ask me how many minutes of daily practice are required. My question would be, “What does it take for you to learn this page by the end of the day? To learn it fully, and be comfortable playing it with minimal mistakes.” If it takes you only 15 to 20 minutes to learn, and you hit your goal by the end of the day, then that’s great! If it takes you one hour, yes, that’s a lot of time… But you hit your goal! Also, practicing does not mean repeating a piece from beginning to the end over and over again, I am a big advocate of “DEEP PRACTICE” and the method of “chunking,” which is a concept I introduce to all of my students when they start piano lessons with me. It is the most effective and efficient way of practicing and can take 10 mins to even 3 hours per day, it just depends on what you are trying to complete by the end of the week.
If you want a general time frame just to keep yourself or your children disciplined with daily practice, here are the suggested time frames based on the age of my young students and the repertoire they are working on.
Ages 4 to 7 = 10 to 15 minutes per day
Ages 8 to 10 = 15 to 30 minutes per day
Ages 11 to 14 = 30 to 45 minutes per day
Ages 14+ = Anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours per day depending on assignments and level of skill.
Adults = Most of my adult students practice more than 45 minutes a day, which has shown quick progress and development in technique and skill.
What is the minimum or maximum age for learning piano?
There isn’t a minimum or maximum age for learning piano. You can start learning how to play piano at any age. A two-year-old banging on the piano is already learning how to touch the keys and hear the notes, that’s a start! A 90-year-old starting piano for the first time is absolutely wonderful! It’s never too early or too late to learn the piano.
However, it may be too early for some children to take private lessons. In these cases, I would usually give a new family a free trial lesson to see if their child can sit through a private lesson with me. If they are easily distracted and not able to sit still at the piano, it doesn’t mean they are too young to play the piano; it just means that maybe they need some more time to mature and become better at focusing before taking piano lessons with me. I notice that most students age 6 and up tend to progress better than students that start at age 4 or 5. But I also teach a few preschool kids that can process the same information I give to my teenagers, and continue to do well during their piano studies, too. It all depends on the student. And remember, every teacher has a different teaching method. I know some teachers who are fabulous at teaching children ages 3 and up, but I also know some teachers who have better teaching methods for teenagers and adults.
Which piano teaching method do you use?
I adjust my teaching method based on each student’s goals and needs. If you want to go to school for music, I focus on teaching a balanced lesson in music theory, proper finger technique, and piano performance repertoire (lots of classical music). If you are learning piano for fun and want to learn how to read music, I focus on teaching you how to truly read the notes in the most efficient way, and find pieces that you like to help with your sight reading.
Here is a list of favorite beginning books I like to introduce to my piano students.
Piano for the Young Beginner: Primer A
Piano for the Young Beginner: Primer B
Eckstein Piano Course - Book 1
A Dozen a Day: Preparatory Book
Piano Adventures: Level 1 - Lesson Book
Piano Adventures: Level 1 - Performance Book
Accelerated Piano Adventures for the Older Beginner: Lesson Book 1
Accelerated Piano Adventures for the Older Beginner: Popular Repertoire, Book 1
What are the PROS of online lessons?
There are many PROS of having online lessons.
You save time. Most of my in-person students take 20 to 35 minutes to drive to my piano studio every week. With online lessons, you can use the commute time on something else that you need to do.
Bad weather can’t stop you now! You can still have your lesson safe at home, rain or shine!
Are you a little sniffly or still getting over a cold? You don’t have to cancel if you have a little cough or sniffle. If you are feeling energetic and excited for lessons, you can still have your lesson without infecting your teacher!
You can practice immediately before and after your lesson so that you sound your best. And most people are usually more relaxed in their own home with their own instrument, so that’s a big plus!
Your siblings or other family members who are also taking lessons don’t have to wait and watch your lesson. They can be working on other things and when it’s their turn for lessons, it’s a very easy transition!
Online lessons are more consistent, on time, and you don’t need to pack your music and unpack every single time you have a lesson.
There are a few CONS of online lessons.
There are a few CONS of online lessons.
The lack of interaction causes us to miss out on the social element of “going to a class” or “being in a class.” I admit that I miss seeing my students in person and I just want that face-to-face interaction, and so do they.
Students have to be extremely self-disciplined whether they are a child or adult. I will try my best to keep you motivated and enthusiastic about learning piano, but it is your job to keep up with assignments and practice!
Technology and WIFI issues are going to be a reoccurring problem (especially if you have a weak WIFI connection or the device you are using is outdated). The video call can cut out, or the quality could be terrible. We won’t know until we try and experiment with the different apps and devices.
There could be times where I have difficulty teaching you a particular technique, or correcting your posture, especially if I do not have a full view of you at the piano. In this case, I always try my best to adjust to the student’s environment, but I may ask for a different camera angle so that I can see your pedalling, or for you to purchase a device holder so that I can see you play on the keys.
Last but not least, it is normal for students to get easily anxious or frustrated while learning something new. It is my job to make you feel comfortable and relaxed during our lessons together, so I try to reduce that anxiety or frustration by going at a pace that fits your needs.
Why do online and in-person piano lessons share the same rate?
I continue to prepare a detailed lesson plan for each student as well as coordinate virtual recitals and workshops during my non-teaching hours. I also spend time attending online conventions and meetings as an active member of the Music Teachers’ Association of CA (MTAC). My membership with MTAC showcases my credentials, and gives my students the opportunity to build their musicianship through the Certificate of Merit Testing, seasonal branch recitals, and various festivals/competitions. I give it my 100% to understand my students’ learning style and adjust my teaching style to their needs. Whether it is online or in-person, the rate covers my time, my flexible studio policy, and the quality of my teaching.