Private Lessons

Private lessons provide students with individualized instruction to help them reach their goals. Lessons are tailored to each student’s personal learning style. With lessons and daily practice, students will gain the following skills:

  • Effective practicing habits
  • Sight-reading ability
  • Rhythmic accuracy
  • Aural skills (ear training)
  • Memorization techniques
  • Confidence in performance
  • Ability to collaborate
  • Basic knowledge of music history
  • Composition and improvisational skills

By learning these techniques, students will also acquire more general life skills, such as:

  • Analytical reasoning
  • Emotional expression
  • Problem solving and critical thinking
  • Working through setbacks
  • Concentration and focus
  • Long-term planning
  • Personal responsibility

Beginner students generally follow a method book (Faber, Alfred, Bastien) to help learn the basics of sight-reading and playing. Once a student gains a strong foundation in theory, they will move on to more advance repertoire from classical to contemporary composers. Each new piece is selected to challenge the student with a particular technique (e.g., legato playing, scale work, syncopated rhythms) so they will continue to grow as musicians, while exposing them to new material.

Lessons are held weekly at the student’s home, as follows:

  • $13.00 for 15-minute lesson
  • $26.00 for 30-minute lesson
  • $39.00 for 45-minute lesson
  • $52.00 for 60-minute lesson

Tuition is paid monthly through cash, check, Zelle, or Venmo. Cancellations can be made 24 hours before a lesson with no penalty, and emergency cancellations (illness with a fever, etc.) may be made by 10:00 am the day of the lesson.

Lessons are held year round, including the summer. Once per semester (fall and spring), the studio hosts a recital for students to share their music with their friends and family. Beyond studio recitals, students will have to opportunity to participate in other community events, such as the Durham Music Teachers Association Play-a-thon and NC Performance Festival.