Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions parents ask before registering for music lessons here at Midtown Music Academy. If you have additional questions, click here to get in touch with us.
It depends on each individual child, but often the ideal time to begin is 5-7. We have found that learning to read is one of the most effective indicators of readiness. Fine motor skills are usually starting to develop around the same time, so that makes it a perfect time to start playing an instrument!
A 45-minute introductory lesson is $40.
Tuition is based on your weekly private lesson length, even though it includes more than the private lessons!
30 minutes - $110/month
45 minutes - $160/month
60 minutes - $210/month
Yes! Home practice is an essential part of building musical skills, so a quality instrument is very important. We understand not every family is ready to make an expensive purchase up front, so we have recommendations for some affordable options, including rentals. For string instruments and harps, this can be an especially good option, since the instrument size will change as your child grows.
For piano students, an electronic keyboard is usually fine for the first year or two, as long as it has weighted keys, a full keyboard, and a pedal. If you are unsure what any of this means, or want some recommendations on where to look, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Most of our lessons are taught in-person, but we also offer the option of online lessons.
Online lessons are one-on-one with your music teacher, just like in-person private lessons. At your regular lesson time, your teacher will initiate a video chat with you (through the free Zoom.us app), and you will have your lesson. We recommend using a tablet or laptop with a built-in webcam, but smartphones also work.
When you invest in music lessons for your child, we want to give your child the best experience possible, and having a good instrument for home practice makes a significant difference in this. There are two main reasons why students should have a full-size keyboard with weighted action:
1. Students whose instruments do not sound good, or that do not feel like an real piano, are consistently less motivated to practice than students love their instruments.
2. It can be very frustrating for students to switch to the heavier feel of an acoustic piano for lessons after practicing on a light keyboard at home, and this can make lessons less productive.
Because of those two things, practicing on a cheap instrument usually results in the student quickly losing interest in home practice. There are some very affordable options for full-size weighted keyboards and used acoustic pianos. Please let us know if you have questions and we will be happy to send you recommendations that fit your budget.
For beginners 10 & under, we begin with 30 minutes lessons, or 45 minutes for students over age 10. Once students get more advanced, 60 minutes is a great way to help them get the most out of their lessons.
Currently we do not offer discounted tuition for siblings, but our yearly registration fee is capped at $25 per family.
Parents are always welcome to attend lessons, but we also have a waiting area for parents and siblings, and it is also fine to drop off your child as long as you are ready to pick them up at the end of their lesson.
For young students, we highly recommend that a parent attends at least part of each lesson (usually the last 10 minutes), so they can assist with home practice during the rest of the week. We like to use this as a "show-and-tell" time that serves two purposes: it keeps you in the loop regarding their progress and assignments, and they get extra reinforcement of the concepts and skills they worked on in that lesson!
Some kids focus better with a parent in the room, but others end up being distracted when you are there during the whole lesson. We will work with you and your child to find a balance that works for everyone.
As a general guide, your child's home practice should ideally be about the same length as their private lesson. A great strategy for kids with short attention spans or a busy schedule is to divide daily practice into 2 or 3 shorter sessions of 10-15 minutes each. It also helps to divide the time between playing their instrument, working on written homework, practicing flashcards, and listening to music.
Glad you asked! You can find all of the details on our Referral Rewards Program page.
