Category: Charlotte NC Piano Lessons

How to Find a Piano Teacher- Part 2

Posted on by Heather Brunner

On Friday, we talked about how to find a piano teacher.  The first thing you need is a name.  What were our steps?

1.  Ask your neighbors

2.  Google your area

3.  Visit reputable teacher websites

 

Now that you have a few names in hand what is the next step?  You need to interview teachers and interview with teachers.  The best of mode of communication really depends on the teacher.  Let’s face it, most piano teachers are stereo typed as old ladies with cats.  So yes, you will find teachers who don’t communicate by email.  You will definitely have to call these teachers to get information and to feel out what their personalities are.

 

If you do find teachers who are more technologically savvy, don’t hesitate to email them with a request for them to call you.  My reasoning on this is simple.  I teach from around 1:00 to 8:00 Monday thru Thursday.  I do not answer phone calls while I’m teaching. I don’t want you to think that I’m ignoring you or not getting back to you.  I can however, send you a quick email that I received your inquiry and will contact you back as soon as I have a break or am done teaching.  If you want to include details in your email or questions, this is a great idea.  Any info that the potential teacher has to help answer questions or address concerns is appreciated.

 

What questions should you ask a potential piano teacher about beginning lessons in their studio?

 

1.  What is your training?

2.  What opportunities do your students have for performances and festivals?

3.  Do you have a policy sheet?

4.  Are lessons customized for the student’s learning style?

5.  What is your availability?

6.  What do lessons cost and are their additional fees?

 

The answers that the teacher gives you should give you a feel if you would like to continue to the next step of scheduling a trial lesson or signing up for lessons.  Follow your instincts.  Not every teacher is suited for every student.  Be honest with yourself when looking at the type of teacher you want.  Taking piano lessons is a big commitment.  You are learning another language.  Find the teacher that is best suited for your educational needs. 

How To Find a Piano Teacher

Posted on by Heather Brunner

If you live in a small town then finding a piano teacher is probably pretty easy.  What if you live in a big city or just moved to a new area and need to find a new piano teacher?

 

Let’s take Charlotte, NC for an example city for finding a piano teacher for your child who wants to take lessons.  Obviously the first thing would be to ask around.  Do the neighbors recommend anyone or is there music business in your immediate area?  If the answers to these questions are yes then you probably want to check out the reputations of those in question.  If the answer is no then follow the next steps.

 

www.google.com  Google is your friend.  Type in piano lessons charlotte, nc or piano teachers charlotte, nc.  This is a great place to get started.  The first page is usually going to be larger studios or music businesses.  Take a look at the map on the right to see what is in your area.  However, keep in mind that many of the local independent teachers cannot afford to maintain space on the first page of searches.  Keep looking on to the next pages for those independent teacher websites. 

 

Another good way to find a piano teacher is to look at websites that piano teachers advertise on.  Some reputable websites for Charlotte, NC are:

 

www.lessonrating.com

www.getlessonsnow.com

www.ncmta.org

www.pianoteachersdirectory.com

 

Search these websites for teachers in your area.  Cross check them to see the different teacher ratings on each site. 

Make a list of the teachers that are interesting to you.  We will talk on Monday about interviewing piano teachers to find the right teacher for you. 

Does Your Piano Teacher Vacation?

Posted on by Heather Brunner

Since summer is here.  Let’s talk about the subject of vacations.  As a piano teacher, my schedule has some flexibility.

 

My husband and I like to travel in the fall when it is cooler and crowds are lower.  Also, from about mid-January to the beginning of May, most of my weekends are filled with piano related activities that relate to my students.  Did I mention that all of those weekends are unpaid? Yes, that’s right folk.  Your piano teacher has to volunteer time so that your student can participate in festivals.  Now most of the piano teachers don’t mind working those weekends.  If you add in additional weekends for recitals and then for studio class, that is a lot of time outside of lessons that your teacher is dedicating to their students. 

 

So if you teacher lets you know well in advance and offers ample make up lessons or payment options for time that they will be away, please try to be understanding.  Most families are very understanding about vacation time away from the studio.  If your teacher has excessive absences on short notice, then that is a bird of a different feather.

 

Oh yeah, did I mention that Walt Disney World is offering free dining again in September? 

 

Educational Expectations for Summer Piano Lessons

Posted on by Heather Brunner

Today my students will begin having their last lessons before the summer session starts.  Many of them will be taking summer lessons but not on a regular schedule.  What should parents and teachers expect from students who take lessons during the summer?

 

If a student is taking infrequent piano lessons in the summer, then my goal is retention of knowledge.  Just like with academics, if you don’t use it, you will loose it.  All that hard work we put into theory and technique will quietly drift away.  As a teacher who as high standards week after week for the literature that the students are learning, I find that summer is a great time to play ‘fun’ music.  Now, I find classical music to be fun but my students don’t always agree.  So we will be pulling out the pop and show tunes.  Recognizable pieces that students enjoy playing so much.  The technical skills are the same and we might learn some new interesting rhythms. 

 

I try not to stress out about the lack of practice in the summer.  Kids go to camps and travel with their families.  When they are home, I encourage them to try to maintain a normal practice schedule.  Even if the amount of time is less, I don’t want them to lose the habit of practicing.   Parents can help by reminding the students to practice when they are able.

 

Summer is a nice time for teachers and students to relax and regroup.  Review those skills and make sure everything is in order for when piano/music lessons start back in the fall.  Festival season will be here before we know it.  So help maintain those skills be practicing for you summer lessons when the chance arises. 

Why I like Being a Piano Teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina

Posted on by Heather Brunner

 

1.  Being a musician is a respected profession. 

2.  There is well established fine arts community that offers many opportunities to my students.

3.  I am fairly compensated for being a teacher with a BM and MM in Piano Pedagogy and 10+ years of teaching experience.

4.  There is a large piano teacher community.

5.  Having a full studio is relatively easy compared to other parts of the country.

How young can children start piano lessons?

Posted on by Heather Brunner

Yesterday, we talked about adults who want to take piano lessons.  What about the opposite end of the spectrum?  How young of a child can begin piano lessons?

 

The independent piano teacher usually sets their own policy for the age limit for beginning piano students.  When I started lessons with Elizabeth Cothern in Mississippi, I had to be in second grade.  Many teachers still hold to the rule that students need to be able to read and be semi-independent.  This is a great guideline for families where the parents of unable to assist in practice from an application stand point. 

 

However, if the parents or grandparents are willing to sit and help a student then really it is up to the teacher as to how young is too young.  There does need to be some maturity there.  I have had 4 year olds that have no problems sitting through a lesson and were quite dedicated in their practice.  With other 4 year olds, it was obvious immediately that the child was not ready to begin lessons.

 

Here is my list that I follow at Brunner Studios when evaluating a potential new student that is quite young.

 

1.  At least 4 years old.

2.  Recognizes the letters of the alphabet and numbers 1-9.

3.  Rudimentary understanding of left and right

4.  Can the student focus and behave for a 30 minute lesson?

5.  Will the student have assistance at home with practice?

6.  Is the student interested in playing the piano?

7.  Does the family have access to a piano on a daily basis?

 

Every child is different.  If you are interested in piano lessons, contact a teacher and set up a trial lesson.  Summer is a great time to give piano lessons a try.

Dec. 5 Winter Recitals

Posted on by Heather Brunner

Yesterday was the first round of Winter Recitals.  The concerts were held at Ardrey Kell High School. 

 

I am so proud of all of my students.  Everyone performed well, was dressed appropriately and even remembered to bow.  These guys and girls have learned so much.  The performers were as follows:

 

Liam-   O Little Town of Bethlehem

Savannah- Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Katrina-  We Three Kings

Elaina- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Hannah- Sleigh Ride (duet with her mom)

            – Linus and Lucy (Solo)

Kara- O Little Town of Bethlehem

Arianna- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (duet with Ms. Heather)

Peter- Carol of the Bells

Calvin- Joy to the World

Qasim- Winter Wonderland

Recital Attire- Part II

Posted on by Heather Brunner

The guys have it so much easier than the girls in deciding what to wear to performances. 

 

1.  If you have a suit that is comfortable to play in this is always a good option.  The trick is to make sure that it is not too tight in the sleeves when you put your hands on the keyboard.  Also be sure to unbutton the jacket before playing.

 

2.  Dress slacks or khakis are a good idea.  Jeans are a big NO on the what not to wear list.  Shorts are also on the don’t wear list.

 

3.  For a more formal occasion a button down dress shirt and tie make a really nice statement.  For those less formal events, a polo style shirt is sufficient.

 

4.  Sock and Shoes.  Please don’t wear sandals to a concert.  Dress shoes are the best but if you don’t have dress shoes then those tennis shoes will work.  Take the time to wipe tennis shoes down with a wet rag or a magic eraser to spiff them up some.  Also, try to make sure your socks are the appropriate color.  Those white socks with black pants really stand out.

 

Tomorrow we will review why it is important to wear appropriate recital attire.

Piano Technique Assignment Sheet

Posted on by Heather Brunner

I have added my Piano Technique Assignment Sheet under the Resources tab on the website.  I created this form to help me track my student’s progress in their scale practice.  Rather than creating different sheets for the different levels, I have used a table format to indicate the different scales with the appropriate octaves and tempos. 

 

Each student has a technical requirements sheet in their 3-ring assignment binder.  There are two different ways that this sheet can be filled out.  The first would be to write the date in the box for the indicated scale.  This could be either the date the scale was assigned or the date the scale was completed.  The second way would be to place a check mark by the scale when the student is proficient with the scale.  The second method is the one that I prefer.  I can always look back at the Lesson Assignment Sheet to find out when the student began work on a particular scale. 

 

When using the table for the minor scales, the teacher can either give new sheets for each form of minor scales or assign the scales as a unit.  I tend to assign the 3 forms of minor scales as a under so that the student can see the differences all at one time. 

 

I hope to add more technique forms in the future.  If there is a form that you would like to see add or would find useful please let me know.