Frequently Asked Questions

  • I get asked this all the time, and the answer is simple: Absolutely NOT! It might seem intimidating to start lessons at first, but think of it this way: adulthood is when you have a clear motivation for what your goals are, you have the mental capacity to understand complex ideas, and you are the most likely to structure your day in a productive manner. All of those attributes are the most important for learning anything! After teaching for nearly 15 years I have not only taught countless adults to a high level of playing, but they are also among the most likely to succeed amongst other students due to the attributes listed above!

    - PS. I started when I was a teenager myself :)

  • Absolutely! There are many teachers who place a strong emphasis on using traditional acoustic pianos (with good reason and intention) but the vast majority of my students over the years have started with digital pianos and have had great success with a smaller upfront investment. The only attributes you need to look for are 88 keys and weighted keys. If a digital piano has those (especially if it’s a Casio or Yamaha) Go for it!

  • Great question! Although there are many amazing piano teachers out there, one thing that I pride myself on is having the ability to help you achieve whatever goals YOU want to pursue. Love video game/movie music and want to play those sorts of tunes? No problem! Zelda is what got me into lessons when I was a teenager.

    Is your passion composing? Great! I also teach composition and have even had students go on to write music for video games!

    Want to play Jazz and understand the complicated theory behind it? I teach Jazz and it’s unique notation! I have even tutored musicians with doctorate levels of theory education in understanding all the subtle nuances that go into Jazz.

    Want to play in a band or church? Those are more related to jazz than you might think and share the same unique notation/structure, And I LOVE teaching those styles! I have played in many rock/metal bands while also playing in Churches over the years.

    Regardless of your motivation or goal, I can help you achieve it

  • This is a question that really hits close to home, because I was in the same boat! way back in 2007 when Youtube was in it’s infancy, I learned many songs using only Youtube before eventually taking lessons due to the lack of wholistic teaching. Looking back now, it was 100% the right choice. Learning small ideas or concepts from social media is awesome, but trust me…playing the piano at a high level has ALOT complexity! Among the most important elements are the constant physical movements and techniques that we do as we play at fast speeds. Making content about the technique needed to avoid fatigue or injury don’t get many views or clicks, but they can cause arthritis and serious joint damage if not done with proper supervision. Additionally, an experienced in-person teacher is much better at giving encouragement, providing valuable feedback specific to your needs/level/motivations, and giving individualized plans to progress at the best rate you can achieve.

  • that’s a really tough question to answer broadly, but in general if someone is under the age of 10 and they are a beginner I recommend one 30 minute lesson per week. For experienced players who have a longer attention span, weekly 45 minute lessons or an hour makes more logical sense. These are generalities though, I can make a personalized recommendation at our first trial lesson!