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What times do you have available for lessons?

We offer private lessons Mon-Fri after school and during the day for homeschool students. We are finalizing lesson times for private students now- Contact us for the most up-to-date info about openings.

We do have some openings for adult lessons in the mornings and after 7pm. Because adult lessons are on a flexible schedule, exact times may vary. Please contact us for current adult lesson openings!

Do you offer lessons online or in person?

Both! In person lessons take place at our studio in downtown Washougal. We also teach virtually over zoom to students across the US

What tech do I need for online lessons?

• Fast internet connection- we recommend a minimum of 5 mbps upload/download speed. If you're not sure about your speed, you can check at www.speedtest.net.
• Fully charged device with the zoom app installed and both mic and webcam enabled- we recommend going with whatever device has recently updated software and the largest possible screen so you can see clearly.
• Wired internet connection if possible- this tends to be faster and more reliable than wifi, so if you’re able to plug your device into an ethernet cable, it makes it a little easier to both see and hear you play. If that’s not going to happen though, don’t sweat it! And that’s it! You can get really fancy with extra webcams and headphones and external mics if you want to, but as long as you’ve got the basics outlined above, you’re good to go!

What if we are sick or out of town and need to miss a lesson?

We offer several options for missed children's lessons:

• Arrange to temporarily switch lesson times with another student via our opt-in swap list
• Use your scheduled lesson time to film a personalized video tutorial for you to work on during the week
• Online sessions with internet access, with or without a piano. Without a piano, we can work on rhythm, music theory games, and/or composition activities Adult lessons are on a flex schedule system: you have 8 weeks to schedule 6 lessons, so you can work around your needs.

What books and materials will I need?

You’ll need an acoustic piano or full sized, 88 key digital piano for home practice. After spending a few lessons getting to know your particular learning style, we’ll also recommend purchase of a beginning music book. Books and materials for Musikgarten and Mini Musicians group classes will be provided and are included as part of tuition.

Do I need an instrument at home to practice on?

All students enrolled in private and buddy lessons and Piano Launchpad group classes must have access to a piano or digital piano for daily home practice. Students in Family Music and Mini Musicians group classes do not need home access to an instrument.

What kind of keyboard should I buy?

If you are planning to get a digital piano, you’ll want to watch for three features:

• Full size (88 keys): we explore the full range of the piano from the very first lessons, so you’ll do best with a full size instrument at home
• Touch sensitive: the sound of the instrument responds to how firmly you press the key. More arm weight = louder sound, less arm weight = softer sound. Again, we learn from the very beginning how to vary dynamics to express different feelings and images, so you’ll need an instrument that allows for those variations
• Weighted keys: have a feeling of slight resistance as you push down, closer to the feel of an acoustic piano. They are not just a thin piece of plastic with nothing underneath. Practicing on weighted keys allows you to develop stronger, faster fingers and better technique as you learn

Can you help me find a piano?

Sure! Contact us and we’ll work with you to find an instrument that fits with your needs.

How much do I need to practice during the week?

Students with a consistent practice habit will progress much more quickly as we develop all the physical, aural, and mental skills needed to make music at the piano. To avoid procrastination and practice battles, we recommend scheduling piano practice into your daily routine, just as you would for eating lunch, working out, or brushing your teeth. Exact guidelines will vary from person to person and increase as we move into longer and more complex music, but in general, for beginners we suggest 5 min/day for 4 year olds, 5-10 min for 5-6 year olds, 10-20 for 7-10 year old beginners, and 15-20 min for adult beginners. We’ll give you more guidance on how and what to practice as part of your weekly lessons.

Can you come to my home for lessons?

Online lessons are a great fit for students looking for the convenience of in-home instruction. You’ll still get access to all our games and learning tools, all from the comfort of your living room. In-person lessons are offered only at our studio located in Washougal. We teach using a wide variety of games, hands-on learning, and rhythm instruments and we’ve found we can’t provide the same quality of flexible, varied instruction when traveling to student homes.