Annapolis Piano Lessons

 

1.   Q:  How long do lessons last?

A:  Beginning piano students generally have a half-hour lesson.

2.   Q:  When do I pay and how?

A:   Payment is due at each lesson or as a lump sum at the end of each month. Both Zelle and checks are acceptable. Please make checks out to “Alexandra Chappell.”

3.   Q:  Do I have to buy music?

A:  Yes, I will inform you as to what to buy.

4.   Q:  If there is more than one student in a family, can they use the same books?

A:  They may use the same books, except for theory books, which include musical games that can only be done by one person at a time.

5.   Q:  If my child needs to miss a lesson, will I still be charged?

A:  No, you only need to pay for lessons that your child attends. However, please let me know ahead of time if your child is sick or for some other reason cannot attend.

6.   Q:  How can I support my child to make progress with their music lessons?

A:  The best thing a parent can do is to set aside half an hour of time at home for your child to practice the instrument on a regular basis (5 days a week). Most students are not going to have the discipline to do it on their own even if they are gifted. That is normal, which is why your child will benefit from you setting a regular practice time for them as a tool to feeling accomplished.

7.   Q:  How long should my child/children practice?

A:   For students 12 and under, I recommend half an hour, 5 days a week, as an ideal goal. With busy schedules, this may not be possible, but please set aside time on a regular basis so that your child can gain confidence in their efforts, which will also allow them to have fun making music. If students want to practice longer, it will only help them advance.

8.   Q:  If my child hasn’t practiced, should they still come to their lesson?

A:  Yes, they should. There are times when school and/or vacation simply doesn’t allow for practice time. I will ALWAYS work with the student to refocus on their assignments, concentrate on trouble spots, and to teach them how to practice certain areas of the music effectively.

9.   Q:  Do you hold recitals?

A:  Yes, I hold two piano recitals per year. It should motivate a student to work hard toward performance and lead to pride in their accomplishment. It also teaches concentration, accepting mistakes, and musical etiquette.

10.   Q:  What materials are required to bring to a first piano lesson?

A:   I will inform you as to what books to buy.

11.   Q:  Why do fingernails have to be short to play the piano?

A:   If fingernails are not short, they will click every time a key is pressed down and that will distract from the music being played. More importantly, the fingers will not be able to curve properly in position and it will inhibit the ability to play quickly.

12.   Q:  Do I need to tune my piano, and can you recommend someone to do that?

A:  A piano should be tuned annually. Please visit my Contacts page for a list of piano tuners.

13. Q: Do we have to have a piano at home, or will a keyboard work just as well?

A: A piano is preferred as it has a much longer range of keys, the sound is better, and the student will feel more comfortable as the same amount of keys are on all pianos. But if you are considering a keyboard, it is more affordable if you are not sure that you and/or your child/ren will continue with the instrument.