Sarah takes a "whole musician" approach to piano study. She customizes piano instruction to each student's needs, interests and abilities. She aims to create a lesson environment that is fun, creative and will help your student to thrive and grow. Her student-focused approach goes beyond passing off pages in the book every week. Although we do a lot of that as well!
Sarah will help your child hone their skills in a variety of areas, and at every level from beginner to advanced. Students develop musical strengths by first developing a solid foundation of fundamental skills. Students later build on these foundational skills. As their skills increase, students will choose the direction of their piano studies.
Intermediate and advanced students have chosen paths that include:
Our students have competed and won in various local, state, and online competitions. So if your student has an interest in using their piano skills in competition, look no further. Non-competitive adjudication opportunities are also available. Students receive valuable feedback to recognize their strengths and areas to improve. For more in-depth feedback, students can take part in CA and RCM Musical Development exams. Studio recitals present the opportunity to share and celebrate what they are learning. So come join us and watch your child grow in confidence and ability!
Piano instruction follows a 3-tier system. We begin by developing essential foundational skills in our Foundational (beginner) level classes. We strengthen these foundational skills in our Building (intermediate) level classes. Finally, we use these polished skills to play at a high level in our Artistry (advanced) level classes. For students ages 4-6, we offer special instruction to ingrain technique even sooner!
Sarah will help your child hone their skills in a variety of areas, and at every level from beginner to advanced. Students develop musical strengths by first developing a solid foundation of fundamental skills. Students later build on these foundational skills. As their skills increase, students will choose the direction of their piano studies.
Intermediate and advanced students have chosen paths that include:
- Composition
- Improvisation
- Pop/rock music
- Song-writing
- Recording
- Group study/ensemble playing
- Classical music study (of course!)
Our students have competed and won in various local, state, and online competitions. So if your student has an interest in using their piano skills in competition, look no further. Non-competitive adjudication opportunities are also available. Students receive valuable feedback to recognize their strengths and areas to improve. For more in-depth feedback, students can take part in CA and RCM Musical Development exams. Studio recitals present the opportunity to share and celebrate what they are learning. So come join us and watch your child grow in confidence and ability!
Piano instruction follows a 3-tier system. We begin by developing essential foundational skills in our Foundational (beginner) level classes. We strengthen these foundational skills in our Building (intermediate) level classes. Finally, we use these polished skills to play at a high level in our Artistry (advanced) level classes. For students ages 4-6, we offer special instruction to ingrain technique even sooner!
FOUNDATIONAL LEVEL CLASSES
Proper instruction at the foundational level is so important! The core of instruction at this level takes place in our piano keyboard lab each week. Students come for 60-minutes each week and take part in a monthly Piano Team class. Piano Team classes focus on theory and musicianship through play. We also work on performance and ensemble skills.
This is where we set the stage for everything that your child will do in the long-term. Your child will learn how to practice and how to self-evaluate. This also helps them to develop a healthy self-image through their piano study. At this level, we design the instruction to help students:
Piano Explorations
Beginning Private Lesson (Pre-Lab)
30-minutes, once per week
Beginning Piano Students ONLY: Ages 3-7
**Parental Attendance is REQUIRED:
Piano Foundations I (Ages 6 and up)
Beginning (method Prep-Level 4) through RCM Grade 4
Private Piano Lessons in a Piano Lab Setting
60-minutes, once per week
**Home practice sessions should be 15-45 minutes each day
FOUNDATION II LEVEL CLASSES
Instruction at this level is all about exploring new repertoire as we build upon past skills. Students come for 90-minutes each week. At monthly Piano Social classes we work on theory and musicianship through cooperation. We also work on performance and ensemble skills.
We focus on using technical exercises to develop prowess at the piano. Our goal is to learn new pieces fast. We will also continue improving sight-reading skills. Students will become proficient and master scales, arpeggios, theory and aural skills. This is the level where students will begin to determine the course of their instruction in terms of developing skills of interest to them (classical, composition, improvisation, song-writing, pop/rock, etc.). Note: If your child is making fast progress, they may be ready for Artistry level instruction. Home practice should average 5-7 hours per week (at home) every week.
Piano Foundations II
(Intermediate) RCM Grades 5-7
Private Piano Lessons in a Piano Lab Setting
90-minutes, once per week
ARTISTRY LEVEL CLASSES
Piano is an art! Students refine their skills and learn the art of playing the piano. Students at this level are serious and dedicated about their piano study. They are very self-motivated and must practice at least 5-7 hours per week. Each student's path at this level is self-paced. Most often, students pursue a more competitive track of study. Difficult pop/rock or advanced composition are a staple as well.
Artistry I (Early Advanced)
RCM Grade 6+
Private Piano Lessons
45-minutes
Artistry II (Advanced)
RCM Grade 8+
Private Piano Lessons
60-minutes
Proper instruction at the foundational level is so important! The core of instruction at this level takes place in our piano keyboard lab each week. Students come for 60-minutes each week and take part in a monthly Piano Team class. Piano Team classes focus on theory and musicianship through play. We also work on performance and ensemble skills.
This is where we set the stage for everything that your child will do in the long-term. Your child will learn how to practice and how to self-evaluate. This also helps them to develop a healthy self-image through their piano study. At this level, we design the instruction to help students:
- Develop and improve sight-reading skills. This is the number one skill that students need to learn music fast.
- Learn more music each week, which translates into faster completion time.
- Develop and hone practice techniques. Home practice is all about review and increasing speed. Less tedium equates more fun at home!
- Avoid the "perfection problem. We ensure that your student knows exactly how to practice from the very beginning.
- Reduce (and often end) the need for parental supervision of practice at home.
- (In the long-term) learn music on their own--and it's easy! Students have superb sight-reading skills and lack bad habits. Students become intuitive sight-readers 96% of the time.
- Be independent learners from the beginning. In the lab format, students learn to self-evaluate. We are training the student to know when they have learned. It develops students who are not mentally lazy.
Piano Explorations
Beginning Private Lesson (Pre-Lab)
30-minutes, once per week
Beginning Piano Students ONLY: Ages 3-7
**Parental Attendance is REQUIRED:
- Parent attends lessons with your child
- Parent observes lesson and take notes
- Parent assists with practice at home
- Parent will aim for consistent, daily practice at home if possible
Piano Foundations I (Ages 6 and up)
Beginning (method Prep-Level 4) through RCM Grade 4
Private Piano Lessons in a Piano Lab Setting
60-minutes, once per week
**Home practice sessions should be 15-45 minutes each day
FOUNDATION II LEVEL CLASSES
Instruction at this level is all about exploring new repertoire as we build upon past skills. Students come for 90-minutes each week. At monthly Piano Social classes we work on theory and musicianship through cooperation. We also work on performance and ensemble skills.
We focus on using technical exercises to develop prowess at the piano. Our goal is to learn new pieces fast. We will also continue improving sight-reading skills. Students will become proficient and master scales, arpeggios, theory and aural skills. This is the level where students will begin to determine the course of their instruction in terms of developing skills of interest to them (classical, composition, improvisation, song-writing, pop/rock, etc.). Note: If your child is making fast progress, they may be ready for Artistry level instruction. Home practice should average 5-7 hours per week (at home) every week.
Piano Foundations II
(Intermediate) RCM Grades 5-7
Private Piano Lessons in a Piano Lab Setting
90-minutes, once per week
ARTISTRY LEVEL CLASSES
Piano is an art! Students refine their skills and learn the art of playing the piano. Students at this level are serious and dedicated about their piano study. They are very self-motivated and must practice at least 5-7 hours per week. Each student's path at this level is self-paced. Most often, students pursue a more competitive track of study. Difficult pop/rock or advanced composition are a staple as well.
Artistry I (Early Advanced)
RCM Grade 6+
Private Piano Lessons
45-minutes
Artistry II (Advanced)
RCM Grade 8+
Private Piano Lessons
60-minutes