What styles do you teach?

I can teach classical, pop, and some jazz piano.

Do you offer remote lessons?

Yes! Click here to learn more.

How are remote lessons delivered?

Remote lessons are delivered through Zoom, free videoconferencing software for all major platforms.

When is the best time to start for piano lessons?

For a child, it is best if they know their letters and numbers before they start piano lessons. Piano lessons have many well-documented effects on the improvement of a child’s intellect, so if they can read, it is best to start them soon, especially if they show some inclination to music.

Adults and young adults may start lessons whenever they wish. It is never too late to start studying piano. Adults who study piano reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s and improve their motor skills well into retirement age.

Do we need a piano?

Absolutely. Piano lessons involve practice outside of the lesson and this practice needs to be done on a piano. Just as someone who is interested in writing must have a pen and paper, a person who wants to play piano must have a piano. If you do not have a piano, it’s best if you can access one somehow, like through a practice studio or someone else's house. It is more convenient to have one in the home.

Can we use a digital piano?

A digital piano is a good option to start with before continuing with long-term study.

Where can I purchase an acoustic piano?

There are several local dealers I recommend.

Boulder Piano Gallery

Address: 3111 Walnut Street Boulder, CO 80301. Phone: (303) 449-3177. Website: boulderpianogallery.com

Classic Pianos of Denver, CO

Address: 1332 S. Broadway Denver, CO 80210. Phone: (303) 777-2636. Website: Denver.classicpianos.net

Schmitt Music

Address: 155 W. Hampden Ave Englewood, CO 80110. Phone: (303) 777-1900. Website: schmittmusic.com

Do I need a brand-new piano?

Not necessarily. A used piano should do the job provided that:

- Its hammers are in working condition, without extremely deep grooves in them

- Its keys are in good condition

- It sounds pleasant

- It looks nice and was obviously well kept over the years

In some rare cases, used pianos may end up costing as much as a new piano, or even more, if they are in bad repair and you need to hire a technician to fix them.

Do I need a piano from a certain brand?

No. What matters most is how you feel playing it. Go with your gut!

What about a piano tuner? How often do I need to tune my piano?

I recommend these piano tuners.

American Classic Piano Company

Phone: (303) 761-6858. Email: holly@americanclassicpiano.com Website: americanclassicpiano.com

Pianos in Colorado need to be tuned annually, or when they are moved between rooms.

Do I need something other than a piano to study piano?

Yes. You will need a metronome. You will also need a spiral notebook, pencil, and a folder. Every week, I write down what we did together in the lesson and provide you with what you need to accomplish by next week in your notebook. This keeps both of us on top of your progress.

Where can we purchase music?

These are some sheet music retailers I recommend.

Sheet Music Plus - good for urtext editions of scores

Musicnotes - good for commercial music

Amazon - occasionally has better deals on some teaching books, but typically lacks urtext editions

How much does a student need to practice between piano lessons?

All students and professionals need daily practice. Typically, beginner students ought to practice about fifteen to thirty minutes a day. Intermediate students should practice from thirty minutes to an hour. Advanced students need one to two hours of practice daily. Remember: Chopin tells us more than two hours of practice is wasting time!

We focus on effective practice strategies in my studio that allow the student to know whether he or she is focused and accomplishing their goals. I recommend finding a time of day where the student feels comfortable and attentive, and sticking to that time every day.

I want my students to play piano and still have a life. Piano is a great art. Piano should be part of your life, and not all of it. You do not have to make too many sacrifices to perform well as a pianist.

How long is a piano lesson? How frequently should we meet?

A piano lesson is 60 minutes. I also offer shorter or longer lessons depending on your needs.

We should meet once a week. While it may be possible to meet every other week, the most progress and enjoyment happens when piano lessons are weekly.

It is also possible to meet more than once a week if you prefer, depending on my availability. 

What is your availability?

I have extremely limited availability. Click here to contact me and set up a time.

Do you offer additional lesson times in the daytime for working adults?

Possibly. Click here to contact me and we can discuss it.

What are your rates? What do the rates include?

Click here to contact me and we can discuss it. I can accommodate most budgets and needs. 

Rates include my time and any music I provide. 

How do we pay?

Cash, check, Venmo, Paypal, and Cashapp are all accepted forms of payment.

How often do we pay?

Generally, it’s easiest if you pay at the time of the lesson or coaching session.

You can also purchase as many lessons as you would like. Click here to contact me for details.

Do you do make-up lessons?

No. Unfortunately, due to my limited availability, I cannot schedule make-up lessons during the same week. For example, if you miss a lesson scheduled on Tuesday I will not see you on Friday and we will sadly have to wait until the following Tuesday to meet.

If your schedule changes, we can attempt to find a better regular time.

Are there refunds for prepaid lessons?

Sometimes you may qualify for a refund.

If you miss a lesson due to sickness, you have the option to reschedule the lesson for the following week without any additional cost as long as you provided me notice at least twelve hours in advance. This means that any prepaid lessons will be “rolled over.” How does this work? Let’s say you purchased lessons for every Tuesday in June. You missed the first Tuesday because you were sick and you gave me notice 24 hours before the lesson. Now, you’re prepaid up until the first Tuesday of July to accommodate your sickness and good manners.

This policy applies to me, too. Any lesson that I miss means your prepaid lesson block rolls over by a week. I promise to give you notice.

Unfortunately, students who miss prepaid lessons and do not provide a cancellation notice are not refunded.

Are there exceptions to your refund policy?

Yes! There are always extreme circumstances and weird life things that happen. After all, I’m a musician, not a drill sergeant.

Are there exceptions to your make-up policy?

No. I simply can’t offer a make-up lesson time the same week of the missed lesson due to the volume of work I have.

May I record the lesson or coaching session?

Absolutely. I encourage everyone who works with me to record what we do on their smartphone to use as a resource later.

If my child is in piano lessons, should I attend the lessons too?

That is up to the child. In some cases, a child may not be comfortable with his or her parent attending the lesson and feel more anxiety about the lesson. I encourage parents to discuss this with their child. Some children enjoy having the parent there, others do not.

I always welcome parents to attend piano lessons. I think parents should be informed about what piano lessons are like, and many parents enjoy being at piano lessons because they find that there’s more to piano playing than they thought existed before.

This being said, parents aren’t obligated to attend the lesson.