Frequently aSKED QUESTIONS
wHAT AGES DO YOU TEACH?
I have experience teaching piano to 4-year-olds through adults. I currently accept students as young as 5 & as old as. . . . Well, it's never too late to start piano lessons, & I enjoy teaching adult students too! I believe it is very important to use age-appropriate materials at each level, matching the interests and strengths of each age group. In my studio, beginning 5-year-olds use different books than beginning 8-year-olds or beginning middle-school students or adults. do you teach adult students?
Yes! Read more information about piano lessons for adult students here. how do i know if my child is ready to start piano lessons?
For a child to start piano lessons, he should be able to do the following things:
how can i help my preschooler prepare for music lessons?
Musical activities can be extremely beneficial to young children, not just to prepare them for music lessons, but to prepare them for life. Music can help children develop their motor skills & sense of timing, develop language & spatial reasoning skills, & remember facts (for example, the "ABC Song"!) Click here for a list of musical activities you can do with your child to help prepare him for music lessons. |
where do you teach piano lessons?
I teach lessons in a large, dedicated music room in my home, which is located near the intersection of Hwy 162 & Hwy 212, south of Covington and Conyers, GA. All lessons are given on a 5'3" professional-quality Yamaha C1 grand piano. The lab area is equipped with a digital piano and a computer. There is also a place in the studio for parents to sit and observe, if they wish. What is different about Troutner Piano Studio?
Creativity! We play artistically & creatively. We use creative practice strategies to learn our music. We are creative away from the printed page, composing & arranging our own music, adding accompaniments to lead sheets, & putting our own spin on favorite lesson book pieces. Longer Weekly Instruction Time All students attend 50-60 minute weekly lessons, including 40 minutes of private instruction. Unique Lesson Format In addition to their private lesson at the piano, students also explore in the music theory lab each week. This private lesson + lab format, plus regular group classes, adds up to a unique program that makes learning fun & relevant. Read more about piano lessons here. Opportunities for Group Collaboration We meet in Piano Club groups several times during the school year. During the summer, each student attends a week of Summer Piano Camp, with oodles of group activities! Qualified, Experienced Teacher I hold both bachelor's and master's degrees in Piano Performance & have over 20 years of experience teaching piano. Read more about my background here. what learning opportunities are available during the summer?
During the summer, students develop musicianship skills & drill music literacy at a fun, hands-on Piano Camp. Camps are small (3-6 students of similar age & level) so learning activities can be carefully leveled to match the students. Some summers, due to Mrs. Troutner's schedule, private lessons may be offered instead of camp. Information about the coming summer's piano study program is sent out early each spring semester. All K5-11th grade students are required to participate in summer study in order to maintain their place in the studio for the following year. |
how much is tuition?
Click here to view the 2021-22 Fee Schedule. when is the tuition due?
Tuition is collected through automatic payments on the 3rd of each month. You have the option of paying from your bank account or with a credit card. what if we have to miss a lesson? do you offer make-ups?
Your tuition reserves a specific time in my teaching schedule, teaching time that is dedicated to your child. Understandably, I cannot dedicate double lesson time to your child when you have a schedule conflict. Lesson time cannot be extended if a student is late, & missed lessons cannot be rescheduled or refunded. However, because I understand that a couple unavoidable schedule conflicts or sick days may pop up during the year, TWO free bonus lessons have been built into the studio calendar each year. do you offer any discounts?
The studio offers a Family Discount: The second and each additional child from a family who enroll in piano lessons receive $5/month discount on tuition. what books do we need & where do we get them?
You never need to get any books or materials. I do that for you. The yearly registration fee, due with the registration form, covers the cost of all your books & materials. Will We have to pay any other fees during the year?
A yearly registration fee is due with the student's yearly registration form. The non-refundable registration fee reserves the student's place in the studio AND covers the following:
You will NOT be billed for any miscellaneous activities or materials throughout the year, unless your child chooses to participate in an extra, optional event. |
do i need to have a piano at home?
In order to progress, students need to practice their music between lessons. All students MUST have access to an instrument for their home practice, either a well-maintained acoustic piano OR a digital piano (e.g. Yamaha Clavinova) meeting ALL of the following specs:
EXCEPTION: Primer-level students (beginners) only may use an electric keyboard with at least 61 full-sized. touch-sensitive keys. where can i find an instrument?
how much should my child practice?
That depends on the student's age & level, plus how quickly he wants to progress. Daily review is very important, even if the student does not have time for a full practice session every day. I ask my students to practice on five different days during the week. Students should follow the weekly practice plan in their Piano Journal. It will usually take about this long to complete their assignments:
what should my child practice?
At the weekly lesson, a practice plan including piece titles, page numbers, & specific goals is written out. The student should follow this plan in his home practice. how do i get my child to practice?
Every parent (me included!) wants their child to enjoy piano lessons. Please understand that piano lessons will be the most "fun" when your student is progressing. We sometimes think that, if a student likes piano, he will practice. Actually, though, the truth is that if a student practices, he will like piano! I encourage you to build a specific practice time into your child's daily schedule. As your child practices consistently, he will see progress and want to practice more. As a teacher, I do my best to keep lessons enjoyable and engaging. (We often even gamify home practice!) However, even the most dedicated piano student will have times when he simply does not want to practice. . . just like he has days when he doesn't feel like doing his homework, making his bed, or brushing his teeth. As you do with those other responsibilities, help him be faithful in his piano practice because "this is simply part of the daily routine." Here are a few tips that may help:
i don't have any background in music.
How can i help my child succeed in her piano studies? Even if you have no musical experience yourself, you can help your child with his piano in these very practical ways:
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will my student have the opportunity to perform in recitals?
Yes! Getting to share music with others is one of the best parts of learning to play! We present one recital each semester:
In addition, students perform for each other at Piano Club group classes during the school year. The mix of formal and informal performances helps students learn to control their nerves and focus on playing artistically. What is piano festival?
One Saturday morning each spring, students perform a private audition for a qualified, experienced piano judge to gain performance experience, encouragement, and helpful feedback. Students always grow musically through the process of preparing for Piano Festival. |