Lessons
Piano Belloso Music Studio offers piano lessons both in person, and online. Lessons take place either as 1-on-1 coaching or in a group class environment. All lessons are accompanied by a uniquely effective practice support system and curriculum that provides reinforcement during the time in between scheduled lessons.
Online Lessons
Lessons take place in a state-of-the-art virtual environment. Below you can learn more about what it’s like to attend lessons remotely, whether you’re in a private, 1-on-1 Coaching Session or in a Group Class.
Most options for learning to play piano online are in the form of self-guided tutorials (like YouTube).
In contrast, I offer structured and scheduled coaching sessions in a state-of-the-art LIVE virtual environment. Students will have access to an entire library of media tailored to their specific assignments, right from the start. The’ll never be lost, wondering which video to watch next, or feel like they missed a step, because I will be guiding them in our weekly lessons.
It’s interactive and personal. All you need to get started is a piano or keyboard, a device with a camera (laptop, tablet, or smartphone), and a stable, high-speed internet connection.
Group Classes
The preferred format for the Simply Music Piano program is a shared lesson in a group class setting.
Classes usually range from 2 - 10 students and are matched by age and skill level.
There are many benefits to this kind of learning environment and, contrary to popular belief, group learning is actually MORE EFFECTIVE than private lessons. You might think that this is more difficult in an online setting, but it actually works quite well, and even makes the lesson more fun and dynamic.
1-on-1 Coaching (Private Lessons)
Not everyone works well in the shared lesson format. And this can be for a variety of reasons:
Sometimes it just comes down to scheduling and availability;
Very young students, or those with special needs, can require a bit more attention and time
Students just have different personalities and will sometimes just prefer to work 1-on-1.
Whatever the case, 1-on-1 Coaching is an option for all students.
Group Classes
Life Interactive
If you think about life in general, almost everything we accomplish is done in a shared, collaborative environment:
Family,
Community,
School,
Church,
Work
Even Social Media and Games
All of these operate on the basis of individuals contributing and interacting with others.
Why should music lessons be an exception?
In a group class, students learn in three different ways:
Observatory - watching others go through the learning process
Participatory - actively processing the learning themselves and interacting with directions from the teacher
Generative - taking what they have learned and applying it in new and different ways, even mentoring and teaching others!
In this way, students learn faster and on a deeper level than what can be accomplished in private lessons.
The benefits continue:
Music is experienced naturally in a social environment rather than being an isolating endeavor
Students become quite comfortable playing in front of others
Camaraderie and support are built in for both students and parents!
Students learn from others’ ideas and questions
IT'S JUST MORE FUN!
Life Coach Included
A parent or guardian must be present during the class for students age 15 or younger. In the Simply Music Program, parents are given the honorary title of "LIFE COACH," and are an essential part of the student's success.
For older students, a Life Coach can still be a valuable resource to help keep them accountable. However, most teenage and adult students act as their own life coach.
Here are some qualities that a Life Coach is expected to embody:
Consistency - Be a consistent presence in class every week (occasional substitutes are okay)
Active Participation - Attend and participate in every lesson without distraction
Availability - Be available to support the student at home regularly
Responsibility - Ensure that the student is completing all assignments each week and help manage this process
For more information on Life Coaches and the role of parents in lessons, please see Roles and Responsibilities.
Class Length and Scheduling Flexibility
The length of each class will vary slightly depending on the number of students enrolled, and their current level, as shown below:
2 students = 30 minutes
3-5 students = 45 minutes
6-10 students = 60 minutes
The number of participants in a class can change over time, and so a degree of flexibility will be required in scheduling. Group Class durations do not affect pricing, as tuition is billed at a flat rate (see Tuition). Neither does switching class times or changing from shared lessons to private lessons.
1-on-1 Coaching
1-on-1 vs Groups
While Group Classes are the preferred format for beginning to intermediate level students in the Simply Music Piano program, not everyone thrives equally in a group environment.
It is actually a kind of "myth" that private lessons are better or more effective than groups. This comes from our inherited culture of education in public schools where individualized attention is more difficult to acquire, and thus highly valued.
That said, some circumstances can still make 1-on-1 coaching the most convenient or appropriate format. Below are some examples of reasons students might require private lessons:
A temporary solution while awaiting a new opening in group class availability
Young students (ages 5-6 years old) with short attention spans can take lessons with an attending parent and receive the benefit of both parental involvement and teacher's direct attention (mommy-and-me type class).
Special needs students with learning challenges need more time to process; others progress more quickly than other beginners and become demotivated when not able to progress at their own pace.
Advanced students may require specialized attention in preparation for college or professional endeavors. They may also find that they prefer 1-on-1 coaching because the time demands for their particular goals and repertoire are greater than beginners.
The good news is that there is no premium for private lessons at Piano Belloso Music Studio. Everyone pays the same flat-rate tuition, whether they attend a shared lesson or a 1-on-1. See Tuition for more detailed information on pricing.