FAQ – Piano with Cassandra

Where are you located?

Why don’t piano teachers post their rates online? It would make my life easier.

That is an excellent question! Most do not. I think it might have to do with maintaining an aura of exclusivity, adhering to an unwritten tradition, or perhaps a concern about being undercut or critiqued by other teachers. There may be other reasons that I am missing. However, I have been in the situation of trying to research extracurricular options online for my children, and empathize with your frustration! Price transparency is becoming expected and appreciated across many industries, and as a busy, millennial mom, I want to get my answers online with a quick search rather than making phone calls or sending emails asking for basic info. So, to make all of our lives easier, here are my rates:
- For new, incoming students for the 2024-2025 school year who opt for the 30-minute option, the cost is $88 per month. This is a flat-rate tuition policy. 60-minute lessons (appropriate for more advanced students or by request) will be $174 per month.

What is covered by the monthly tuition?

Your teacher’s time for an average of 4 monthly lessons, which also means her time spent on lesson planning, preparation, and administrative tasks
Access to a curated library of sheet music on loan
Access to occasional, local field trips and recital events
Shareable videos of performances to celebrate milestones and achievements

Are there any other fees?

There are no registration or yearly fees
Tuition does not include the cost of books and materials, which vary from student to student
Field trips and recitals will require a participation fee

Do you require parents to stay during lessons or may I drop them off and come back?

Do you have children?

Do you play any other instruments?

The piano is my primary delight, however, I also enjoy playing the ukulele, the guitar, and singing like nobody’s watching. 🙂 For my next endeavor, I will be mastering the Anglo-Saxon Lyre.

Are you homeschool-friendly?

Very much so! I have several families who take the opportunity to complete schoolwork at the table while I teach piano in the next room. It is helpful for me to be able to schedule some of my lessons during the day.

What do you like best about teaching piano lessons?

I always feel joyful and energized after a day of teaching piano, which may have something to do with what I have realized is my primary, life-long hobby: learning. It is a delight for the mind to sit down with a student and teach, discuss, learn, and play the piano together, and it is a delight for the heart to see understanding light up behind a student’s eyes and confidence building in their playing.

Music+Teaching+Learning = joy

Do you do group lessons?

No. While group lessons might sound like a good idea, I find that they take longer and are not as effective as individual lessons.

Is 30 minutes enough time?

In my experience, elementary-aged kids do very well to focus, engage, and learn for the thirty minutes before heading out feeling encouraged and empowered for a week of practicing at home. This is the ideal timeframe to “stop while you’re having fun.” 🙂
An adult or older child who is still a beginner will find that thirty minutes serves them well, yet will likely wish to move into a sixty-minute lesson after progressing.

At what age should my child start piano? How young is too young?

Every child is different. Here are some signs that your child may be ready for piano lessons:
- They can read or are close to reading. (This indicates a developmental readiness to understand the connections between abstract symbolism and meaning. Reading musical notation is a skill that can be correlated with comprehending the written word, though I think it has some distinct advantages that are picked up quicker!)
- They are in 1st grade or higher (this is a good, generalized benchmark, though some may wish to wait a year or two. If you have a 4 or 5-year-old who seems ready, please don’t hesitate to inquire.)
- They have an interest in music and in learning the piano (This is important!)
Some teachers offer toddler music classes, but I do not have plans to pursue those at this time.

What if my child is of an age for piano lessons but has some reading challenges?

As it happens, both my husband and daughter are dyslexic, and I also have experience successfully teaching two other dyslexic students to read music and enjoy piano, so I am well-versed and flexible in this sort of thing. I am happy to discuss further your child’s unique situation and needs to help determine whether my lessons might be a good fit.

What if my child has other special needs?

I am happy to discuss your unique situation to help determine if my lessons would be a good fit for your child.

Is it ok to start in middle school, high school, or later?

Of course it is! If you or your older child wishes to learn the piano, you should!

Do you teach adult students?

I do not currently have any adults enrolled in lessons, but I am most certainly open to doing so. Whether you are a beginner interested in trying something new, or perhaps you had lessons years ago as a child and would like to revisit and revive that part of your life, I would be happy to plan that journey with you.

Do I need to own a piano?

Practicing between lessons is imperative for success, so easy access to a piano is an essential part of taking piano lessons. Electric keyboards can be an acceptable, budget-friendly alternative, but please be advised that they are not all built to the same specifications. I plan to post piano and keyboard buying guides to elaborate on this.
One other alternative is to rent a practice studio, however, this is not ideal, since it will likely limit the number of days that you can practice during the week.

Do you have a question I haven’t answered here? Please feel free to contact me.