Every piano teacher has preferences on which piano methods to use for each age group, and as a piano teacher living in D.C., I definitely have my top picks for young beginners. After years of experience, I have compiled my own hybrid method that draws from the top piano curriculum resources to create a personalized
Lessons In Your Home Blog
Teaching Music Students is Better with Lessons In Your Home!
As a group of private music teachers who have taught in schools, studios, and our own homes, we’ve learned one thing with certainty: teaching music students better starts with in-home lessons. After years of working in various settings, the most consistent growth, happiest students, and strongest relationships all seem to come when we teach inside
Music Lessons Are for Playing—Not Just Learning
As a group of music teachers who work with beginner students every day, we believe in something simple but powerful: music lessons are for playing, not just learning. Yes, we teach the fundamentals—notes, rhythms, technique—but the real magic happens when students get to use those tools to make music they love. We’ve seen students light
What are those instruments playing? Learning how to listen
It’s a bit of a cliché to say this, but I love to listen to music. You could safely assume that all musicians love to listen to music, but you might not know that it can be a really challenging thing to do. It’s a skill you can practice and improve upon. My ability to
Calming Performance Nerves by Finding Your Balance
As private music teachers who work with beginners of all ages, we see it all the time: sweaty palms, racing hearts, and nervous energy before a performance. Whether it’s a school recital or their first time playing for family, many students feel anxious. But here’s the truth we always share—you can calm performance nerves naturally
Something Old, Something New, Something Fast, and Something Slow: Music Practice Tips That Work
As a team of active private music teachers, we’re always looking for ways to help our beginner students practice more effectively—and enjoy the process too. One of our favorite music practice structure tips is a simple routine we call: Something Old, Something New, Something Fast, Something Slow. This structure isn’t just catchy—it’s incredibly effective. By
Scaffolding… not just for buildings.
Once lessons get rolling and you’ve started to make progress you might notice that progress slows down. I see it happen all the time with my students and in my own practicing. The good news is… this is a common problem and the solution is scaffolding. Who hasn’t learned their first tune, a cool guitar
How Music Impacts the Brain: What Private Lesson Teachers Notice Every Day
We’ve seen it time and time again—students walk into their first music lesson nervous and unsure, and after just a few months, they’re more focused, confident, and even doing better in school. That’s because music doesn’t just teach you how to play an instrument—it changes your brain. As a team of private teachers who specialize
Learning How to Practice – Get the most out of Private Music Lessons At Home
At Home Music Teacher As an at home music teacher and musician, I have learned through my experience that the art of practice is the most important aspect of studying an instrument. Knowing the most efficient way to go about learning a new piece or technique is an acquired skill and not something that our
How Long Till I Can Play? Understanding Your Music Lesson Progress Timeline
If you’re starting music lessons for the first time, one of the biggest questions you probably have is: How long will it take before I can actually play something? As a group of private music teachers who specialize in working with beginner students, we hear this all the time. The truth is, your music lesson
