FAQ
NEW STUDENTS
Do I need a piano in order to start lessons?Yes, having an instrument for regular practice is essential from the first lesson. An acoustic piano (upright or grand) is the best choice. A digital piano is also fine for beginners but is not ideal for long-term study. You can find recommendations for choosing your first digital piano here. I also offer assistance in trying out acoustic pianos if you are interested in buying and need help picking one. An assistance fee applies, feel free to reach out via email if you want to know more details.
At what levels do you teach?
I work with students of all levels and backgrounds, with more experience teaching beginner and intermediate levels.
At what ages do you teach?
The age range of my current students varies from 5 to 75. For children, typically not earlier than age 5 or kindergarten. A child must have a 30-minute concentration span and should have begun directional tracking (learning to read left-to-right). Young beginners under the age of 5 are encouraged to enroll in group music lessons initially. For children who may not yet have a 30-minute concentration span, feel free to reach out via email, and I can recommend music centers that offer group lessons tailored for younger kids. When they are ready, we can start one-on-one, in-person piano lessons. Adults are encouraged to learn music at any age! I have a few retiring-age students, and they are doing great! It’s never too late to start, and I believe students will achieve results regardless of their age or previous background.
What are your teaching methods?
Just as every student is different, I adjust teaching style to each individual rather than subscribing to any one method. I emphasize the necessity of reading music and encourage students towards this initial goal as quickly as possible. Once fundamentals are achieved, the possibilities are endless.
For children, what is the level of parental involvement?
Parents are requested to leave during lesson time so that students can focus their attention fully on learning. While occasional observation is fine, experience has shown that students have a difficult time concentrating when parents are in attendance.
Just as every student is different, I adjust teaching style to each individual rather than subscribing to any one method. I emphasize the necessity of reading music and encourage students towards this initial goal as quickly as possible. Once fundamentals are achieved, the possibilities are endless.
For children, what is the level of parental involvement?
Parents are requested to leave during lesson time so that students can focus their attention fully on learning. While occasional observation is fine, experience has shown that students have a difficult time concentrating when parents are in attendance.
At home, parents are encouraged to support students' daily practice. It is strongly advised that parents supervise children, especially young beginners under the age of 10, during their initial stages of practice until they develop self-motivation to practice independently on a regular basis.
Feel free to check out the following link for some tips on building good piano practice habits: Tips for Building Good Piano Practice Habits
Are there any regular recitals?
We currently only have our annual student recital, typically at the beginning of the year, depending on the day that gathers the most participants.
Alongside the student recital, I also support interested students in preparing for the ABRSM Piano Exams — a globally recognized certification.
The annual recital is a significant event where each performer receives a certificate and gift. We conduct audience voting for their top 2 favorite performers, offering special prizes for the winners. Additionally, we provide photographs and video recordings for each student.
I want to emphasize that, while recitals offer valuable experiences, I don't want students to dedicate too much time to preparation at the expense of learning new pieces. While I can consider adding a casual mini recital, perhaps in the summer if there's enough interest, it won’t be as extensive as our annual recital. Scheduling can be a challenge due to diverse student ages (ranging from 5 to 75), varying travel plans, and some students being uninterested in participating in general. Additionally, a few students from the East Bay Area may face logistical difficulties. If you're open to a smaller-scale event, we can explore options. I can also consider the possibility of arranging short overlapping lessons (let’s say 10-15 mins) with two students so they can play a bit for each other. However, this would require me to rearrange their lesson times and have both of them come over to my studio for lessons.
How much is the tuition?
Tuition is typically determined during the 30-minute trial lesson ($45) after evaluating the student’s level, ranging from $65 to $105 for 45-minute/60-minute lessons. If you would like to do a 30-minute lesson, we can discuss and arrange that as well.
Where is the studio located?
The studio is located in Sunnyvale, CA 94089.
Where is the studio located?
The studio is located in Sunnyvale, CA 94089.
Can you travel to my home for in-home lessons?
Tuition is due on a monthly basis, no later than the end of the last lesson in the previous month. Monthly tuition reminder emails will be sent out to students/parents. In exceptional cases, tuition can be paid at the first lesson of the current month. The first-month tuition needs to be paid no less than 4 days before the first lesson as a confirmation of the schedule.
How may I pay for tuition?
You may pay by Zelle (preferred), Venmo (preferred), cash, or check.
Will there be any extra costs?
Students will need to purchase music books along the way, adding up to approximately $50/year. Students will also need an assignment book and a metronome (many metronome apps are free to download). Additional fees apply to certifications and exams, e.g. recitals and ABRSM exams. Also, if there is a certain piece students would like to learn and online sheet music is available, they will need to purchase it as well, which usually ranges from $5 to $20.
This will depend on the area location, travel time, parking difficulty, and how it aligns with my schedule availability. In certain situations, I may not be able to offer in-home lessons. I charge an additional traffic fee for at-home lessons (starting from $10 to $30+) only if the location is too far with significant traffic during peak hours. Please allow for a 5-15 minute delay, as I may occasionally encounter unexpected heavy traffic on my way for in-home lessons. Rest assured, I will ensure to compensate for any missed time during our lesson.
PAYMENTS
When do I need to pay?Tuition is due on a monthly basis, no later than the end of the last lesson in the previous month. Monthly tuition reminder emails will be sent out to students/parents. In exceptional cases, tuition can be paid at the first lesson of the current month. The first-month tuition needs to be paid no less than 4 days before the first lesson as a confirmation of the schedule.
How may I pay for tuition?
You may pay by Zelle (preferred), Venmo (preferred), cash, or check.
Will there be any extra costs?
Students will need to purchase music books along the way, adding up to approximately $50/year. Students will also need an assignment book and a metronome (many metronome apps are free to download). Additional fees apply to certifications and exams, e.g. recitals and ABRSM exams. Also, if there is a certain piece students would like to learn and online sheet music is available, they will need to purchase it as well, which usually ranges from $5 to $20.
CANCELLATION
What is your cancellation policy?
Lessons must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance in order to qualify for a make-up lesson. Exceptions will only be made for illness if the teacher is notified 6 hours before the scheduled lesson time. A make-up schedule is flexible and can be discussed case by case.
Can I get a refund for cancelled lessons?
No refund for cancelled lessons, although make-up lessons are available.
What if the teacher cancels the lesson?
Lessons canceled by the teacher will be rescheduled for another weekday. Alternatively, we can extend upcoming lessons by 10-15 minutes until the missed hours are made up. In some cases, we may choose to skip the week, with the paid tuition fee applied to the following month. The makeup schedule is flexible and can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
What is your discontinuation policy?
If you'd like to discontinue after the trial session but before the first month, A minimum of 3-day notice is required. After the first month, a minimum of 14-day notice is required for discontinuation. The tuition for the next month will apply if the notice is not made on time.
Lessons must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance in order to qualify for a make-up lesson. Exceptions will only be made for illness if the teacher is notified 6 hours before the scheduled lesson time. A make-up schedule is flexible and can be discussed case by case.
Can I get a refund for cancelled lessons?
No refund for cancelled lessons, although make-up lessons are available.
What if the teacher cancels the lesson?
Lessons canceled by the teacher will be rescheduled for another weekday. Alternatively, we can extend upcoming lessons by 10-15 minutes until the missed hours are made up. In some cases, we may choose to skip the week, with the paid tuition fee applied to the following month. The makeup schedule is flexible and can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
What is your discontinuation policy?
If you'd like to discontinue after the trial session but before the first month, A minimum of 3-day notice is required. After the first month, a minimum of 14-day notice is required for discontinuation. The tuition for the next month will apply if the notice is not made on time.
STUDIO RULES
- Food and Drink: Please refrain from bringing any food or drink into the studio.
- Pets Policy: Pets are not permitted in the studio premises.
- Allergies Advisory: In-studio students must NOT have severe allergies to cats or dogs. While our two cats can be relocated to another room if necessary, the small dog remains in the studio. If wearing a mask does not alleviate your allergies, we may need to discuss the possibility to arranging in-home lessons instead. Our furry friends, Bourbon (cat), Bambi (cat), and Luna (dog), are all gentle and sweet. They typically nap during lesson time unless you express interest in interacting with them. Feel free to say hi to them!
