Piano painting by one of Julie Cleveland's students.piano lessons
lessons are available
- in my studio - 30-, 45- or 60-minutes lessons
- in your home - 45-minutes lessons*
- schedule follows school-year calendar for young students; 10-lesson quarters for adult students - rolling admissions until all slots are filled
*Dependent on location in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, or Boynton Beach
CALENDAr for school-aged students
School Year, 2008–2009
Tuesday, August 26, 2008–Saturday, May 30, 200936 lessons
The school year comprises 2 semesters.
Fall/Winter Semester
Tuesday, August 26, 2008–Saturday, January 17, 200918 lesson weeks
No lessons: Please see Calendar. Winter Holiday Piano Party, Sunday, December 7, Place: My studio, Time: TBA
Winter/Spring Semester
Tuesday, January 20–Saturday, May 30, 200918 lesson weeks
No lessons: Please see Calendar. Annual Spring Recital, May 2009
The complete Calendar is on the website and available for download.
TUITION
Tuition is charged by the semester for school-aged students, with 4 payment plans available. Adult students are charged by the quarter (10 lessons per quarter).
Please see the Studio Policy for complete information.
Frequently Asked Questions About Piano Study for Children
My child is seven years old and a total beginner. Is s/he ready for piano lessons?
I would generally say absolutely! However, I do schedule a "meet and greet" interview with the student, before committing to a semester of lessons, to assess studentreadiness and willingness to begin piano study.
How much will my child be required to practice?
For most young beginners, I start them anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes per day, depending on age and ability, and increase the minutes over a few weeks until the child is practicing 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week, which could take several months. What is most important at first, is not how much time, but rather, developing the habit of daily practice.
We've only got a keyboard, not a piano. Is this sufficient?
Unfortunately, no. It is important for students to have an acoustic piano to practice on. The action, that is, how the keys feel when they are fully depressed, is completely different on a keyboard versus a piano, not to mention the sound, and the response from the instrument. As well, pedaling of pieces, which begins quite early on in lessons, is really impossible to do properly on any keyboard other than an acoustic piano.
What if my child can't keep the lesson appointment because of a soccer game or a similar after-school activity? Do you offer make-ups?
There are no makeups for missed lessons due to other school activities. When you sign up for lessons, you reserve a timeslot every week in my schedule for your child's lessons. Please see the policy page for specific information about missed lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions About Piano Study for Adults
I'm retired but have always wanted to play the piano. Is it too late?
It's never too late to play a musical instrument, especially the piano. It's one of the easier instruments to learn, as long as you are self-motivated and disciplined, and are willing to practice each day (if it's more than an hour, you will be a piano player!). Plan on one to three years of study to start seeing real results, if you are a complete beginner. If you studied as a child, you'll begin to see results right away.
I travel a lot and can't make it to a regular lesson but still really want to study piano. Is this possible?
Most often, yes. I can be somewhat flexible in scheduling when the lesson is not during the "prime-time hours" of teaching, which is between 2:00 and 6:00 pm Tuesday through Friday (I don't teach on Mondays). I also teach Saturday mornings.
Lessons for adult students are geared toward each student's individual game plan. Some students want to learn only the classical repertoire, while others are more interested in studying jazz harmony and improvisation to be able to play "standards." Many want a combination of the two, and other genres of music as well. Some students pursue studies in theory and composition; I also accommodate those needs and desires.
Lessons are offered in my Delray Beach studio (30, 45, or 60 minutes) or in the student's home for 45 minutes, usually once a week, but twice a week is also available. Please contact me for rates and times available.