Yiyi Ku Piano Studio

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Trevor Stepanyan

My child is only a beginner. Will a teacher who can only teach beginners be good enough for us?

Why do different music teachers and companies charge different rates? Am I getting a good deal?

Is it better to go to the teacher’s studio or have the lessons at home?

Pianos are expensive, should I make the investment?

Should I buy a digital piano or an acoustic piano?

Should I have 30 min lessons, 45 min lessons, or 1 hour lessons?

How soon can music lessons start?

How much should I practice?

My child is only a beginner. Will a teacher who can only teach beginners be good enough for us?

It is especially because your child is a beginner that you need to find the best teacher you can afford. So many beginners start with inexperienced or insufficiently qualified teachers, that they form bad habits which become very difficult and in some cases impossible to correct later. Be aware when studying with teachers that teach many different instruments. Are they equally qualified and experienced in all those instruments? There is a big difference between a teacher that specializes in strings but also happens to play a little piano, versus a teacher that specializes in piano. Just because a teacher has a degree in music, does not necessarily mean they are qualified to teach every instrument they can play. In fact, the Music Teachers National Association requires a separate certification procedure for different instruments. ^Top

Why do different music teachers and companies charge different rates? Am I getting a good deal?

Rebecca Lukachinski

When it comes to music lessons, cost and convenience should not be the only deciding factors. Finding a music teacher is not the same as going shopping, where you may find the exact same product for a different price in a different store, and can try to get the best deal. No two music teachers are the same; they have different qualifications, different teaching experiences, different personalities, different teaching methods and philosophies, etc. Be selective when choosing a music teacher. Ask for an interview/demonstration lesson before making a long term commitment. Be aware of music lesson companies and stores that offer lessons in your home. While they may advertise having qualified teachers on their staff, ask for the resume of the particular teacher they are actually going to be sending you! While they may offer convenience, they usually pay their teachers only a percentage of the fees you pay. As a result there is usually a big turn-over of teachers and lack of continuity for the students. Moreover, these companies (sometimes called school or academy) pay different teachers different rates depending on qualifications and experience, yet they charge the students the same rates – you may be paying the same fees for a lesser qualified teacher than someone else and not knowing it!

Some factors you should consider when looking for a music teacher:

Sarah Gustafson and Yiyi

Teacher qualifications/experience: Does the teacher’s qualifications and experience justify their rates? Not everyone who calls themselves a music teacher should be paid the same ”going rate” for a music lesson.
On-going professional development: Does the teacher belong to any professioanl organisations and receive ongoing professional development to further their skills? Professional memberships and further training add to the teacher’s studio expenses, but allow the teacher to be informed with new teaching publications/strategies, recital/competition events for students, as well as networking opportunities with colleagues. Note that some organisations allow anyone who pays membership fee to become a member, while professional certification is only granted to those with adequate qualifications and experience.
Studio equipment: Does the teacher teach on a good quality instrument? Is the teacher’s studio equipped with a variety of teaching aids and supplements?
Communication: Does the teacher allow parents to stay in the room so they can observe lessons? How often does the teacher communicate with parents about studio events? Does the teacher provide verbal/written reports for students?
Recitals: Does the teacher provide a variety of performance/assessment opportunities?

A good teacher spends a big portion of their income on all of the above. Your tuition pays for not only the time you spend with the teacher at the teacher’s studio; your teacher spends much of his/her waking moment upgrading their own skills, looking for music suitable for your current level yet provides adequate challenges, and thinking about ways to help you develop your technique and musicianship.

Music lesson is a long term commitment, and choosing the right teacher will save you money in the long run. Studying with a good music teacher will bring life-long benefits to the student. Take your time to find the right teacher!

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Is it better to go to the teacher’s studio or have the lessons at home?

DJ Doherty

This depends. If you have other children in the family that need care, work from home, do not have transportation, then you may have no choice but to have lessons at home. However, there are many benefits for having lessons in the teacher’s studio:

Students usually concentrate better when they go to the teacher’s studio.
It is good for students to play on the teacher’s piano once every week instead of always on their own piano at home. This makes the student aware that no two instruments are the same and teaches them to adapt to different instruments. Students who have only had lessons at home usually find it much more difficult to perform in recitals or festivals where they have to play on an unfamiliar instrument and inevitably get put off. Also, most students rarely get opportunities to play on a grand piano; going to Yiyi Ku Music Studio gives students opportunities to play on a fine Kawai grand piano.
Going to the teacher’s studio to play for the teacher is in itself a performance experience. Musicians all know the feeling of having mastered a piece at home, only to find that something, however tiny, will always inevitably go wrong when they play the piece to others for the first time. Going to the teacher’s studio creates a practical opportunity for the student to play outside of their “familiar” environment; the more performance opportunities a student has, the more confident and experienced they become as a performer. This is immensely beneficial for preparation for auditions, competitions, examinations, and recitals. ^Top

Pianos are expensive, should I make the investment?

Delaney Seaton

A good piano can cost a lot of money. But there are so many good used pianos out there!!! Whatever budget you have, I am sure there is a piano just for you! Plus, a musical instrument is one that will last a long time for the entire family to enjoy. ^Top

Should I buy a digital piano or an acoustic piano?

The simple answer is Acoustic Piano!!!! An acoustic piano is a MUST if the student intends to make serious progrss. A digital piano or keyboard is OK for beginners, but parents should consider upgrading to an acousic piano after 6 months of study, especially if the student is interested in participating in music auditions and festivals. Do not believe it when the salesperson tells you “this digital piano does exactly the same thing as an acoustic piano”. True it may be touch sensitive and allows for a multitude of dynamics, but a digital piano can never replace the intricate, immensely sensitive, powerful, unique, soulful, most wonderful creation that we call the piano. Students who start on digital pianos and keyboards usually have difficulty later with legato (smooth) playing and controlling subtle dynamic changes. ^Top

How long should the lessons be?

Maya Hasegawa

I started piano lessons at the age of 5, and I was extremely fortunate that all my lessons were never shorter than 1 hour. The hour seemed to be the absolute minimum. I understand that nowadays children have many activities that they participate in, other than music lessons, and most families can only afford 30 minute lessons. However if the student proves to be talented and dedicated, then longer lessons are definitely worthwhile, and progress can be accelerated.

For most young beginners, 30 minutes is a good start. For adult beginners, I recommend longer lessons so they can “catch-up” on technique and reading. Once a student progresses beyond a certain level, the music they study will be much more substantial, and longer lessons will be necessary. For students that want to audition for National Piano Guild and other examinations or competitions, longer time frames is absolutely necessary. This is to ensure that all aspects of the audition requirement can be covered and that the student will be fully prepared. ^Top

How soon can music lessons start?

Early childhood music education has proven to be immensely beneficial to the overall development of a preschool child. Music stimulates the mind and muscles, and children can absorb an enormous amount at this age. Musical parenting is also a good way to bring families together through music making. Singing simple nursery rhymes together with your child can lay the foundation for musicianship. Formal piano lessons can start as early as 4 years old, although if the parents are keen, they can “learn together” with children as young as 3.^Top

How much should I practice?

Jason Louser

When it comes to music study, there is simply no short cut! When it comes to music practice, the more the better! The amount of practice time required depends on the student’s age, level of ability and personal goals. It is important for students to spend quality time on the piano, with focused practice sessions on a DAILY basis. In general, unless the student is very young, the amount of daily practice time should be no less than the lesson duration, and if the student is doing auditions or other exams/festivals, they need to do extra practice! It is also a good idea for young students to have two short practice sessions a day instead of one long session. Of course, there will be days when it may be impossible to do any practice; just try to make up for the lost time when possible!

The following is a guide:

Age of student	Minimum Daily practice time
5 and younger	15 min
6 and 7	20 min
8 and 9	25 min
10 and 11	30 min
12 and 13	40 min +
14 and 15	45 min +
15 and above	1 hour +
Adult students	Depends on your goal. If you are studying piano for leisure, whatever time you can devote is fine. If you want to be a music major, 2 hours is the absolute minimum, especially if you started piano late (after age 10), you have a lot to catch up!!!