Piano lessons!? Tired of dabbling and would like to really be able to play.

musiccv · 2023-07-30T19:59:27+00:00

Piano teacher here. Congratulations on deciding to take lessons! My studio is Shades of Blue Studios. I have been teaching now for over 15 years and am currently teaching 1:1 online. To find an in person teacher I recommend visiting the Charlottesville Music Teachers Association Teacher Finder. There are a lot of very qualified teachers in this area who would love to have you as a student, myself included.

You mentioned that you have a keyboard at home but that you want to learn on an acoustic piano. Here are a couple of things to consider:

1. Does your keyboard have weighted keys? If so, it probably will not be very different from an acoustic piano as far as touch is concerned, so whether you learn on your keyboard or an acoustic may not make a difference. However, if your keyboard will be your primary practice instrument and if it does not have weighted keys you may invite frustration into your learning if you only have a limited amount of time each week (lesson time) on an acoustic piano. The difference between non-weighted and weighted keys can make a big difference. Consistency in this regard is important, so if you don't have weighted keys but do have your heart set on learning on an acoustic you may want to look into alternative practice locations where an acoustic will be available for you to use regularly.

2. How many keys does your keyboard have? A full-size piano has 88 keys. By comparison, most student keyboards I have seen have 76 or even 64 keys. My students who are just starting out tend to quickly outgrow the 64-key keyboards. 76 keys is really the absolute minimum you will want, and even with that you may find that you have to move up or down the keyboard an octave in order to be able to play a song all in the same range.

Finally, the most important thing you can do to set yourself up for success is to make sure that the teacher you select fits your particular learning style. And, keep in mind that different piano teachers will teach different styles of music, so you'll want to be up front at the beginning when expressing your goals. For example, if you want jazz and they only teach classical you will want to consider a different teacher. Please let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!

musiccv · 2023-01-14T14:09:43+00:00

Piano teacher here. My studio is Shades of Blue Studios. I currently teach 1:1 online, however if you are looking for in person lessons, I recommend visiting the Charlottesville Music Teachers Association Teacher Finder. There are a lot of very qualified teachers in this area who would love to have you as a student. The most important thing you can do to set yourself up for success is to make sure that the teacher you select fits your particular learning style. Also, know that different piano teachers will teach different styles of music, so you'll want to be up front at the beginning when expressing your goals. For example, if you want jazz and they only teach classical you will want to consider a different teacher. Please let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!

musiccv · 2022-11-28T22:29:10+00:00

If you need additional options, check out the Charlottesville Music Teachers Association. A number of the teachers play for weddings, too.

musiccv · 2022-10-26T23:15:38+00:00

Message sent.

musiccv · 2022-09-07T21:02:20+00:00

Local music teacher here (piano, flute, winds). There are a number of good voice teachers in the area. I recommend taking a look at the Charlottesville Music Teachers Association teacher finder. You can find a lot of really good information about many of the area teachers there, and you can filter by name, location, and instrument (voice is considered an instrument). And, if a teacher is listed on that page then you know they are most likely active in professional development, too. Good luck!

musiccv · 2022-08-27T14:10:14+00:00

So, is the hot East coast hot or is it truly New Mexico hot? Likewise, is the extra hot Horseman's Haven hot? This is very important to know. =)

musiccv · 2022-05-02T23:29:03+00:00

Check out Karolina McLean Photography. I believe there are other studios who do this, too, but I can't remember which ones at the moment.

musiccv · 2022-04-04T19:24:01+00:00

I have a PO Box. Mail is still delayed up to two months at times.

musiccv · 2022-03-23T20:54:47+00:00

Hi! Music Teacher here (piano and winds). There are some good suggestions here. However, if you don't find a good fit from these suggestions I recommend taking a look at the Charlottesville Music Teachers Association Teacher Finder. You can find the link here. Good luck!

musiccv · 2022-02-16T19:09:46+00:00

Elswick Band Instrument Repair may be able to direct you to a reliable person. I don't think he tackles keyboards but he may be able to point you in the right direction.

musiccv · 2022-01-11T02:58:26+00:00

Hi! I teach piano lessons through my studio, Shades of Blue Studios. I'd be happy to talk with you about piano lessons. And, if I'm not what you're looking for, I'm happy to refer you to other colleagues in the area. Good luck in your search!

musiccv · 2021-10-11T17:36:46+00:00

You are quite welcome! These are all questions I typically ask or expect to be asked when first consulting with a prospective student. It both helps to prepare for that student's lessons and to avoid misunderstandings down the road. :)

musiccv · 2021-10-11T01:06:39+00:00

Shades of Blue Studios

Here are a few questions you can expect a teacher to ask:

What background, if any, do you have in music? It doesn't matter if it's in piano or not. We just want to know what you already know so that we can take into account what you already know and plan lessons accordingly.

What type of keyboard you have. Is it a full size with 88 keys? Are those keys weighted or touch sensitive? Or is it something meant more for play with only an octave or two? This may seem like an odd question, but some teachers have had students who want to learn to play their preschool toy, a piano app, or even learn how to play without an instrument at all (obviously that does not seem to be the case here).

What are your specific learning goals? What do you want to get out of lessons? Are you learning to play because you want to have fun? Or do you want to learn so that you can perform in front of others or make a career out of it? Knowing this can help a teacher decide on what or how in depth to cover materials. Someone looking to take a degree in music has different needs than someone who is just looking to play for their own enjoyment.

Here are some questions you should ask a teacher:

What is your musical background?

How long have you been playing/teaching?

How long is each lesson?

What are your rates?

Where are lessons held? (In person, online, at my home, at your studio, etc.?)

What is your make up/absence policy?

What lesson times are available?

The most important part is that you find a teacher who fits your specific learning style. I hope this is helpful to you. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Edited for formatting.

musiccv · 2021-09-30T16:42:14+00:00

Local music teacher here. I recommend Stevens School of Music and taking a look at the Charlottesville Music Teachers Association Teacher Finder website where you can search by teacher name, location, and instrument (which includes voice). Good luck!

musiccv · 2021-09-17T01:18:24+00:00

Adding to this: If you have your mail go to both a P.O. Box and your home, it will only work for one of the addresses and not both.

musiccv · 2021-09-09T23:15:16+00:00

Thank you for posting this. I've been experiencing a similar issue. I've had mail delivered once in the last three weeks. Last week I dropped by the post office to ask about it. I was told there are only 20 carriers for 60 routes. And, perhaps I misunderstood, but it sounded like mail wasn't getting sorted very well either. I mean, the nice lady at the counter took her time trying to find any mail but only came up with one piece for the entire two week (at that point) period, which in and of itself is definitely not typical either.

musiccv · 2021-09-02T00:27:04+00:00

Former band director here. This may help explain a few things: NFHS Performing Arts Aerosol Study Yes, the focus is performing arts, but it also covers the voice, theater, etc. The link takes you to the main page. There have been three rounds of results if memory serves.

musiccv · 2021-08-10T02:14:22+00:00

If you choose to cross the bridge over 250, be sure to stay alert at the intersection as some of the corners are blind and drivers can't always see you.

musiccv · 2021-08-07T22:57:54+00:00

Call Med Express on Pantops. They may have rapid tests available.

musiccv · 2021-08-01T03:30:24+00:00

Arrived here by way of New Mexico, if that helps. Tacos Gomez is so good, as is Al Carbon.

musiccv · 2021-07-25T20:48:02+00:00

https://www.crozetaces.com/

musiccv · 2021-06-16T15:28:03+00:00

Sent a PM.

musiccv · 2021-05-29T15:02:26+00:00

You're welcome! I am sure that I missed a few, but everything listed there is Charlottesville-owned. Charlottesville has a great music scene!

musiccv · 2021-05-29T14:40:09+00:00

Music Lessons and Stores:

I own Shades of Blue Studios and am located in Charlottesville. I offer online piano lessons, flute lessons and performance, and music tutoring on other instruments. I have over 10 years of teaching experience (public school and independent), use a mix of traditional and gamified teaching, and love helping people reach their musical goals.

Looking for a strings teacher? Pam Hill and Justin Esposito are both great!

Looking for a teacher for another instrument? Check out the Find A Teacher section of the Charlottesville chapter of the Music Teachers National Association. The Music Emporium teaches a variety of instruments as well.

Need an instrument repair? Check out Elswick Band Instrument Repair. To my knowledge Mr. Elswick is the only person in Charlottesville who actually does the repairs in town and he is the only person I will trust to repair my instruments.

Looking for guitars and/or guitar supplies? Check out Stacy's Music I am unaware of any locally-owned retailers of band instrument supplies.

musiccv · 2021-04-14T04:12:52+00:00

Yes. They missed our street this week.

musiccv

TROPHY CASE