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General Questions
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No. All lessons take place at the studio, which is located in Newmarket, Ontario.
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No. Due to technical issues with sound quality, online lessons are no longer offered.
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That depends on the child and their level of interest in their chosen instrument. Generally, age 5 is when children are able to concentrate long enough to benefit from a private lesson.
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Start when your child shows interest in learning an instrument. There is no “best time of year” to start. Our studio year runs from September - June. We do not offer summer lessons at this time.
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The most important thing to bring to lessons is a great attitude and willingness to learn!
Physical things to bring include: your music binder and current books. Flutists should bring their flute to each lesson.
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Books and supplemental materials are all covered under your tuition! Your teacher will supply you with the right books for you to take home. All students receive a binder to help organize their music, technique, and lesson notes.
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This really depends on the student. Practice is not about time, it’s about repetitions. Beginners will usually receive instructions to aim for 3-5 correct repetitions of each piece or scale every day. How long that takes depends on the child and their focus level for the day. Please do not make your musician practice for a set amount of time - it sucks the joy from any practice session.
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Parents can help by creating a positive practice environment for their child. Have your child teach YOU what they’re supposed to do! Don’t worry about making mistakes - the teacher will correct them at the next lesson. Some children may need help navigating technology (metronome app, music games, etc.) and/or reading assignments. There will be sticky notes and paper clips in the child’s music books and binder that indicate which pieces they are working on.
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Please, DO NOT cancel your lesson due to non practice! There are lots of things to work on other than assigned music. If non-practice becomes a recurring issue, progress will be very slow and will become frustrating for the child. At this point you and your teacher can discuss strategies to improve practice habits.
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In the event that you must miss a lesson, please notify your teacher by no later than 2:30pm on the day of the lesson. No charge is applied to lessons cancelled before the cutoff time.
No shows or cancellations past 2:30pm will be charged the full lesson fee. Please see the studio policies for more details.
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No. We use a prepaid lesson system, so you only have to commit to a minimum of 4 lessons at a time. Please be aware that if you discontinue lessons your spot in the schedule will go to the next student on the waiting list.
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No lessons are offered during the months of July and August.
Occasionally, summer lessons can be scheduled to help with exam preparation.
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Flute Questions
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Yes! Your musician needs a quality instrument to practice on at home in order to make progress and retain skills learned in the lesson. You will also need to bring your flute to each lesson.
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Always check with your teacher before buying a flute to ensure that you are getting a quality instrument. Good new and used flutes are available from your local music shop, such as Long & McQuade.
You want a reputable brand of flute, not a cheap one from eBay or Amazon!
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No!! The flute selections on Amazon are best described as “Flute Shaped Objects” rather than actual instruments! Off brand instruments are difficult and frustrating to play - the sound quality is terrible and the keys become unaligned and leaky very quickly leaving you with an unplayable instrument. Repair shops won’t work on cheap instruments because the cheaper materials will melt during the repair process, rendering the flute useless.
When in doubt, reach out! Your teacher is always happy to discuss instrument purchase with students!
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Instrument rental is a very affordable option to consider. It will cost between $20-$30 per month.
Used instruments are also an option. Stick with reputable brands and be aware that if you purchase via private sale that the instrument may need servicing before it is playable.
Most major instrument retailers have used instruments for sale, rental programs and/or rent-to-own programs. Try Long & McQuade Music in Stouffville for rentals. Long & McQuade on Bloor St. in Toronto has the best selection of flutes anywhere in the GTA.
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No! There is a common misconception that you need to learn piano before you can learn any other instrument. This is just not true - music is music!
If your child has shown an interest in the flute, let them learn the flute! Young musicians learn more when they are interested in the subject matter.
All instruments learn concepts like reading music, rhythm, patterning, and other basic theory. The only thing that differs is each instrument's physical technique. Please do not force your child to “take a year of piano” or “take a piano exam” before they are allowed to play the instrument they are truly interested in.
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Piano Questions
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Yes! Your musician needs a quality instrument to practice on at home in order to make progress and retain skills learned in the lesson.
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It is best to have a home instrument right away. Frustration sets in quite quickly when children are unable to make progress.
There are many great instruments available for rent from your local music shop. Try The Arts in Newmarket or Long & McQuade in Stouffville.
When in doubt, reach out! I’m always happy to discuss instruments with families.
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No. The last thing any kid wants to do at Grandma’s is practice the piano!
Having a piano or keyboard at home allows your child to concentrate on building their skills comfortably in their own space and allows for building a practice routine and inspiring spontaneous practice.
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You need a full sized acoustic or digital piano with weighted keys and pedals. The entire range of the piano and pedals are used even in beginner books and repertoire.
A good digital piano is fine for beginners, but an acoustic piano is always best.
When in doubt, reach out! I’m always happy to discuss instrument purchase with students.
Questions answered?
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