Hands Together Piano Studio is a friendly
home-based studio conveniently located at
210 Church Street in Willow Grove,
Pennsylvania, close to the intersection of
Davisville Road and Route 611. There is
ample street parking.
Q.
What is the free Information Session?
A.
There is no charge for the information
session. The information session is not a
lesson, but rather an opportunity for us to
meet each other, and for you to see the
studio, look at the materials, listen to
some of the songs, and ask questions about
how the Simply Music program works.
Q.
What days and times are lessons available?
A.
Lesson times are available Monday through
Thursday from 10 A.M. to 9 P.M, Fridays from
10 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. and Saturdays from 9
A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Q.
What ages do you teach?
A.
The Simply Music piano program is suitable
for children, teens and adults from ages 5
to seniors.
Q.
Do you offer private or group lessons?
A.
Most students take private lessons. Some
students take shared lessons with their
siblings or their parent. Informal group
classes are offered two or three a year
where students can play for each other in a
relaxed environment.
Q.
How often are lessons scheduled?
A.
Students have weekly lessons during the
school year. Summer schedules are flexible.
Adults or home-school students who are
available for daytime lessons take weekly or
bi-weekly lessons, or have flexible
scheduling if needed.
Q.
How much practice time is required?
A.
For beginners, a minimum of 15 minutes
practice time per day, 5 days a week will
ensure good progress. For more advanced
students, 30 minutes most days is a general
rule of thumb. However, goal-oriented
practice is more important than the amount
of time. At Hands Together Piano Studio you
will learn how to practice, so you will make
the most efficient use of your practice
time.
Q.
Do you teach Music Theory?
A.
In the Simply Music program, students learn
music theory from their very first lessons
in a very hands-on way that is easy to
understand. It is learned through the songs
themselves, not by routinely practicing
scales, drills or finger exercises.
Q.
When will students learn to read music?
A.
For most students, the reading process
usually begins between the first and second
year of lessons. However, we learn to play
lots of songs in the beginning without music
to develop a very solid foundation in
actually playing the piano. Students then
progress from learning to play songs without
music to learning songs through reading.
This is the most natural way to learn, just
as we speak for many years before learning
to read.
Q.
Can Simply Music benefit students with prior
experience?
A.
Yes, definitely. In Simply Music, you will
learn a new way of learning. If you were
only previously able to play with sheet
music, you will experience the freedom of
playing without it and you will feel more at
ease playing the piano.
During the ‘playing-based’ part of the
program, you will learn tools and strategies
that will make reading music easier than
before.
You will have a better understanding of
patterns, chords, and transposing, and your
musical ear will be more developed. Nothing
is lost and much is gained.
Q.
Are there recitals or other performance
opportunities?
A.
Absolutely! Recitals and other performance
opportunities give students a real
confidence with their skills. Parents,
family members and friends have a chance to
see how much students have learned.
There are informal group classes two or
three times a year to give students an
opportunity to play for each other in a
relaxed fun environment.
A family recital is held each June at
Jacobs Music Company in Willow Grove, Pa.
Students may participate in workshops and
non-competitive recitals offered through the
Music Teachers National Association.
No student is required to participate in
recitals. However, almost all students are
eager to play for others and find performing
to be a positive experience.
Q.
What is the parent’s role?
A.
Parental attendance at lessons and supervision of at-home practice has enormous benefits to both children and parents.
For children, it helps them understand that learning to play the piano is valued and important to their parents, which gives the children greater incentive to learn and practice.
For parents, attending lessons helps them better understand how the Simply Music program works and how valuable it is. It also shows what is taught at each lesson and how their children are expected to practice. An added benefit is that parents can learn to play the songs along with their children, if desired.
Parents can assist and encourage their children with at-home practice in many ways: scheduling a regular time for practice, making sure children practice everything in the assignment book (as well as simply exploring and having fun), encouraging children by listening to them and having occasional family concerts. Sometimes parents may need to sit with children while they practice because children will not always practice well on their own.
Q.
Do you teach adults?
A.
Yes! About 15% of the students at Hands
Together Piano Studio are adults, some
retired, some with full-time jobs. Most
adult students start as beginners. Some have
taken lessons as children.
Q.
Is there a written studio policy?
A.
Yes. The studio policy covers such things as
holidays, tuition, missed lessons, and
guidelines for at-home practice. You will
receive a copy of the studio policy at the
free information session.
Q.
How is tuition paid?
A.
Tuition may be paid by cash, check or PayPal.
Please contact
the studio for prices.
BENEFITS
Relaxation and stress release
Creative outlet and expression of
feelings
Sense of accomplishment
Part of a balanced life
Playing the piano is fun!
Listening skills improve
Margo Raube
The Simply Music approach to
playing the piano has inspired our
daughter to incredible heights!
Instead of begging her to practice,
we can't get her away from the
piano. She has learned to play at a
remarkable speed, and has gained
confidence, not only at the
keyboard, but in life in general.
What began as an interest for her is
now a passion!
Vivian Reese
My son just turned 7 years old and
has had only 23 lessons. In this
short time he has built a repertoire
of over 18 wonderful songs. He is
very excited to learn because Simply
Music makes it very easy. It is a
wonderful gift to have music filling
our home everyday, and to hear him
singing while playing is priceless.
Not only that, but I have learned
the songs along with him.
