Why SUMMER is the Perfect Time to Start (or continue) Music Lessons
Many families assume summer means taking a break from lessons — but the opposite is often true. Without homework and school-year pressure, students practice more consistently, progress faster, and discover a genuine love for music. Summer is the single best window to begin something new.
Make-Up Lessons From an Economist’s Point of View – by Vicky Barham c 2001
Parents naturally want missed lessons rescheduled — it feels fair. But when you consider it from the teacher’s side, the math looks very different. This post explores how music lesson economics actually work and why your studio’s make-up policy probably makes more sense than you think.
Are Music Lessons For Me?
Why take music lessons?” It’s a question that deserves a real answer — not just “because it’s good for you.” Whether you’re a skeptical adult, an uncertain parent, or a kid who’s been nudged into a lesson room, this post will help you figure out if lessons are genuinely the right fit.
Eight Things that Music Teachers Wish Parents Knew
After years of teaching and working with hundreds of families, there are a handful of things that come up again and again. These aren’t complaints — they’re genuine insights that, if every music parent understood them, would make lessons dramatically more effective and enjoyable for everyone.
10 Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting a Private Music Teacher
Choosing the right teacher is arguably the most important decision you’ll make in your child’s musical education. A bad fit can kill enthusiasm in weeks; the right teacher can create a passion that lasts a lifetime. Avoid these ten common mistakes families make when searching for a private instructor.
Storytime! A Reading List of Books About Music for Kids
Reading about music is a wonderful complement to lessons — it deepens a child’s connection to their instrument and shows them the bigger world of music they’re entering. Here are our favorite picture books, early readers, and middle-grade titles about music and musicians.
How the Piano Workshop at Chester is “Keeping the Music Playing” through Covid-19, plus our holiday gift giving ideas!
When COVID-19 shut everything down, many music studios closed their doors permanently. We didn’t. Here’s how we pivoted to virtual lessons almost overnight, what we learned in the process, and why online lessons have since become a permanent — and beloved — part of what we offer.
Navigating Online Voice Lessons
Voice lessons online present unique challenges that piano or guitar lessons don’t — latency, audio compression, and the difficulty of hearing blend and tone accurately through a microphone. This post shares practical tips for students and parents to get the most from virtual vocal instruction.
Our Transition to Online Music Lessons
When we moved our studio online in spring 2020, we weren’t sure what to expect. What we found surprised us: students were often more focused, scheduling became more flexible, and families started participating in lessons in new ways. Here’s the full story of our transition.