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FAQs |
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General Questions: 1. Where is your studio located? |
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Piano Questions: 1. What method do you teach? |
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Voice Questions: 1. What type of singing do you teach? |
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General Questions: 1. Where is your studio located? My studio is located in downtown Mountain View, at 278 Hope Street between Villa and Dana. You can approach it easily from Alma/Central Expressway, El Camino, and Highways 85 and 101. It is a reasonable distance from Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, and Los Altos. 2. What is the cost of a lesson? Please see Studio Policy for an explanation of the rate system. 3. Will you teach lessons at my home? I am not currently a traveling teacher, so you have to come to my studio for your lesson. Mostly, these requests come from parents who are dealing with scheduling issues. While I understand and sympathize with the difficulties involved with coming to my studio, I teach exclusively in my studio for a variety of reasons:
While I have done so in the past, at present I am not accepting adults on my waiting list. This may change again in the future! 5. How old does my child have to be to take piano lessons? This answer varies from child to child. The youngest age I am now accepting is six years old. Please read this article to see if your child might be ready for piano lessons. 6. How old does my child have to be to take voice lessons? I will consider accepting a child as young as seven years old, on a case to case basis. An audition or trial lesson is necessary to establish whether a child is ready for voice study (particularly seven and eight year olds). 7. I have never had lessons before and am a complete beginner. Will you still teach me? Yes, yes, yes!!! Learning piano skills and developing your voice are things you can start at any point of your life, and I am always excited to work with beginners. 8. I'm not sure that I need lessons, or that you're the right teacher for me. How do I know? If you are still unsure after looking around my website and talking with me on the phone, setting up an audition or taking a trial lesson will usually give you a better idea if we work well together and if you think I can help you meet your goals. All trial lessons are offered at the "monthly" rate and are free of commitment. I teach because I love it. I love music and want it to be a major part of my life, and I love passing my knowledge and appreciation of music to others. 10. Do you offer any group lessons? I periodically offer group lessons and workshops. Please see "Events" for upcoming classes, or Email me to be put onto my mailing list of upcoming classes. 11. When are lessons available? Lessons are usually available from midday through early evening, Monday through Thursday. I'd be happy to tell you what openings I currently have available via phone or Email. 12. What is involved in the initial audition/evaluation? The audition is a time for me to get to know a potential student and assess their current skills. A typical piano audition could involve some basic musical activities for a beginning student, or the playing of a previously learned song for a continuing student. A typical voice audition includes some vocal exercises, pitch matching exercises, and singing of a previously learned song of the student's choice. Auditions generally last fifteen to twenty minutes and are offered free of charge. |
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Piano Questions: I don't teach one particular method. In creating my curriculum, I combine different materials to maximize the learning process, and I am always interested in incorporating my students' musical interests. 2. How do you teach piano to younger children? I use a combination of fun games, activities, and drills to give each child a solid musical foundation. I try to break up the lesson into many different segments to keep each child engaged and focused. Most of all, I believe that music should be fun and lessons a time to look forward to each week. I am less interested in fast progress and more interested in creating a positive musical experience and solid musical foundation for children. 3. What is included in a piano lessons? Piano lessons include technique and literature, as well as sight-reading, interpretation, and theory. We usually start a lesson with technical exercises and then move onto pieces, with theory interspersed throughout. 4. Why should I take piano lessons? People take piano lessons for a variety of reasons. Some people have always wanted to learn to play an instrument, or piano specifically. Other people want to be able to play piano with their children, who are also learning. The piano used to be the social center of the household, where family members and friends gathered round in the evenings to socialize and share music; although the television has since usurped this position, some people are eager to bring music back into their lives and the lives of their families and friends. 5. How do I know if my kids should take piano lessons? Piano lessons benefit children in a variety of different ways, so the important thing is whether a child is interested in music. Observe your child and see if he is drawn to pianos or enjoys singing and dancing. Ask your child if she is interested in having piano lessons. If she shows no interest, perhaps her creative energies are best developed in another activity, such as dance, drama, or art. |
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Voice Questions: 1. What type of singing do you teach? I teach a variety of styles of singing, including musical theatre, classical, and different kinds of popular singing (pop, rock, folk, etc.). Whatever your preferred style, I emphasize solid technique and good vocal habits. 2. What vocal technique do you teach? I was originally trained classically, in what is known as the bel canto technique. Explained simply, I teach healthy singing through good posture, low breathing and solid breath support, and proper placement of tone. We work on coordinating various parts of your body to maximize your vocal capabilities. 3. What is included in a voice lesson? Lessons usually begin with stretching, relaxation exercises, and vocal exercises. We then move onto whatever song you are currently working on. In the course of the lesson, we cover healthy vocal technique, musicality, and interpretation. Part of vocal technique is working to increase breath control and support, increasing range and projection, finding good tone and resonance, and developing a consistent and even voice throughout your range, without breaks or strain. 4. Is it possible for me to increase my range? Yes, that is one reason people take voice lessons. As training progresses, it is normal for the range to slowly increase, so that notes that were once impossible for you become easy and comfortable. 5. I have no aspirations to be a professional. Are voice lessons a waste of time? Never. Most voice students don't want to be the next pop sensation. They sing because they love to sing. Maybe it's a hobby or something you find yourself doing all the time. Maybe you just joined a band or would like to sing at open mikes. Maybe you would like to participate in your community theater or church choir. Or perhaps you are an actress or dancer trying to build more skills to become a "triple threat". Maybe you'd just like a set time every week to enjoy music. There are as many reasons to sing as there are students, but whatever your reason, lessons can increase your enjoyment of singing because you'll feel more comfortable, sound better, and be learning a lot about your voice and music in the process! 6. What if my child is tone-deaf? Serious pitch-matching issues require a long period of intense study, which may not be appropriate for a child. Instead, I suggest your child study a different instrument that isn't so dependent on pitch, such as guitar or piano, (but you're still going to want to tell the teacher about the existing pitch issue); sing in a choir, which is excellent for the ear; or take a theory/musicianship class. I wouldn't consider accepting a student who needs serious pitch drills before the mid-teens. If you're not sure if your child has trouble with this, I'd be happy to do an evaluation to see if I think I could be helpful. 7. I am happy with my technique, but do you provide coaching? Sometimes a trained pair of ears can be valuable in your song preparation, and I am happy to be able to provide this service, as well as assistance in repertoire building. Yes, I do teach short-term lessons to help you prepare towards a specific goal. I schedule these lessons in available weekly time slots and ask you to specify how many weeks of lessons you would like previous to your event. 9. What should I bring to our first lesson? Always bring a bottle of water to a lesson. You may wish to bring a notebook to take notes during or directly following each lesson. I provide a cassette recorder and encourage students to bring in blank tapes so that we can record part or all of a lesson, to help practice during the week and the learning of songs for those who can't read music. Other recording devices are also allowed (digital recorders, laptops, video cameras, etc.) Some students also bring CDs to sing with, or accompany themselves on guitar. It is often helpful if, as a new student, you can bring in a song you comfortable singing so I can learn more about your voice. 10. What kind of music will I be singing? Whatever music you like! For adults, I encourage you to let me know your musical interests at your first lesson. For popular styles, I ask that you bring in songs that you would like to work on. I am happy to direct your musical theatre and classical selections. Children and teens are usually assigned specific songs to practice. 11. Singing make me really nervous, even the thought of singing in front of a teacher. Are lessons for me? I would say they most definitely are for you. Singing is a part of our culture and of our heritage as humans. Claiming your voice and overcoming vocal anxieties, whether they be singing (or even speaking) in front of one person, an entire room, or an entire auditorium, can be a life-changing experience. Sometimes voice students are able to tap into a confidence they never knew they had. Other times, they are able to experience a deep joy and satisfaction that comes from making beautiful and expressive music. Finally, voice lessons will often improve speaking and presentation skills. |
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design copyright 2003-2004 Joe Jaquette content copyright 2003-2006 Amy Sundberg |