Frequently Asked Questions
What age do you recommend for starting piano lessons?
The child should know their ABCs. They should be able to sit at the piano and follow instructions for at least 20 to 30 minutes at time. I recommend that the child be of 1st or 2nd grade level. There are exceptions (Mozart was already playing quite well and composing at 3). Group lessons are recommend for very young children.
High school age and adults… it is never too late to learn to play the piano.
What is the Beethoven's Bucks Program
Students will earn Beethoven’s Bucks for:
- Each day of practice
- Playing Mike Wong’s Note Speller Game
- Accomplishing short term and long term goals
- Overcoming a difficult issue or problem (Counting out loud, proper hand position…)
- In some extreme cases…good attitude at the lesson
The Beethoven’s Bucks can be used to purchase prizes from the Prize Basket. Being that Mike is a professional magician (www.mikewong.com), Beethoven’s Bucks can also be used to purchase and learn really cool card tricks and sleight of hand magic.
How often and long should a student practice?
The more they practice, the faster they will advance and be able to play current hits and more complex songs. Students are required to practice at least 20 minutes, 4 days a week. Very young, beginning students may practice for shorter periods depending on their attention span. Intermediate / advanced students will need to practice 30 to 60 minutes or more a day. If they don’t get in the practice, they will feel frustrated at each lesson and will soon want to quit taking lessons.
It is recommended that for the very young, beginning students, one of the parents join in on the lesson and assist them with the assigned material.
Piano practice needs to be a part of the child’s daily activities and chores… clean their room, going to school, homework, brushing their teeth, etc.