Frequently Asked Questions

AT WHAT AGE SHOULD YOU START TAKING PRIVATE LESSONS? 

It's never too early for little ones to discover a love of music and the arts! It can vary by instrument but for piano and voice we recommend students be able to recognize the numbers 1-5 and the letters A-G to begin lessons.

The private lesson setting requires more focus and attention than a group class, so keep that in mind as well. If you're not sure if your child is ready, register here and we'd be happy to make a recommendation! 

How Long Should My Child’s Lesson Be?

For new students ages 4-6 we recommend 30 minutes. After 6 months-1 year, we recommend moving to 45 minutes.

For all other students we recommend at least 45 minutes or more. You would be surprised how quickly the time goes in lessons! 45 minutes gives a bit more time to thoroughly present all necessary materials.

Also, different instruments require various lesson length as well. We can let you know those minimum lesson length times based on your interest.

AS A PARENT, HOW CAN I SUPPORT MY CHILD'S MUSICAL GROWTH?

We're glad you asked! 

Parental support is an extremely important factor in musical training, especially for young beginners. Students whose parents take an active role in their progress tend to be more enthusiastic and productive.

Create a quiet space where the student can practice, and schedule a time for practice each day. Parents know their children the best, so find a system that motivates your student to practice and be sure to let your teacher in on it, too! Your teacher can be a part of the system and encourage practice time.

Who Are Your Instructors?

Our instructors are professionals in their field with at least one music degree (some have two or even THREE!) in their respective instrument or equal field experience. They are fantastic musicians, but equally dedicated and invested educators.

They are personally vetted, interviewed and trained by our administration, background checked, and must pass several layers of interview steps before stepping foot in your home.

Take comfort knowing you’re working with the best and brightest, and they are invested in your child’s musical success!

HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO PRACTICE?

If there is a lack of progress, there is probably a lack of practice! A student’s progress is determined by dedicated practice, not by simply attending lessons. Ideally, students should practice at least 4-5 days a week. 

Remember: QUALITY over QUANTITY. Students should practice long enough to complete their weekly tasks as assigned by their teacher.

WHAT Materials do I NEED FOR LESSONS?

Piano and Voice Students

Students should have regular access to an acoustic piano or an 88-key modern digital piano with a weighted hammer action. 

Acoustic pianos should be kept in good working order and should be tuned at least once a year. We highly recommend Clyde Allen with Capitol Pianos, (clyde@capitolpiano.com) or Alan Naylor (636-578-5588 or alan@alan-naylor.com)

Other helpful resources:

Drums students

All students should consult their teacher on what instruments and/or supplies they should regularly have access to.

Guitar, Ukulele and Bass students

All students should have regular access to an acoustic, electric or bass guitar or a ukulele depending on the style of guitar lessons they are taking as well as a tuner, picks and guitar strap if desired. 

Books and other supplemental materials will be recommended individually by the teacher.

What are your rates and why don’t you post them online?

Lesson prices and rates vary depending on your lesson length, package arrangement, and any applied back-to-back discounts. We don’t post our rates online because it would be very difficult to give a general, blanket quote considering the variances that can occur with any given situation.

Rates periodically increase so not posting them ensures we prevent confusion with the community.

To inquire about specific rates for drop-ins, trial lessons, and package rate lessons, register or email us directly.

What is the billing structure?

Blue Feather Music bills monthly, at the beginning of each month. An invoice will be sent to you via email and Payment can be remitted through the blue “pay for appointment” button in that invoice or the link in the email.

For packages, we accept quarterly, or upfront, paid in full payments. Discounts for committing to a larger number of lessons.

On any of the above options, a 2% discount is offered for direct Bank Transfers. We also offer a Sibling discount for more than one student taking back-to-back lessons from the same teacher.

HOW DO I KNOW WHICH PACKAGE IS RIGHT FOR ME?

All our packages have been thoughtfully curated with our clients learning and scheduling needs in mind! We took 5+ years of scheduling data and created packaged that promise value and flexibility.

All packages have fewer lessons than there are weeks which means you have built-in flexibility for life to happen- hooray!

We encourage you to complete a registration form to learn more about Blue Feather, discuss musical goals and teacher matches, and learn what package might be right for you or your child.

BUT REALLY, NO MAKE-UP LESSONS??

Like other professional services, we have reserved this spot especially for you and your instructor cannot be fill it with another student. Because specific times are set aside for specific students, a student who does not attend a lesson will simply miss the benefit of that lesson, regardless of the situation.

In order for Blue Feather to offer the incredible benefit of flex weeks included in every lessons package, we cannot offer additional make-ups or extend lessons beyond package expiration dates.

If you are concerned you are paying for lessons you did not receive, rest assured your tuition payment is always working for you! If we billed for every man-hour it takes into making Blue Feather Music run smoothly, efficiently, and solvently, our rates would be much higher.

SO, WHERE DOES MY TUITION GO?

You are not only paying for the reservation of time with your teacher, but also their expertise, guidance and investment in the overall musical journey of your student. If we truly billed by the hour, the bill would be astronomical!

Blue Feather Music teachers and staff devote countless hours to be the best they can be for your students:

  • Welcome gift sent directly to your door upon registering

  • All teachers have minimum one music degree

  • travel time to your home

  • travel related expenses

  • individualized lesson plans

  • researching new repertoire

  • purchasing books and resources

  • memberships with related professional associations

  • pursuing continued education and professional development opportunities

  • growing their skill sets

  • recital prep

  • helping students with audition prep

  • lessons for themselves

  • traveling and preparing for gigs

  • instrument maintenance

  • administrative on-boarding time

  • innovative website design and systems management

  • additional administrative tasks and planning

  • and SO much more!

So, take comfort in knowing that you are receiving the best private, in-home music instruction available with the best value possible.