FAQ

  • Online music lessons have many different benefits that aren’t found in traditional music classes. Flexibility, accessibility, and cost effectiveness.

    There are also many reasons that online music lessons do work better than in person lessons, too.

    • Lesson recordings let you go back and review any lesson.

    • Save lesson time by doing your warm ups before the lesson starts.

    • Online lessons require more effortful learning, and that helps students learn and retain information better. Plus, they become more resourceful and self-reliant.

    • Online music education, specifically, has allowed students to learn an instrument through web-based interactions with teachers without geographical restriction.

    • With online music lessons, all you have to do is turn on the computer or smartphone and get right into it. This is perfect for the busy people of today.

    • Less off-task behaviors. It has been found that when communicating through a webcam, individuals get more to the point and remain more focused on the task at hand than they otherwise would during in-person meetings.

    • Immediate practicing. Right after the online lessons, students can immediately practice what they’ve learned while it is still fresh in their minds instead of waiting 20-30 minutes for the drive home.

    • Plus, the convenience of saving all the prep and travel time.

  • Private lessons are proven to be the most effective way to teach music and learn music. They allow us to work with your individual needs and goals. And then tailor a lesson plan that yields fast results.

  • Piano, ukulele, guitar and voice.

    • Once your child signs up for lessons, Pilar will send you a link to a Zoom meeting login that you’ll use for all lessons. 

    • Have a reliable and fast internet connection.

    • Connect to Zoom five (5) minutes prior to your lesson time. 

    • Be ready to learn in a distraction-free environment. 

    • Have your instrument, all lesson materials available and easy to find (i.e. metronome, tuner, capo, books, sheet music, pencils, highlighter, eraser, music stand, etc).

    • Set your device in the proper audio settings for music lessons on Zoom. (Optimize Zoom) (Desktop Settings) (Mobile Devices)

    • Please make sure your device is in “airplane mode” during the lesson so that notifications, texts, alerts, and phone calls do not disturb the student.

    You might be surprised to learn that online music lessons work in much the same way as in-person lessons do. There is a structured approach to build a foundation, then new lessons to build on those. Lessons come in easy to digest segments that continue to expand knowledge by small increments.

  • Private lessons take place Mondays-Thursdays and Saturdays. No lessons on Fridays and Sundays. 

  • Pilar offers 30, 45 and 60 minute lessons. Ages 5-7 start with 30-45 minute lessons. 8-10 years old take 45-minute lessons and 10-13 years old go up to 60-minute lessons. Lessons are taken once or twice a week. More here.

  • The average age to start a child is five or six. The main criteria are that the child knows his/her alphabet and can sit still for at least 20 minutes.

  • Pilar teaches children from 5-13 years old. Beginners through intermediate.

  • Yes. Pilar specializes in teaching beginners and easing them into music learning. 

  • To get the most out of private lessons, it is important your child practices between lessons. Children under 7 years old may not be able to sit at the piano for long, so practicing five to 10 minutes a day (four to five days a week) is fine. It is more valuable to practice 10 minutes a day several days a week than to practice an hour just one day a week. As hard as it is, we always advise parents to resist pestering younger children to practice more. That said, it is also important for students of all ages to understand that it is important to practice.

    We recommend making practice time – no matter the number of minutes – a part of a student’s daily routine, just like homework time and soccer practice. You may also want to consider a practice routine that involves more minutes on the weekend than during the week when children are more tired.

  • For younger musicians, consider stickers and other small rewards for a good week of practicing. Make a chart with a practice goal for the week. For older children age eight and up, a practice timer may help so there is a specific beginning and end to the practice time. It is also helpful to make practicing a part of their daily routine, just like homework and sports. If you’re looking for more ideas on encouraging your child to practice, ask Pilar.

  • Here's a quick rundown of what's INCLUDED in tuition:

    • Reserved regular lesson time.

    • Preparation for each lesson (Pilar spends nearly as much time outside each lesson working on lesson plans and repertoire selection).

    • Emailed materials (tutorials, song resources, etc).

    • Continuing education and professional memberships  to continue growing as a teacher. Pilar never stops learning!

    Here's a quick rundown of what's NOT INCLUDED in tuition:

    • Lesson books (Pilar is happy to provide sites/links for purchase).

    • Sheet music for repertoire outside method books that must be purchased (in most cases Pilar will find the most economic option for the correct level/piece).

    • Registration fee

    • Materials fee

    • Recital fee

    • Lesson renewal fee

    With all that in mind, there may be some additional costs to help ensure your student's musical success. While they may not be monthly tuition payments, it's important to factor them in when choosing whether to begin lessons:

    • Instrument purchase, rental or repair - do you already have a guitar, ukulele or piano/keyboard? Is it the right size for the player? Is it in good condition and ready to be played, or will it need a little work to get there? Will you need to upgrade the instrument as the student progresses?

    • Instrument maintenance - acoustic pianos need to be tuned, guitar/ukulele strings need to be changed, guitars may need setups. These aren't usually astronomical costs, but they are a financial factor. 

    Pilar is happy to start most students with whatever instrument they have on hand at the time. As the student progresses, they may need to upgrade the instrument to ensure progress, and Pilar will help find the best fit for each student. 

    In short: music lessons are an investment into a lifetime of enjoyment, and tuition/instrument costs shouldn't prevent anyone from enjoying music. If you've got questions about how online music lessons can fit into your life, contact Pilar today!

  • Pilar is a degree holding teaching artist from the Herb Albert School of Music at California Institute of the Arts. She also was a music specialist in LAUSD elementary schools where she taught classrooms using elementary music teaching methods; Kodaly and Orff. She is an experienced music professional and is a chosen teacher not only for her qualifications, but for her love of teaching and ability to relate to her students. She has spent years developing her skills, creating fun music experiences in lessons, and bolstering children to great musical heights.

  • Pilar always receives her students with a smile. She is fun, well-organized, conscientious of the time, and knows how to stay productive during the entire duration of each music lesson. 

    She builds the lessons around the students' wants and needs.

    • Individual Attention. She focuses on your child as an individual.

    • She teaches how to play, practice and learn music. 

    • Consistent, fun, high quality lessons built around your child’s goals. 

  • Simple! Contact Pilar directly at info@pilardiazmusicstudio.org or via the CONTACT PAGE and she’ll get in touch to get you enrolled right away.