Question 1

Where are the lessons held?

Accepted Answer

We are located on the 2nd floor of the Myerstown Community Center, 101 S Railroad Street, Myerstown, Pennsylvania.

Question 2

How long do lessons last?

Accepted Answer

Depends on which format you are using and which teacher is available. Some teachers prefer 30-minute lessons while others insist on having 45-minutes.  Group lessons are 1 hour in length.

Question 3

What music books do I need?

Accepted Answer

We use a variety of method books and supplemental material including but not limited to Piano Adventures, Piano Safari, Piano Pronto, or Alfred Premiere Series. Sometimes it works to use lesson books that you already have.  When choosing books, age & past experience will factor into what is chosen. While we order the books, they are the responsibility of the student or parent to pay.  Some teachers have substantial lending libraries that are of benefit to the student.  They are loaned without fees.

Question 4

How are Lessons Scheduled?

Accepted Answer

A.  The lesson schedule will typically remain throughout the music year.  Should you have need to switch your time as conflicts arise, we will do our best to come up with an agreeable time but will not guarantee that possibility.  Scheduling is like putting a huge puzzle together so your flexibility is enormously appreciated.

B.  Communicate!  Please be alert to requests for your input about when you are available or restrictions on your time.  While it may not be possible to give you your first choice of time, it is helpful to know which days are possible and which are not based on other activities.

C.  Summer- because of greater availability during the day, schedules often shift to mornings & afternoons during July & August.

D.  Do not assume that the time you have this year will remain the same for the following year.  As students enter, and others exit, the landscape changes, requiring a complete redo and reconfiguring the schedule.

Question 5

Do I need an instrument at home?

Accepted Answer

YES! You will definitely need a practice instrument. Whether you’re taking piano, violin, guitar . . .  regardless of your instrument, you need your own to practice with during the week.

For piano lessons, an acoustic piano is preferable since the pedals and touch of the keys are difficult to duplicate. Please ask if you are needing one.  We  occasionally get offers to remove unwanted pianos for free.

However, a growing number of families have keyboards that have weighted keys.  A description might say “keyboard with progressive hammer action & escapement.” Or “weighted action keybeds.” These can be adequate substitutes. Please ask about good models to purchase since the sea of options is difficult to navigate. For a decent keyboard, you should expect to pay $800-$1000.

For many instruments, renting before buying is an option.

Question 6

How much should I expect to practice?

Accepted Answer

Part of learning any instrument is the regular & consistent at-home practice that accompanies music lessons.  It is our expectation that if you are signing up for lessons, you understand that it is not like soccer practice that just showing up for the practice and games is enough.  The time in between lessons is critical and it is necessary for you to regularly go over the material that is presented during the lesson time. We are assuming that you have thought through the time you have in your days to do that.

Here are some quick helps about practice-
When parents get involved, it typically goes much better.  Helping the student find a regular time in their day to practice, reminders, chart systems, or asking questions about what they’re playing are ways to be involved.  
The more you practice well (thoughtfully and with goals), the better you get.  
While getting to the piano to play favorites, create or noodle around can be wonderful, it doesn’t constitute practice that will move you forward in your lessons.  
Practice requires grit and discipline.  It’s not realistic that it be fun every day, but getting to the piano to go over songs, measures or sections is necessary.  
You needn’t think of lengthy times at the piano, but consistent.  Better to play songs three times a day, five days in the week, rather than ten times the day before your scheduled lessons.  If you are a beginner student, this will take less than ten minutes.
Rather than thinking about how many minutes your child is at the piano, think about what they are accomplishing.  Some days it will be to play that third line steadily or finger that measure well.  Sometimes putting both hands together will be a challenge and need to be run many times.  Setting goals is a helpful way to practice.
If there is slow, little or no progress, it is likely there is hardly any practice at home. The shine of music lessons will quickly wear off and the student will lose interest.  
Your improvement and moving forward is directly related to the time you spend at home.  It would be nice if quickly you could play like that guy on youtube, but it almost never goes that way very fast.

Question 7

What ages do we teach?

Accepted Answer

Age 4 & up.  For our youngest friends, take a peek at the Mini Musician class, perfectly designed for the 4-or 5-year-old preschool student. Piano Lessons could start as early as 6 years of age.

On the other hand, we welcome adults at every stage.  Currently we have older & younger adults enrolled and their work & desire is inspirational.

If you are interested in guitar, because of what is required to play the instrument, you’ll find much better success around age 10 or so.  Because violins & violas come in quarter or half sizes, it is possible to begin this at younger ages.

Question 8

Are there opportunities for the students to perform?

Accepted Answer

While there will likely be other opportunities to perform during the year, the spring recital at the end of April is our main event.  It is expected that everyone will participate. Other voluntary opportunities would include nursing homes to bless others in the fall, Christmas or during the winter.

Question 9

What if I miss lessons?

Accepted Answer

Non-Attendance Policy for students

A.  Forte has a no make-ups policy.  Specific times are reserved for specific students and when you are unable to attend a lesson you will simply miss the benefit of that lesson.  Schedules are tight and often there is simply not an available place to move the student.  We understand that misses happen and trust you understand this as well.

B.  That said, if you know ahead of time you will be missing, please let us know.  If the teacher is able to work in an additional lesson, it would be a bonus, not an expectation.

C.  Reporting a Student Absence
Please contact your teacher as soon as you know of the absence. Advance notice is appreciated but will not change the tuition amount or the make-up possibility.

D.  Staff Absence
If a teacher has an absence that they know of ahead of time you will know that in advance.  If it’s a sickness or last minute absence, we will make an effort to contact you in two separate ways.  Failure to open, read, or process emails is not our fault.

Question 10

What about bad weather?

Accepted Answer

A.  In the event of bad weather, we will follow the decision of the local school district. If ELCO is closed, we will be as well.  To alert you of the weather-related closure, we will send an email to all families scheduled to have lessons that day.

B.  We will expect to make-up the first time your day is canceled because of inclement weather since it is already paid for in your regular tuition.  These days are added to the end of the year in June.  If a second day, or more, is canceled on your day, we regret we will not be able to make it up, even though paid,  being beyond the scope of our control.

Question 11

How can I pay for lessons?

Accepted Answer

At the end of each month, you will receive a Forte invoice for the next month. You will have the option to pay using 
1) PayPal (fees are incurred)
2) Venmo @fortepianomusic
3) checks made out to Forte Piano Music Studio
4) cash

If the payments become burdensome due to a changing family circumstance or difficulty, please do not hesitate to talk with Donna about alternative arrangements that could be possible.

Question 12

What to expect for tuition?

Accepted Answer

From the beginning of a new year, September, until the end of June, Forte offers 36 lessons to each student.  We do not charge per lesson but have a flat monthly fee which is divided between the 10 months.  Hence, the same amount is paid in full months that offer 5 lessons or slighter months with only 2 lessons.  These lessons are paid by the month, quarter (3-month), semester (5-month), or annually (full year), according to your choice.  Greater discounts are correlated to the length of payment.

Question 13

What are the tuition rates?

Question 14

Is tuition just for lessons?

Accepted Answer

While tuition payments do cover the actual time you spend here for your lesson time (private lessons, groups, camps) you also know it includes a great deal more. Tuition helps cover:
Time preparing for the student: searching for music, lesson planning, bookkeeping, curriculum. It has been cited by professional music journals that for every hour enrolled in piano lessons, you are investing in at least 2 hours of the teacher’s time!
Teacher training & over 30 years experience
Recital costs & preparations. Programs, refreshments, prizes, gifts, photography & sound.
Studio expenses: Copying, ink, paper, incentive programs, computer help & assistance. Instruments, newsletters, camps.
Piano tuning, repairs & maintenance
A large loaning library of music books & supplemental materials. It continues to expand and new things are being added regularly.
Games that are used in the lessons to reinforce or introduce concepts. Preparations & systems to organize
Property taxes, self-employment taxes, insurances, business licenses, The independent music teacher has no employer to assist in providing health and life insurance by matching funds. Tuition helps cover the increased living costs of your self-employed teacher.
Lots of time learning, exploring or selecting repertoire.
Fees and memberships allowing for professional development. Webinars, video chats, manuscripts all take time. These offer many opportunities for new ideas and growth. When I’m growing, you are benefitting!
Office equipment costs (computers, apps, keyboards, printers)

Question 15

Are there any fees?

Accepted Answer

A.  An initial $30 registration fee is added to your initial invoice for all new students.  This is not an annual fee but a one-time charge for set-up.

B.  A $10 late fee is automatically added to your account for lessons not paid by the 14th of the month.

C.   There are no fees for recitals, extra classes, or borrowing music. However, students do purchase their own lesson music and occasionally extra books that coordinate with their lessons materials.

Question 16

Are there are any Summer lessons?

Accepted Answer

We do continue to teach over the summer but with a more limited schedule. Lessons will be optional in July & August and paid separately.

That schedule is prepared in the springtime and your options made available at that time.

Question 17

Are there preschool classes?

Accepted Answer

Our class for 4-5 year olds is called Mini-Musicians! This is not the same as piano lessons but is a great first step for our youngest members. We get to move, listen, create & learn about rhythm, notes, and even piano keys. We’ll learn simple songs & listen to child-friendly music during our time together. See more on the home page under Mini Musicians.

Question 18

Are there summer camps?

Accepted Answer

Sfzorzando- (It.) A strong emphasis, all of a sudden.
Forte’s Summer Sfzorzando (Sfz) sfort-SAHN-doe (or Zando) is our summer learning program with a variety of options for students to choose from.  Summer Zando is designed to be an exciting time of learning about music topics or endeavors in a focused or concentrated way. Students in the studio & community are invited to be involved in these week-long or part of the week classes.

In past years we have enjoyed learning about Tchaikovsky & his famous work, The Nutcracker. Saint-Saëns and his Carnival of Animals was another adventure. We explored Classical Times learning about three Classical Greats and activities centered around them.

The Beat Goes On is a rhythm camp for elementary & middle school students inside & outside of the studio. Older high school students are participating in a piano quartet working through ensemble music. We’ve enjoyed Goin’ Baroque & Composition Exploration.

Students have the choice to pursue lessons over the summer, or participate in 1, 2 or 3 Summer Zando offerings. It is expected that all students will have some involvement over the summer months with the studio.

Question 19

What happens if I'm late for lessons?

Accepted Answer

A.  Please try to be on time for your lessons as it is not possible to stay 10 minutes longer even if you arrive 10 minutes late. Should a student arrive late the ending time will remain the same. Similarly, please be on time to pick-up your student promptly at the end of lessons. While they may surely wait in the hallway, we are not able to watch & see if you have come and they have left safely.

B.  We, as teachers, will do our best to respect your time as well by beginning lessons on time & ending them when scheduled.

Question 20

What must I do to be a good neighbor in the Community Building?

Accepted Answer

GETTING ALONG with NEIGHBORS in the COMMUNITY BUILDING

A.  Our parking spots are in the huge parking area off of Carpenter Street.

B.  We are not permitted to park in the old bus loop, right outside the doors where you enter.  Please, if you are picking up students there, do not wait there but drive up as you see them exit.

C.  While at lessons, we are to remain only in our 2nd floor hallway.  There is no reason why a student should be on the first floor. Occasionally we are guilty of a wandering soul on the first floor.  Parents, especially for those waiting while another one is in lessons, please know where your children are.

Question 21

May I wait while my student is at lessons?

Accepted Answer

Of course parents & siblings are permitted to wait in the hallway during lessons.  For those who want, there are a few games, puzzles, or books in the small table beside the couch.  Beware of small pieces and what is appropriate for the age of your child.

Frequently asked questions