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Young Pianists Indiana University Bloomington

Class Offerings

For more details on pricing and dates for this semester’s offerings, visit our Jacobs Academy page and scroll down to “Program offerings.” 

Young Pianists has the following class offerings:

Young Beginners Group Class

The purpose of our Young Beginners group class is to lay a musical and pianistic foundation for young beginners (kindergarten students ages 4.5 to 5) that will make it easier for them to transition to one-on-one lessons afterward. The unique benefits that a group class offers are:

  • 45 minutes weekly with peers in a fun group setting provides a low-pressure introduction to the piano for young children who may feel intimidated by, or may not yet have the attention span for, an hour’s worth of one-on-one lessons each week
  • a cost- and time-efficient way to start learning piano and musical basics
  • an easy transitional link to bridge the gap between a kindergarten music class (like Musical Beginnings) and traditional piano lessons
  • Classes are offered on Saturday late  mornings during Fall and Spring semesters: 14 weeks, 14 classes
  • Prerequisites:
    • Student must be in kindergarten (so that they have experience with being in a classroom/group and following directions)
    • Student must be 4 to 5 years old
    • Student must be able to count to 5 and hold a pencil
    • Student should have a keyboard/piano at home, and parent should be able to spend time at home during the week helping the student practice

Private Lessons

There are a number of different ways to study the piano. In the Young Pianists Program, the traditional private piano lesson is central to the program of study. We believe that individualized lessons have significant advantages, not the least of which is that instruction can be tailored to each student’s age, advancement level, learning style, and particular needs. Lessons culminate in a final recital at the end of the semester.

During our fall and spring semesters, we offer two options:

  • Two 30-minute private piano lessons per week – 15 weeks, 30 lessons (strongly recommended for beginners and children under the age of 10)
  • One 60-minute private piano lesson per week – 15 weeks, 15 lessons

The summer session is a flexible, shortened setup consisting of 6 hours of lessons (either 6 hour-long lessons or 12 half-hour lessons), taken anytime before the fall semester begins, on dates agreed upon mutually between instructor and student families.

New students should contact Dr. Elizabeth Yao for a teacher assignment at , with the answers to these questions:

  • Child’s name and age
  • Prior piano experience
  • Does the student have access to an instrument to practice? (e.g., acoustic piano, electric keyboard) [Note: If you are planning to purchase an electric keyboard and are looking for recommendations, we have some options listed on our FAQ page.]
  • What are the days/times that your child is available for lessons? (For example, Monday 5-7pm, Tuesday 3-6pm, etc.) The more availability you can give, the easier it will be to find an instructor whose schedule fits yours! Please also keep in mind the commute time from your child’s school/home to the Jacobs School of Music. 
  • Desired lesson format (either 2 half-hour lessons per week, or one hour-long lesson per week)
  • Is there any other information that you think would be helpful in finding an instructor that’s a good fit for your child’s personality and learning style?

In the case of insufficient openings, students will be placed on a waitlist.

Beginner Keyboard Theory

  • 45-minute classes on Sunday afternoons (4pm-4:45pm): 14 weeks, 14 classes
  • Recommended for students in Faber Levels 1, 2A, or 2B.
  • Classes are capped at 8 students.