FAQ / Contact

Quick Links:

• What kind of instrument should I purchase to get started?
• How should I be involved in my child’s piano studies?
• Where do lessons take place?
• Where should I park?
• What is the attendance policy?
• What is the refund policy?
• Whom should I contact with further questions?

What kind of instrument should I purchase to get started?

While an acoustic upright or grand piano is the preferred instrument for intermediate and advanced students, a digital keyboard is perfectly fine for a beginning student. Brand doesn’t matter too much (although brands like Yamaha, Roland, and Casio are usually reliable), but what is important is that the keyboard have enough keys (at least 61, preferably 88), and that the keys are described as “weighted,” so that they mimic the feel of an acoustic piano. If you find a used one, be sure to test it to make sure all the keys work!

Many good suggestions and tips are listed on this r/piano Wiki page. 

How should I be involved in my child’s piano studies? 

Parents should make every effort to attend the lessons of young children and beginners. Parental attendance at lessons is important for more than safety/security reasons. A supportive parent who is actively involved in their child’s music studies – whether they play the piano themselves or not – makes a huge difference in the child’s ability to practice effectively and improve steadily. Young students whose parents attend lessons, take notes, and supervise home practice, generally progress much faster than kids who must “go at it alone”.

Where do lessons take place? 

The majority of lessons are in-person, and take place at the Jacobs School of Music (we are not able to offer in-home lessons). While we believe that the in-person lesson offers the highest quality learning experience for the student, we do offer online lessons to those students that need it.

Where should I park? 

Click here to learn about free parking at IU.

Free street parking is also available in the residential areas around the Jacobs School of Music, after 5pm on weekdays, and all day on weekends.

Parents of students in pre-college programs may also buy a permit that allows them to park on weekdays after 5:00pm in any non-24 hour EM-P or EM-S space for a very reasonable cost. (Click here to view the rate: it’s $53 a semester as of Fall 2024.) You must receive authorization from the Program Director in order to purchase a permit.

What is the attendance policy? 

Regular attendance at lessons is a crucial factor in each student’s progress. Students are charged for the full semester of lessons or classes for which they register; tuition for lessons missed due to student absence will not be refunded. It is in the student’s interest to attend all lessons, and to arrive promptly at their scheduled lesson or class time. Instruction time lost due to student tardiness is forfeited, and will not be made up unless there are extenuating circumstances (e.g. a family emergency). To view the full cancellation/makeup lesson policy, click here.

Sharing one’s love of music with others in public performances is an integral part of piano study, and students are expected to perform each Fall and Spring in one of the Young Pianists’ end-of-semester recitals. The end-of-semester recital is a valuable educational experience for students: it sets a goal for students to work towards; it motivates students to polish a piece of music to a high level; it requires students to develop stage presence and poise; and it allows students to feel a sense of accomplishment, progress, and culmination at the end of a semester.

Any request for an exemption from Fall or Spring recital attendance must be approved well in advance by the student’s teacher and the Director. Parents should take careful note of recital dates, which are typically posted early in the semester on the Young Pianists’ home page, before making travel plans or family/social commitments. Students and teachers work very hard preparing their recital pieces; most students look forward eagerly to performing in recital and may be disappointed if circumstances intervene to make that impossible.

What is the refund policy? 

You can find the Refund Policy here (scroll down to Tuition and Payment -> Refund policy).

Whom should I contact with further questions?

For information regarding applications, fees, financial aid, and any other administrative issues, please contact the Jacobs Academy Office:

Email: musicsp@iu.edu

Phone: (812) 855-6025

For questions about the Young Pianists Program, lesson scheduling, or merit awards, please contact the director, Dr. Elizabeth Yao at elizyao@iu.edu.