Please note: In order to take piano lessons, a student must have access to a piano or keyboard on which s/he can practice daily. An acoustic piano is highly preferable, but a large electronic keyboard will suffice for the first year if need be. Pre-college pianists cannot reserve time in the Jacobs School practice rooms.
Most children are ready for piano lessons at age 5 or 6, depending on their attention span and their emotional and physical maturity. A few can successfully start at age 4. The younger the starting age, the more crucial it is for a parent/guardian to be actively involved in every aspect of the study. All beginners and young children should be accompanied to lessons by a parent who is actively engaged (take notes) and who regularly supervises the child’s home practice. Parents who are not themselves musicians may find it helpful to record the lessons.
Enrollment in the Young Pianists is by the semester (15 weeks of lessons plus a final week of rehearsals and recitals in the fall and spring semesters; 6 weeks of lessons in the summer). The Fall and Spring semesters run concurrently with the University academic calendar except for the recitals, which are held at the end of Final Exam week. During the Spring Break week (March 12-20, 2022) in the spring semester and the Thanksgiving Break week (November 19-27, 2022) in the fall semester, there are no regular lessons, though it may be possible to schedule make-ups.
During the Fall and Spring semesters, students who meet eligibility requirements may apply for partial tuition remissions in the form of merit awards, financial aid, need-based assistance, and/or courtesy discounts for multiple siblings. For details, see How to Apply.
No fee remissions or discounts are offered during the summer session. Serious young pianists of high intermediate to advanced levels are strongly urged to apply to the Summer Piano Academy, which awards both merit scholarships and financial aid grants. For details, see Summer Piano Academy.
For detailed policies, guidelines, and other information about the Young Pianists Program, please refer to the Private Lessons Syllabus and Policies and to the Program Handbook.