Private Lessons & Group Classes

Ages:

Private Lessons are offered for students ages 7 through Adult

Lesson Length:

Students can choose to take a 30-, 45- or 60-minute private lesson.

Scheduling:

Private lessons are scheduled at a mutually convenient time for the student and instructor.

Specific Lesson Dates:

Please refer to “Important Dates” for start and end private lesson semester dates. https://maranatha.musicteachershelper.com/ (note: you must be a current student as login is required)

Teacher:

Your student is assigned an instructor based on the student’s learning style and personality. (You may request an instructor; however, you may be placed on the instructor’s waiting list.)

Lesson Structure:

The lesson structure will be adjustable to meet the needs of each individual student.

Lesson Content:

Depending on the goals of the student, private lessons may consist of a combination of any or all of the following:

  • music theory
  • music history
  • improvisation
  • ear training
  • sight-reading
  • pianistic technique
  • educational repertoire
  • hymn improvisation

Group Classes for Private Lesson Students

General Group Class Info

General Group Class Info:

  • Tuition: None. Group classes are offered as an additional “perk” for piano prep school students. Non-prep school students may enroll for a fee of $60 per course each semester (example: one semester of theory = $60; one semester of ensembles = $60).
  • Participation: Participation is encouraged, but not required.
  • Class Length: Varies from 30-60 minutes
  • Teachers: Maranatha Faculty and Interns teach group classes.
  • Registering for Classes: Please indicate on your registration form: New Student Registration or Current Student Registration.
  • Attendance Expectations: Group classes are offered on a weekly basis. Faithful attendance is expected.

Group Class Policies

Group Class Policies:

  • Parents of students age six and under are expected to bring their children to the designated classroom on time and pick them up promptly following lessons.
  • Students should not arrive earlier than 10 minutes before the class or leave later than 10 minutes after the class unless they have lessons before or after the class.
  • For the safety of the students, if a designated person other than the parent will be taking a student home, the parent needs to notify the instructor prior to the lesson/class.

Benefits of Group Classes

Benefits of Group Classes:

  • Provide confidence in playing for others.
  • Stimulate critical listening as students hear other students perform and comment on those performances.
  • Allow students to broaden their musical experiences.
  • Expose students to a variety of piano materials.
  • Provide a setting where drills and exercises are more interesting and motivating
  • Facilitate the performances of ensembles including duets, trios, quartets and multiple ensembles.
  • Provide opportunities for supervised practice.
  • Establish a group dynamic that increases motivation.
  • Foster the development of communication skills.
  • Allow students to learn from peers as well as teacher.

Group Class Offerings

Class Offerings:

  • Monday Performance and Ensemble Classes (3:45-4:30): We will meet in Old Main 214 for performance time from 3:45-4:00, and we will split into ensembles by age/ability at 4:00. Any student wanting to participate in a duet or ensemble needs to attend this 4:00-4:30 session. (A student unable to be at Maranatha by 3:45 may participate in ensembles starting at 4:00.)
  • Tuesday Theory Classes Levels 1-6 (4:40-5:10): If you were not in the theory program last semester, please contact janet.tschida@mbbc.edu to take a diagnostic test.
  • Performance Classes: Throughout the semester, we offer Performance Masterclasses. Students are encouraged to attend as many as possible, but students should sign up for at least 2 as dates are announced in the weekly prep school announcements. Students attending a Performance masterclass need to perform, even if they only perform one page of a piece. Dates TBA.
  • Contest Help Days: These times will be scheduled as needed. Dates will be announced in weekly prep school announcement emails.
  • Early Childhood Music and Movement: See Early Childhood Music for details.