Studio Offerings

Piano lessons with Christina: what to expect

At Christina Toole Piano Studio (locations in Murphy NC and Blairsville GA), students receive all the benefits of traditional classical training - presented with a fresh, relevant and fun approach! Kids enjoy learning exciting, engaging repertoire while developing healthy technical skills, musicianship and artistry.

What makes lessons at Christina Toole Piano Studio special?

• Holistic music education that nurtures and stimulates each child’s mental, emotional, and physical development

• Kid-friendly, inspiring music choices from a wide variety of genres and styles

• Ipad and board games offer a brain break, while reinforcing concepts through play

• Strong note-reading skills for every student

• Creative activities like composing, improvising and playing by ear

• Opportunities for adjudicated performances for serious students

Remote Lessons Option (one-on-one lessons only): In today’s high-tech world, we now have the luxury of remote piano instruction via Facetime or other applications. Over half of my studio is currently remote or hybrid, which testifies to its success! I have students in other states that love being able to continue working with me, and even some local students who simply find it more convenient to take lessons from home. (See FAQ below for more information)

Buddy/Small Group Lessons:

Piano is even more fun with a buddy… or two! This special lesson format of 2-3 students together makes piano an exciting social experience!

Students build friendships, challenging and encouraging each other as they learn collaboratively through group activities and games. Most importantly, they experience the joy of playing music together!

Group classes (ages 6+) will include: weekly warm-up activity, solo practice and duet practice, games, critical listening activities, off-bench rhythm/movement, creative projects and training for independent at-home practice.

Student Expectations/FAQs

My ideal student is creative, curious and committed. Students are expected to be dedicated and timely with lesson attendance, be organized and well-prepared, and bring a teachable, positive attitude. Students need to schedule regular at-home practice in order to experience progress.

What is your lesson schedule? Piano lessons are a year-round committment (rather like dance), in order to not lose your skills and progress. I do have occasional break weeks built in and observe all major holidays. My students are required to continue through the summer, although scheduling is typically more flexible. I provide a detailed studio lesson calendar each year.

What type of piano do I need to get? You will need an acoustic piano in good condition and regularly tuned, or a full-length (88-key) keyboard with pedal and weighted keys (I am happy to provide keyboard recommendations). Your instrument is an investment and contributes greatly to your level of success and enjoyment while studying. It’s always preferable to invest in a high-quality instrument early on!

What about home practice? I do my best to teach even young students how to practice at home during our lessons. In addition, my students use a free app called PracticeSpace to track their practice and access their weekly lesson assignments so that they have an clear understanding of what to accomplish and a motivating, gamified way of achieving it! I always advocate for quality over quantity with home practice. If your child is 4-8 years old, a parent should plan to sit down with them and help them get started at their first practice after their lesson - after that, they will usually be ok to practice on their own. The most important thing for parents to do is stay positive about practice, and reinforce it in firm yet encouraging ways (schedule it in!)

Do remote lessons work well? Yes! Thanks to the pandemic, I have adapted to teaching virtually with great success! My hybrid or fully remote students enjoy almost exactly the same experience as in-person, all from the comfort of their home. This option works best for kids who are old enough to learn fairly independently and can stay engaged for thirty+ minutes. Remote lessons are also a great “backup” option for in-person students, in the case of bad weather or illness etc.

What kind of setup is needed for remote lessons? Very little extra equipment is needed for remote lessons - most important is a strong internet connection! Besides that, a simple phone/iPad stand and a well-lit, quiet area does the trick!