WHY CHOOSE EXPRESSIONS?

From the first moment new students walk in the door they know we are different, for a reason. The primary goal of our teaching and administrative staff is to give each student a phenomenal experience with music. Expressions staff sees each student as an individual and caters to their specific needs with great enthusiasm and a truly caring perspective. Every staff member and student is a unique part of our thriving, growing community and is inspired to do their best and give their all because that’s what everyone here seems to be doing.

We have a wide variety of students at every age and every level growing by leaps and bounds because they actually want to. Expressions is a happy place where the energy and motivation to learn and achieve is simply contagious. One of our missions is to have a motivational strategy or program available for every type of student who walks in our doors. We learned a long time ago that students are motivated differently, and we respect and embrace that challenge. Some of our students are motivated by our Level Up program, some by our monthly recitals, some by the AGM competition opportunities we make available to our students, some by their personal relationship with their instructor, and some by the overall energetic and community-oriented atmosphere at Expressions.

We truly believe in the power of a holistic approach to music education. We do not have a storefront or sell books or instruments. We are dedicated 100% to music education, and we are good at it.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF YOUR INSTRUCTORS?

We are able to attract the best instructors in the area because they want to teach here. Every one of our instructors has been carefully screened, auditioned, interviewed, and selected to teach our students with the utmost care and dedication. Our teachers enjoy an abundance of resources at our school which are not typically available for private teachers or at other schools. Because of this, our teachers are constantly energized, refreshed, and knowledgeable about the best strategies with students. While most of our instructors enjoy performing careers as well, we recognize the difference between performers and teachers and have insured that our instructors can do both. It takes a special type of person with a special type of personality to make a great teacher, and we have only those types. All our instructors either hold or are pursuing impressive university music degrees, and all have prior experience teaching music.

Click here to read more about our renowned hiring practices.

WHAT TYPES OF STUDENTS DO YOU TEACH?

Our students come from all different backgrounds and communities and have different goals and desires. We welcome all different ages, skill levels, and lovers of all musical styles! Some of our students are brand new beginners to music and some have had prior lesson experience or school music experience. Some of our students want to learn casually for relaxation and enjoyment while other students are looking for a quicker-paced, more competitive atmosphere. Many students just want to “jump in” and see where it goes from there. We think all these objectives are great and have experience accommodating all.

DO YOU OFFER LESSONS TO ADULTS?

Absolutely! We have many adult students that study with us each week. We are happy to teach adults at any level from beginning to advanced. Lessons are provided in a fun, low-pressure environment. Our adult students simply aren't as eager as our younger students to be on camera! Learn more about our adult lessons here.

DO YOU OFFER RECITALS?

Absolutely we do! We hold recitals twice a year, in Spring/Summer and in Fall/Winter, so students have plenty of opportunities to demonstrate their hard work on stage. Recital participation is encouraged but not mandatory, so students have flexibility and comfort in choosing their performance opportunities.

WHAT IF MY CHILD STARTS OUT IN LESSONS BUT DOESN’T LIKE IT?

It is not uncommon for a student to start out with one instrument, and then switch to another instrument that they enjoy more. We offer wide variety of instruments with a large and highly qualified teaching staff so there's something for everybody. We highly recommend students stick with lessons for at least three months because some time is needed for their skills and knowledge to start blossoming. And of course, if it turns out that they truly are not enjoying the experience, you can withdraw fully at any time!

WHAT IF STUDENT AND TEACHER PERSONALITIES DON’T MESH?

One of the advantages of studying music at Expressions is that we have multiple teachers for each instrument. Sometimes a student needs a different teaching style, and we have the flexibility to accommodate this and place the student with the perfect teacher for them.

CAN I SIT IN ON MY CHILD’S LESSONS?

Absolutely, we have an open-door policy. It is your choice to sit in on your child's lessons, but not required. Some students find it distracting, but others work better with Mom or Dad in the room. The teacher can give you some advice on this after they get to know your child.

DO WE NEED A REAL PIANO AT HOME?

Although a real (acoustic) piano is usually best, it is not necessary to begin lessons. Many students begin with keyboards. The most important thing to know when renting or purchasing a keyboard is that it must have full-sized keys and be touch-sensitive (sound changes depending on how you play the keys). It is best to get a keyboard with at least 60 keys to ensure the student does not outgrow it too quickly. Whenever possible, a weighted action is preferred to non-weighted or semi-weighted action so that students can practice on an instrument that most closely resembles an acoustic piano.

WHAT IF I NEED TO CHANGE MY LESSON DAY OR CANCEL A LESSON?

We have many weekday afternoons and evenings and Saturday and Sunday morning and afternoon lesson times, and we’re open all year round, including the summer. If you need to cancel your lesson or change your lesson time, no problem! Our busy families love our convenient unlimited makeup lesson and schedule change policy.

WHAT IF I JUST WANT TO TRY A LESSON?

Sure! Just fill out the Request Info form and we'll contact you to set up a one-time trial lesson. That way you can meet a teacher, have a lesson, and see how it goes! From there you can either continue or opt out. No pressure - totally your call.

WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT AFTER I ENROLL?

The standard commitment to enrollment at Expressions is just month-to-month. We have the option to commit to lessons for longer and receive reduced tuition, but the choice is totally up to you! With our standard commitment, any time you want to stop lessons, just let us know by the 15th of the prior month, and we will stop charges and take you off the schedule! No semester-long or year-long commitments.