Private Lessons
One-on-one instruction tailored to your goals, your pace, your repertoire, and your learning style. Every new student begins with a private skill-assessment lesson so we know exactly where to meet you — and where to take you next.
The big picture
Private lessons are the most personalized format we offer and the foundation for everything else. Whether you stay in private long-term, transition to a group, or shift to online sessions, your journey at Soul Music starts with a one-on-one lesson where we listen, evaluate, and design your path. There are no auditions and no commitments to enroll — just a working session with the instructor who would teach you.
What the first lesson looks like
Your skill-assessment lesson runs the full lesson length (30, 45, or 60 minutes — usually 45). The structure isn’t a test — it’s a conversation through music. Your instructor will:
- Ask about your goals. What brought you in? What does success look like in 6 months? In 5 years?
- Hear you play. If you’ve played before, bring whatever you’re working on. If you’re brand new, no preparation needed — the instructor will start from scratch with you.
- Evaluate the fundamentals. Posture, hand position, tone, rhythm, reading, ear — the building blocks every player relies on, regardless of style.
- Map the path forward. By the end of the lesson, you’ll have a clear recommendation: continue private, prep for a group, or set up online sessions. You decide what to do with that recommendation.
Three paths after the assessment
Once we’ve evaluated your level and discussed your goals, here’s how the three options compare. Most students stay in private long-term — but the choice is always yours.
Continue Privately
Best for: Serious students, audition prep (GMEA, all-state, college pre-screen), exam tracks (ABRSM, RCM), specific repertoire goals, fast-track learners, adult learners with niche interests, anyone who wants maximum personalization.
What you get: Weekly 1-on-1 lessons, custom curriculum, direct feedback, complete control over pacing, repertoire chosen with you not for you.
Why most students pick this: The pace and depth of private instruction simply produces faster results when budget allows.
Prepare for a Group
Best for: Younger students who learn better with peers, families seeking lower per-lesson cost, beginners wanting a social learning environment, ensemble-prep work.
What happens: If your level matches an active group, we place you in the next opening. If you’re slightly behind the group’s current material, we recommend a short private “catch-up” period — usually 2 to 6 weeks of targeted private work to bring you to the group’s starting point.
Why we require catch-up when needed: Group lessons run on a shared curriculum. Mixing levels frustrates everyone — the advanced students get bored, the beginners feel lost. Catch-up protects your experience and the group’s.
Move Online
Best for: Students outside our service area, busy schedules with no commute time, temporary travel blocks (extended trips, weather, illness), or learners who simply prefer the focus of a video session.
What you get: One-on-one Zoom sessions with the same instructor, the same curriculum, the same teaching method. No interruption to your progress.
Hybrid is common: Many of our long-term students use a mix — some weeks in-person, some weeks online — depending on what their week looks like. We’ll set you up for whichever combination works.
What private lessons cover
Private weekly lessons aren’t about cramming a single skill — they’re about building a complete musician. Every lesson balances multiple elements based on what serves your goals.
- Technique. Posture, hand position, bowing or strumming or breath, tone production, scales and exercises calibrated to your level. The mechanical foundation that makes everything else possible.
- Repertoire. Classical, folk, jazz, pop, contemporary, film scores — bring what you want to play, your instructor maps the path to playing it. We don’t force-fit students into a single tradition.
- Theory and ear training. Integrated into every lesson, never taught as a separate subject. Why a chord sounds the way it does, how to predict what comes next, how to play by ear.
- Sight reading. Weekly sight-reading work using our free graded library. The single most underrated skill in music — and the easiest to build with consistent reps.
- Performance prep. Recitals, competitions, school auditions, college pre-screen recordings, ABRSM/RCM exams. We have students who’ve placed in GMEA all-state and college conservatories.
- Practice strategy. Every lesson ends with a clear plan for the week ahead — not just “keep working on it.” You’ll know what to practice, how to practice it, and how to know when you’re done.
- Improvisation and creativity. When the student is interested, we build improvisation, composition, and arrangement skills. Music as a creative practice, not just a reproduction.
A typical week
Here’s what an ongoing private student’s rhythm looks like — the pattern that produces real progress month after month.
Logistics & details
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to own an instrument before the first lesson?
No. We have studio instruments for the assessment lesson. After that, your instructor will recommend exactly what to buy or rent based on your level — we’ll never push you toward something more expensive than you need. For violin family, rental from a local shop we trust is the standard starting point.
My child is very young (4 to 6). Are private lessons appropriate?
Yes — we have an excellent track record with young learners. For ages 4 to 6, lessons are typically 30 minutes, focused on rhythm games, ear training, and instrument familiarity rather than long stretches of focused practice. We also recommend a parent or caregiver attend the first few lessons to understand the home practice routine. See Theory for Kids for our youngest-learner approach.
I’m an adult who quit playing 20 years ago. Can I really come back?
Yes — this is one of the most rewarding student profiles we work with. The mechanical memory is still in your hands; the reading skill comes back fast. You’ll be playing at a level you’ll be proud of within a few months. The hardest part is starting — the instrument is more forgiving than you remember.
What if my child doesn’t practice between lessons?
It happens. Lessons still produce progress — just slower. We’ll talk with you and your child about what’s blocking practice (boredom with the material, conflict with school workload, the instrument feels too hard) and adjust the approach. Sometimes it’s a repertoire change. Sometimes it’s a frequency shift. Sometimes it’s honest conversation that the instrument isn’t the right one. We’d rather guide that conversation early than let frustration build.
How long until I’m “good”?
Depends on what “good” means and how much you practice. A reasonable benchmark: 6 to 12 months of weekly lessons + consistent home practice gets a beginner to playing recognizable tunes confidently. 2 to 3 years gets most students to where friends and family ask them to play at gatherings. Audition or competition level is years 4+ and depends heavily on the student’s drive.
Is there a long-term contract?
No. Monthly billing, no annual commitment. You can pause or stop at any time with reasonable notice. We earn your continued enrollment lesson by lesson.
Ready to start?
Book your skill assessment lesson. We’ll meet, play, talk, and design your path forward. No commitment beyond the first lesson.
Book My Assessment