What are TMA's lesson package offerings and tuition? How do I know which package to sign up for?

Lesson prices are as follows: $39.00/half hour lesson; $58.50/45-minute lesson; $78.00/hour lesson. A $16.00 travel fee is added for in-home lessons. Tuition is drawn via auto payment on the first of each month, adjusted for the number of lessons based on the TMA Calendar. Please read our article, How to Choose the Right Lesson Package for Your Student, for more info on choosing the right lesson package for you.

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Where are TMA lessons taught?

The bulk of our lessons are taught at our Main Studio (895 Peters Creek Parkway, Suite 203, Winston-Salem, NC 27103). We additionally have limited availability to send piano teachers to students' homes for lessons in both Winston-Salem and Raleigh. Instructor Shannon Lindegren also teaches limited piano lessons in her home studio in Lexington (address available upon registration). Guitar and voice lessons are available at our Main Studio only. 

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Do I need to have a piano in order to start piano lessons with TMA?

We require that students own an instrument in order to start piano lessons. We always recommend that students own and practice on an acoustic piano. Grand pianos are ideal, but well-maintained uprights are also great for getting started. If an acoustic piano is not an option for your family, we ask that students own an 88-key, weighted keyboard. Please email alek@triadmusicacademy.com with any questions!

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What instruments does TMA teach?

At this time, we offer piano, voice, and guitar instruction. We feel that this allows us to allocate all of our resources towards creating lifelong pianists, singers, and guitarists.

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What ages does TMA teach?

We teach students of all ages, to include children, adults, and retirees. Many students are ready to start piano lessons at 3.5-4 years of age, but every child is different. Please see our article, "How Young is Too Young? Piano Lessons for Preschoolers" for more info on lessons for very young piano students. For vocalists, students generally should already be in elementary school or older. Lesson focuses and teaching materials vary by age group. Please email alek@triadmusicacademy.com with any questions!

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What FREE resources come with TMA lessons?

All TMA students have exclusive access to unlimited PDF downloads of our growing library of piano learning resources to supplement their lessons. Piano examples include:

• White Key Note Names

• Intro to Treble and Bass Staves

• Interval Etudes for Beginning Piano Students

• Standard Fingering Major Scales

Some examples of our voice lesson resources include:

• "Finding Your Range" for Voice Lessons

• Warming Up

• Vocal Hygiene: Caring for Your Instrument 

In addition, all TMA students enjoy Unlimited Lesson Support; students can text and email Founder & Lead Instructor Alek Wasserman with all their questions in between lessons, however much they need. TMA students also gain access to unlimited group makeup classes. Finally, while piano tunings are not free, TMA families have access to discounted tunings with our certified piano technician and instructor, Austin Caldie.

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What performance opportunities does TMA offer?

TMA offers a minimum of three recitals and three masterclasses per year. Recitals are open to all TMA students. Masterclasses are public performances with coaching from local university music professors. Past guest masterclass instructors included piano faculty from UNC School of the Arts, Duke University, Winston-Salem State University, and UNC Greensboro. In summer 2024, we will welcome faculty from UNC-Chapel Hill. 

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What happens if I miss a lesson?

TMA students have unlimited group makeup classes, regardless of why or how the lesson is missed! Group makeup lesson credits never expire, as long as a student remains active with TMA. Please see this flow chart for further information.

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How does TMA choose its instructors?

Selecting our instructors is perhaps the most important choice we make as an organization. All of our instructors must hold at least a bachelor's degree in piano or vocal performance, piano pedagogy, music, music education, or a related field. Instructors must also pass State, Federal, and National Sex Offender Registry background checks. Finally, instructors must teach a mock lesson in the interview process and demonstrate that they align with our teaching values.

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Should parents be present for their student's lessons?

Parents are always welcome to be present for their children's lessons. We recommend parents watch and actively engage in their student's lessons until age 10, or as recommended by the instructor. Parents are required to be present for all in-home lessons, although they do not need to stay in the room in which the lesson is taught.  

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Which method books does TMA use to teach the piano?

At TMA, we believe that good teaching, is good teaching. No single method book is perfect, and any method needs outside supplementation. That said, method books are chosen for students based on age and prior piano experience. For voice, songs are chosen specific to the student's needs. There is not an exhaustive list, as we frequently add new books to meet students' needs. Here are some of the method book series we use on a regular basis:

• Piano Safari Friends (preschool beginners)

• The Music Tree (usually beginners in Kindegarten-2nd Grade)

• Piano Safari (usually beginners in 3rd-5th Grades)

• Faber Accelerated Piano Adventures for the Older Beginner (usually beginners in Middle & High School)

• Faber Adult Piano Adventures (usually beginners above age 18)

• The Russian School of Piano Playing (technically a supplement book instead of a method book, generally used with beginners of various ages who show exceptionally high piano aptitude) 

For a more generalized explanation of the various piano method book types, please see our article, Intro to Piano Method Book Types.