Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate player, these songs serve as excellent practice material and are sure to impress your friends and family.
How to Make Music Lessons Fun For Young Beginners
Covid-19 Safety Plan
Music Lessons During COVID-19
With many schools resuming in-person lessons, many families have inquired when and how we will resume in-person lessons. The health and safety of our students, families and teachers has always been our top priority at Westlake Lessons.
As we work to begin resuming in-home music lessons, a number of challenges must be addressed in order to provide a safe environment in which students can learn, while at the same time mitigating the risk of infection to both our clients and teachers. We have prepared a comprehensive COVID-19 Safety Plan to outline the specific policies, guidelines, and procedures for those who are returning to their in-home music lessons this fall.
Lesson Policies
Online Music Lessons
We will continue to offer online music lessons as an option throughout the remainder of summer and into the new school year. This option will remain available to both students and teachers for however long they wish to continue. While online lessons are not ideal for every student, they remain the safest option to prevent the spread of infection.
In-Home Music Lessons
We are beginning to offer modified in-home music lessons as an option on a case-by-case basis, starting in September 2020. Please note that in-home lessons will not be available if you meet any of the following criteria:
- If you have exhibited cold or flu-like symptoms within the past 14 days
- If you have travelled out of the country within the past 14 days
- If you have been in recent close contact with anyone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 or anyone who has travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days
We depend on families self-reporting such circumstances in a timely manner. Missed lessons due to illness may be rescheduled remotely, or in-person after 14 days symptom free.
Guidelines
Precautions and Safety Measures
Below is a list of guidelines and safety measures that will help reduce the risk of transmission as we return to in-home music lessons. Students and teachers should practice:
- Wearing a mask and gloves during their lesson (frequent handwashing/sanitizing may be a suitable substitution for gloves)
- Physical distancing as much as possible (avoiding handshakes, hugs, etc.)
- Frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitizer during the lesson
In addition to the above, please consider the following:
- Sanitizing pertinent surfaces prior to lessons if possible (chairs, keyboard keys, etc.)
- Limiting exchange of materials, such as sheet music.
- Providing a separate music stand for the teacher with duplicate materials to allow protective distancing.
Looking Forward
Our hope is that cases continue to decline, and resuming in-home lessons brings joy and normalcy to our students and teachers. Please understand that in-home lessons are being offered only by teachers opting to provide such services on a case by case basis.
If circumstances or personal preferences change, and your teacher chooses to no longer provide in-home lessons, that will be their prerogative while the pandemic persists. If your teacher chooses to no longer provide in-home lessons, you may switch to remote, or end lessons at no additional cost/notice period.
SummerFest '19 Poster Preview
All SummerFest participants will receive this 11x17 limited edition personalized poster!
The design for this poster is a tribute to the late Texas legend and Austin native Stevie Ray Vaughan.
November Teacher Availability Roundup!
Meet Ms. Julissa!
Thank You!
Teacher Blog: Getting Students ‘Recital Ready’
With recital season fast approaching, some teachers may be wondering “What is the best way to get my student excited and prepared for the recital? What kind of arrangement should he/she perform? Is he or she even ready for recital?”
In this article we will discuss
How to determine if your student will benefit from recital participation.
How to get a student excited and prepared for performance.
The Musical benefits of performing in recitals!
WinterFest 2018 Announcement!
Trick or Treat --- October Holidays!
Teacher Availability Roundup!
Instrument Recommendation Guide - Digital Pianos
Frequently Asked Question: Do I need an instrument for lessons?
Teacher Availability Roundup: In-Home Piano Lessons in Davenport Ranch!
Teacher Availability Roundup: Walsh Tarlton / Rollingwood
We'll Miss You Mr. Patrick!
We are sad to see Mr. Patrick leave us, but we are very understanding of the circumstances involved.
We would love to see his students continue their musical journey with us after the new year. I’ve listed below our teacher availabilities in Rollingwood / West Lake Hills.
Any teacher resuming with your child will have the benefit of learning from Mr. Patrick each student’s individual progress, interests and learning styles.
As this is a fluid situation, this blog post will be updated regularly as teacher availability changes. If you see any teachers below that you’d like to schedule a Pilot Lesson with the week of January 8, please let me know to reserve a Pilot Lesson with that teacher!
Piano Teacher Availability
UPDATED 1/1/18 @ 1:52 PM
Ms. Kiah Brooks - MON @ 3:00 | FRI @ 3:15 - 6:30 PM
Mr. Justin Lin - MON @ 6:15 PM | TUES @ 7:15 PM | WED @ 5:15 PM | THU @ 6:00 PM | FRI @ 5:15 PM
Ms. Deborah Heaton - Piano - THU @ 3:00 PM - 5:15 PM | THU @ 6:15 PM
Mr. Thomas Middleton -Voice, Guitar, Piano - WED @ 3:35-4:05
Mr. Alan Le - TUE @ 5:00 PM | THU @ 4:45 PM | FRI @ 3:30 - 6:30 PM
Ms. Kay He - TUE @ 5:15-5:45 PM | FRI @ 5:45 PM
Guitar Teacher Availability
Mr. Thomas Middleton -Voice, Guitar, Piano - WED @ 3:35-4:05
Mr. Danny Cohen - Guitar, Voice - MON @ 5:00 - 5:45 PM| TUES @ 4:00 - 5:30 PM | THU @ 5:15
Mr. Andy Schneider - GUITAR - TUE @ 5:00 - 6:00 PM | WED @ 4:00 - 5:00 PM | THU @ 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Mr. Raj Dutia - GUITAR, DRUMS - MON 3:30 - 6:30 PM | TUE @ 4:15 PM | WED @ 3:30 - 6:30 PM | THU @ 3:30-4:15; THU @ 5:15.
Drum Teacher Availability
Mr. Raj Dutia - Drums, Guitar
MON 3:30 - 6:30 PM
TUE @ 4:15 PM
WED @ 3:30 - 6:30 PM
THU @ 3:15 - 4:15 PM
THU @ 5:15 PM
We'll Miss You Ms. Elise!
We are sad to see Ms. Elise leave Austin for the west coast, but wish her the best in starting a new chapter in her life!
We would love to see her students continue with us after the new year. I’ve listed below our teacher availabilities in Rollingwood / West Lake Hills for Piano.
Any teacher resuming with your child will have the benefit of learning from Ms. Elise each student’s individual progress, interests and learning styles.
As this is a fluid situation, this blog post will be updated regularly as teacher availability changes. If you see any teachers below that you’d like to schedule a Pilot Lesson with the week of January 8, please let me know to reserve a Pilot Lesson with that teacher!
Piano Teacher Availability
UPDATED 1/1/18 @ 1:52 PM
Ms. Kiah Brooks - MON @ 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM | FRI @ 3:15 - 7:00 PM
Mr. Justin Lin - MON @ 6:15 PM | TUES @ 7:15 PM | WED @ 5:15 PM | THU @ 6:00 PM | FRI @ 5:15 PM
Ms. Deborah Hearon - THU @ 3:30 - 5:15 PM | THU @ 6:15 PM
Mr. Thomas Middleton - WED @ 3:30 - 4:00 PM
Mr. Alan Le - TUE @ 5:00 PM | THU @ 4:45 PM | FRI @ 3:30 - 6:30 PM
Ms. Kay He - TUE @ 5:15-5:45 PM | FRI @ 5:45 PM