Piano academy · Brookings, South Dakota
Piano lessons for young beginners and for adults who played as children, in a quiet studio on Main Avenue. Three teachers, one lesson at a time, and a recital in May for anyone who wants to play.
Lessons
Every lesson is one student with one teacher, once a week. The length depends on the student's age, how far along they are, and how much time they have to practice.
For young beginners and for adults in their first year: a little time at the keys, played slowly.
Warm up with a scale or a piece you know
One new idea, shown and played together
A plan for the week, written down
For students with a piece to learn from the first bar to the last.
A piece in progress, a section at a time
Sight reading, ear work or a little theory
Room to ask what you have been wondering
For adults who have an hour, and for students taking on a longer piece or a duet.
A whole piece played through, then taken apart
Technique and repertoire in the same visit
Time to talk through what to practice and why
Around Brookings
Students come to Etude from Brookings and from Volga, Elkton, Arlington and White. We put a family's lessons back to back, keep afternoon and evening times for people who drive in, and move a lesson when the roads close.
Teachers
You work with one teacher each week. Here is who teaches what, and when each is in the building.
Owner. Piano, for adults and returning students
Donatella opened Etude for people who put the piano down years ago, and she still teaches most evenings. She starts from what you remember and what you would like to play. In the building Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, afternoons and evenings.
Piano and music theory, teens and adults
Stephon teaches piano and music theory to teens and adults, and hosts the informal adult evening. He likes a student to understand why a piece works as well as how it goes. In the building Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Piano, for young beginners
Sarika teaches piano to students from age six, and to their parents when they ask. She keeps a lesson to one idea at a time, and a parent is welcome to sit in. In the building Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, and Saturday morning.
The year
Every student chooses whether to play. Families and friends are always welcome to listen.
Early September · Weekly lessons start for returning and new students.
Late December · The studio is closed for two weeks. Lessons we cancel for weather are made up.
Early March · Adult students play for each other in the studio, with no program and no audience of strangers. Nobody has to play.
Mid May · Students of every age play one piece each, on a grand piano, for family and friends.
Sample dates.
“I played as a girl and stopped when I left home. Donatella started with the one piece I still remembered, and we went on from there.”
“We drive in from outside town. Sarika put our lessons back to back on one afternoon, and the waiting room has a bench and a window.”
“The adult evening was the first time I had played for anyone in years. Nobody was grading, and I stayed for the second half.”
Sample reviews.
Young beginners start from age six, when hands and reading are ready for a weekly lesson. Adults of every age take lessons here, and nobody is too old to start.
Yes. Many of our adult students did. At a placement visit you play what you remember, or nothing at all, and a teacher begins from there.
You need something with keys you can practice on every few days. A weighted digital keyboard is a good place to begin. Ask your teacher before you buy or rent, and ask the front desk about a keyboard to borrow.
A short visit with one of our teachers. You play or talk about what you want to play, a teacher listens, and we match you with a teacher and a weekly time. Nobody is graded.
Lessons are 30, 45 or 60 minutes, once a week. Young beginners usually start with 30; adults often choose 45 or 60. Your teacher suggests a length at your placement visit.
No. Every student chooses. The spring recital and the adult evening are open to anyone who wants to play, and to anyone who would rather listen.
A placement visit takes about half an hour. A teacher listens, we talk, and you leave with a weekly time.
