Sign up for
**NEW SESSION ADDED!**
Late Fall Session Group Piano Classes!
Starts Nov. 6!
Thursdays, 4:15-5:15
Nov. 6-Jan 29 (no class Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's)
Oriole Park Field House
5430 N Olcott Ave, Chicago
Did you miss the Free Demo Class on October 9?
email [email protected]
Send your: 1) Name and 2) Student's name, 3) grade, & 4) Class/session you are interested in to [email protected] to sign up for a free trial!
What are Group Piano Classes?
Piano lessons like no others! Group lessons are better for kids because kids are SOCIAL LEARNERS! Like playing on a team, children are inspired to sing, play, and learn together! Advanced students learn to teach by helping their peers, and beginning students are supported and inspired by their friends.
Learning Music as a primary language! Group piano classes are structured completely differently from private lessons. Whereas private lessons focus first on reading music, Group Piano focuses on learning music the same way children learn their first language. With each song we:
1) Listen
2) Sing
3) Play games
4) Play on piano
5) Read music
We use singing, drumming, listening, dancing, playing piano and rhythm instruments, and playing games to learn how to play the piano.
Kids are excited to practice! Why? Because they leave each class confident that they can really play piano! They are excited to practice with their parents and show off their new skills!
So what does a piano class look like? Each week, we sing the songs we already know, and integrate them with musical, rhythm, and notation games. Then, we have "Keyboard Sharing Time," as students perform for each other the songs they practiced at home during the week. Most weeks including drumming and games that teach musical form, literacy (how to read notes), and rhythm. Integrated throughout the class are trips to the piano to put into practice the songs and skills we are learning first by ear, on piano, and then in written form. The last 15 minutes of each week's class, parents are invited to play with us so parents leave knowing how to help their student practice.
The emphasis of the class is full music and piano literacy and competence. By the end of the 6-book curriculum, all students can read, sing, play, compose, and transpose songs in all 12 major and all 12 minor keys. Students are ready for intermediate/advanced piano repertoire, and can read music for any instrument they want to play!
In the spring we will have a Community Music Festival, in which students will perform the songs they have learned. Parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, and other guests are also invited to perform solos or in groups, and all will sing and dance in our community music sharing!
Learning Music as a primary language! Group piano classes are structured completely differently from private lessons. Whereas private lessons focus first on reading music, Group Piano focuses on learning music the same way children learn their first language. With each song we:
1) Listen
2) Sing
3) Play games
4) Play on piano
5) Read music
We use singing, drumming, listening, dancing, playing piano and rhythm instruments, and playing games to learn how to play the piano.
Kids are excited to practice! Why? Because they leave each class confident that they can really play piano! They are excited to practice with their parents and show off their new skills!
So what does a piano class look like? Each week, we sing the songs we already know, and integrate them with musical, rhythm, and notation games. Then, we have "Keyboard Sharing Time," as students perform for each other the songs they practiced at home during the week. Most weeks including drumming and games that teach musical form, literacy (how to read notes), and rhythm. Integrated throughout the class are trips to the piano to put into practice the songs and skills we are learning first by ear, on piano, and then in written form. The last 15 minutes of each week's class, parents are invited to play with us so parents leave knowing how to help their student practice.
The emphasis of the class is full music and piano literacy and competence. By the end of the 6-book curriculum, all students can read, sing, play, compose, and transpose songs in all 12 major and all 12 minor keys. Students are ready for intermediate/advanced piano repertoire, and can read music for any instrument they want to play!
In the spring we will have a Community Music Festival, in which students will perform the songs they have learned. Parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, and other guests are also invited to perform solos or in groups, and all will sing and dance in our community music sharing!
REGISTER NOW FOR THE LATE FALL SESSION!
Starting after Halloween
Email [email protected] to sign up for a
FREE demo class!!
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Sign up for the Free Demo Classes!
email [email protected]
Details & Logistics
Late Fall Session: 12 weeks
Nov 6, 2025-Jan 29, 2026 (no classes Thanksgiving week, or during winter break: Nov 27, Dec 25, Jan 1)
$350 (plus $60 materials)
or 2 payments of $175, plus materials fee with first payment
Cost: The regular price of Group Piano Classes is $35 per week, plus materials, $60 (books, game cards, song cards, 2 CDs/digital downloads per level), a total of $350 + $60 materials fee. Materials will last all school year. Payment is due via Zelle or cash at the time of registration; please reach out via email to sign up for the payment plan.
Course Dates/Times:
HOMESCHOOL: Wednesdays, beginning Sept 11, 1:30-2:30pm at Home Studio location, near Canfield & Foster. (admission is ongoing for this class)
After School:
Wednesdays, beginning Sept 11, 3:40-4:40pm at Home Studio location, near Canfield & Foster.
Thursdays, beginning Nov 6, 4:15-5:15pm, Oriole Park Field House, 5430 N. Olcott Ave, Chicago.
Ages: Grades 1 - 5. Kindergarteners are accepted on a case-by-case basis, with a parent/caregiver in attendance at all classes.
Getting to class:
Oriole Park: Easy parking by the field house. Students coming from Oriole Park School may walk with a parent or independently.
Pickup: Class ends at 5:15, with Parent Time from 5:00-5:15. Parents who are available join the class for singing, dancing, piano playing, and practice instructions. Parents of OPS students may also request Miss Jennifer to walk their child to After Care at OPS after class.
Materials: We use the Musikgarten "Music Makers at the Keyboard" curriculum and materials. The first level includes a written workbook, several pages of cards of notation, rhythm, and form games, and 2 CDs/digital downloads for listening and practicing. To save on shipping, these materials are ordered in batches and are then sold to students at cost. Level 1 will last for the full school year. I do not make any money on these materials.
Home piano practicing: Students and parents set up a very light home practicing routine. Students do not practice alone, but instead practice with their parents! Budding pianists are so excited to share their new music with the people they love most in the world (Hint: it's YOU!!), and to show off what they are learning. The most effective practicing has students teaching their parents how to play each song, and nourishes a lifelong connection between pianists and parents! Just 10 minutes per day is sufficient in the first level!!
Do I need a piano at home? Yes, but don't worry! There are many affordable options, and you don't need an expensive piano to start. You are welcome to buy or borrow an inexpensive electronic keyboard. ***Keep in mind that with keyboards, quality does matter, and higher-quality instruments are more fun to play. It is easier to play the right notes consistently on a keyboard with touch-sensitive keys (where how hard you press on the a key determines how loud or soft it is).
Costco and Amazon are great places to start looking, but check reviews VERY carefully; many Chinese companies seem to use the same keyboard and just print their own brand on it. Familiar and recognizable brands are the safest bet, and though more expensive they do usually come with a warranty. In class we use the OYAYO Upgraded Folding Piano with 88 keys, which are sensitive to touch, but do not have fully weighted keys like a real piano. For at home the most affordable weighted keyboard I have found is the Kmise 88-key Heavy Hammer Action Digital Piano (this is a Chinese piano, but had decent sound and good key action when I tried it). My favorite options are Casio brand with 88 fully-weighted keys, if that is in your family budget. You are always welcome to email me a link and ask me if a particular keyboard is a good choice. If you family cannot afford to buy a keyboard, please reach out to me at [email protected] ASAP.
Course Dates/Times:
HOMESCHOOL: Wednesdays, beginning Sept 11, 1:30-2:30pm at Home Studio location, near Canfield & Foster. (admission is ongoing for this class)
After School:
Wednesdays, beginning Sept 11, 3:40-4:40pm at Home Studio location, near Canfield & Foster.
Thursdays, beginning Nov 6, 4:15-5:15pm, Oriole Park Field House, 5430 N. Olcott Ave, Chicago.
Ages: Grades 1 - 5. Kindergarteners are accepted on a case-by-case basis, with a parent/caregiver in attendance at all classes.
Getting to class:
Oriole Park: Easy parking by the field house. Students coming from Oriole Park School may walk with a parent or independently.
Pickup: Class ends at 5:15, with Parent Time from 5:00-5:15. Parents who are available join the class for singing, dancing, piano playing, and practice instructions. Parents of OPS students may also request Miss Jennifer to walk their child to After Care at OPS after class.
Materials: We use the Musikgarten "Music Makers at the Keyboard" curriculum and materials. The first level includes a written workbook, several pages of cards of notation, rhythm, and form games, and 2 CDs/digital downloads for listening and practicing. To save on shipping, these materials are ordered in batches and are then sold to students at cost. Level 1 will last for the full school year. I do not make any money on these materials.
Home piano practicing: Students and parents set up a very light home practicing routine. Students do not practice alone, but instead practice with their parents! Budding pianists are so excited to share their new music with the people they love most in the world (Hint: it's YOU!!), and to show off what they are learning. The most effective practicing has students teaching their parents how to play each song, and nourishes a lifelong connection between pianists and parents! Just 10 minutes per day is sufficient in the first level!!
Do I need a piano at home? Yes, but don't worry! There are many affordable options, and you don't need an expensive piano to start. You are welcome to buy or borrow an inexpensive electronic keyboard. ***Keep in mind that with keyboards, quality does matter, and higher-quality instruments are more fun to play. It is easier to play the right notes consistently on a keyboard with touch-sensitive keys (where how hard you press on the a key determines how loud or soft it is).
Costco and Amazon are great places to start looking, but check reviews VERY carefully; many Chinese companies seem to use the same keyboard and just print their own brand on it. Familiar and recognizable brands are the safest bet, and though more expensive they do usually come with a warranty. In class we use the OYAYO Upgraded Folding Piano with 88 keys, which are sensitive to touch, but do not have fully weighted keys like a real piano. For at home the most affordable weighted keyboard I have found is the Kmise 88-key Heavy Hammer Action Digital Piano (this is a Chinese piano, but had decent sound and good key action when I tried it). My favorite options are Casio brand with 88 fully-weighted keys, if that is in your family budget. You are always welcome to email me a link and ask me if a particular keyboard is a good choice. If you family cannot afford to buy a keyboard, please reach out to me at [email protected] ASAP.
HOMESCHOOL
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AFTER SCHOOL
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AFTER SCHOOL
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