Listed below are some of the more common questions we get from students and parents about our music lessons and dance classes. We’ve compiled them into one comprehensive list, if you don’t see your question below, feel free to contact us and we’ll be glad to answer any questions you may have.
The FAQs
It is ideal if you do have a piano at home, but you can start lessons with our piano teachers by using an electric keyboard to practice on at home. Most of our students rent or buy small electric keyboards practice on at home. We recommend a keyboard that has regular sized keys and a touch sensitive response. A touch sensitive keyboard means if you press a key harder it will play louder and if you press a key softer it will play quieter.
Yes. Even if you don’t have a musical background you can ask the teacher for advice on how to help your child practice. By simply monitoring that they are doing exercises a certain number of times per day the student will progress. Many parents occasionally sit in on their child’s music lesson to get an idea of the proper way a song should sound or how the student should be positioning their hands.
There is no set answer of how long it takes to learn an instrument. With regular practice a basic level of playing can be accomplished in a few months. Most of our students take lessons on a long term basis because they want to be constantly improving and they find the lessons enjoyable.
Topics include sight reading, technique, and for the beginner, fundamental skills and practices for the instrument. The instructor will work with you to create a personalized lesson plan. As students progress with reading musical notation and physically playing their instruments, teachers can go in new directions to help you reach your goals.
We recommend practicing every day, if possible. With consistent practice, most beginners can see noticeable improvement right away, and be able to play simple repertoire in the first few weeks of study. However, reaching full mastery of an instrument usually takes years.
Yes, it is possible to focus on playing by ear and learning by rote. However, neglecting this major area of study will not benefit you, nor will it allow you to skip ahead and get better faster. We strongly recommend keeping an open mind and learning all of the fundamentals, including reading music at a basic level.
Any style! We have a variety of teachers who can teach a variety of styles. Please call to find out more details.
Students are encouraged to purchase their own copies of sheet music. Popular piano method books for beginners typically cost less than $10. Teachers will discuss and advise what materials you will need prior to lessons. Instructors can also provide supplemental material for you at no charge.
Maximum 8 per class for ages 3-5, and a maximum of 12 per class for ages 6 and up.
Our studios are equipped with floating Marley dance floors, which help reduce the risk of injuries and allow students to dance longer without getting tired.
All of our studios are equipped with large one-way glass observation windows, which allow you to watch the class while not distracting your child, as well as, the stream lined TV that is in our lobby.
Yes, we hold our recitals at professional dance venues and record the event for you!
All of our instructors are University trained in dance, most of them have achieved their Bachelors Degree in Dance Education.
We offer a variety of styles of dance classes for all ages starting at age 3.
We offer dance classes in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, and contemporary. We do have many combo class selections to choose from as well.
Jazz style of dance is what is seen in many Broadway type shows such as “Cats”. It is a more structured, stage style of dance. Hip Hop is a fast, high-energy type of dance seen in music videos and commercials. Dance moves seen in performance by artists such as Beyonce, Ke$ha and Drake would be typical examples of Hip Hop. Hip-hop incorporates a lot of break dance moves and the moves are more isolated and less fluid than jazz dance moves.
No. OSMD does not accept cash! We can only accept payments by major credit/debit card. We currently accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express. You may also pay from checking account via debit cards.