Piano Lessons, Also Harpsichord and Keyboard
Piano Lessons at Pakachoag are available for students aged 6 and up in Worcester and W. Boylston. This includes piano lessons for adults; and jazz piano lessons for students with some prior piano training.
Pakachoag accepts students of all levels, beginners to advanced. Because most teachers hold advanced degrees in music and several are concert pianists, we can accept students at the highest levels of training, including conservatory level. Our Program Director will work with you to determine the best placement in terms of schedules, musical interests and individual goals.
To begin the inquiry process, please submit this lesson inquiry form.
Lesson Schedules
While lessons are scheduled on a weekly basis during the school year, we will consider accepting adult students on an every-other-week basis if scheduling permits.
Summer lessons are available on an individual basis according to student and teacher availability. Please contact the office in April or May for information regarding summer lesson availability.
Pakachoag currently has seven piano teachers on staff. Lessons are offered Monday through Friday during the school year, during after-school and evening hours; and on Saturday mornings. Week-day morning lessons may also be available, for home schooled students, according to individual teacher schedules.
Please email info@pakmusic.org if you would like additional information.
You can view our piano teacher bios by visiting the Faculty Page.
While all lessons at Pakachoag are taught on traditional, accoustic pianos, we will accept students who only have electric pianos. If you have an electric piano rather than traditional piano for at-home practice, this might impact your teacher assignment. We do encourage all families to consider purchasing or renting a traditional piano when possible.
Our teaching studios include Kawai, Yamaha, and Steinway pianos.
Piano Lessons and Performance Opportunities
For students seeking performance experience, Pakachoag Music School offers performance opportunities as part of your private lessons. Read more about our Performance Program here.
Why Take Piano Lessons?
Numerous studies and research over the decades shows a direct correlation between music learning, success in school and beyond, and on-going health and well-being. When we take private music lessons, we’re developing important skills that we don’t always learn in other group-based classroom settings.
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- Creativity
- Confidence
- Problem Solving
- Perseverance
- Focus
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- Non-Verbal Communication
- Receiving Constructive Feedback
- Collaboration
- Dedication
- Accountability
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Learning the Piano to Lower Stress
The National Center for Biotechnology Information published a study on the effectiveness of music to lower stress. The test involved putting volunteers into three groups. Before being exposed to a stressor, each group was exposed to a different stimulus. Group 1 – Relaxing music, Group 2 – the sound of rippling water, and Group 3 – resting with no sound present. After exposure, the researchers measured each group’s stress indicators. The study showed that those who listened to relaxing music before the stressor had significantly lower cortisol (the stress hormone) levels than those in the other two groups.
Piano Lessons Build Perseverance
The process of learning to play an instrument is not always easy. Music learning combines mental and physical skill sets. You will have to learn fingerings, work on breathing and relaxation, develop technique, and memorize new information.
Slowly, with consistent practice, you will find yourself getting better. With each new milestone, you gain a small reward for your efforts and this will keep you motivated. Making music requires patience.
When you Play the Piano You Use Every Part Of Your Brain
Check out this great video from TedEd about how music benefits your brain.
Piano Lessons Can Strengthen Your Immune System!
While investigating the effects of music, physiologists Daniel J. Levitin and Mona Lisa Chanda found that listening to music and playing an instrument increased the immune system. Active engagement with music lead to the manufacturing of the antibody immunoglobulin-A. Immunoglobulin-A is a natural killer cell, which kills viruses. If you feel under the weather, playing your piano or keyboard might help!
Studying Music Increases Memory
Way back in 2003, ABC Science included a study conducted among school students, half of whom had been musically trained, and half who had not. The test involved reading a list of words to the students and asking them to recall the words after a space of time had elapsed. The study found that the boys who had been musically trained had a significantly better verbal memory than the boys who had not. In addition, the more musical training they had, the more words they were able to remember.