Both group and private piano lessons offer valuable learning experiences, but they differ in structure and focus:

Piano Performers Lessons Piano Performers lessons are held in a small class setting with 3-4 students of similar age or skill level. These sessions take place on campus of your child's school. Piano Performers focuses on building foundational skills through collaborative learning and peer interaction. Students benefit from a supportive, social environment where they can learn rhythm, ear training, music theory, and performance skills together. Our computer-based program is a great option for beginners, as they make learning fun and engaging while promoting accountability and motivation through shared progress.

Private Piano Lessons Private lessons offer one-on-one instruction tailored specifically to the individual student’s needs, pace, and goals. These lessons allow for personalized attention, faster progress, and a deeper focus on technique, repertoire, and musical expression. Private instruction is ideal for students who prefer individualized learning, preparing for competitions or simply advancing their skills.

Starting with group lessons can provide a strong foundation, and students may transition to private lessons as they grow and develop musically.

If you’re unsure which option is the best fit for your child, we’re happy to help you decide based on their learning style, experience, and goals.

We are proud to provide group piano lessons at 9 different local elementary schools with our Piano Performers program:

- Belforest Elementary

- Christ the King Catholic School

- Daphne Elementary

- Fairhope East Elementary

- Fairhope West Elementary

- J Larry Newton School

- Rockwell Elementary

- Spanish Fort Elementary

- Stonebridge Elementary

We offer private studio lessons at 3 separate studios, spanning across the Eastern Shore, from Spanish Fort to Daphne:

Spanish Fort Presbyterian Church

6620 Spanish Fort Blvd

Spanish Fort, AL. 36527

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

8271 Whispering Pines Rd

Daphne, AL. 36526

Resurrection Church

2401 Main St.

Daphne, AL. 36526

We are also pleased to offer the convenience of in-home lessons. With our Deluxe Traveling Teacher upgrade, your child can enjoy personalized instruction in the comfort and familiarity of your own home.

Recently, we expanded Musical Beginnings into Mobile County, to broaden our horizons across the bay. Musical Beginnings Mobile is open for business for the 2025-2026 academic school year. Please spread the word to your friends and family across the bay!

Please see our Plans & Pricing page.

We have affordable group piano classes averaging at approximately $15 per lesson.

Lesson durations are available in 30-, 45-, or 60-minute sessions, depending on your child’s age, chosen instrument, and skill level. Lesson length will impact the overall cost.

We also offer the option to upgrade to in-home lessons. Travel fees are applied to cover mileage and are reimbursed directly to our instructors.

We have a price-point and music lesson package for everyone. Payment plans are available via our website or by automatic invoicing, if you choose not to apply for AfterPay or Klarna.

If cost is a concern, we encourage you to reach out to us directly. Annual tuition can be divided into 10 monthly payments from August through May. For summer lessons, payment may be split into two monthly installments during June and July.

While our website has been updated for a more streamlined experience, our previous payment plan options are still available. If you're not approved for a payment plan through the website, we’re happy to set up automatic monthly invoicing upon request, with payments due on the 1st of each month.

Our school year lessons begin the week of August 18, 2025, for both group and private instruction. Please select this week when booking on our calendar.

To help students ease into their new school routines, we allow a short adjustment period at the start of the term. We follow the Baldwin County Public School Calendar for all holidays—if school is out, lessons are not held.

The school-year lessons conclude around May 18, 2026, with end-of-year recitals to celebrate student progress. Lessons are a full academic year commitment, following a two-lesson trial period. Due to high demand, our instructors remain fully booked and cannot accommodate drop-in or short-term scheduling. When you register, your instructor reserves that time for your student for the entire year, ensuring consistency and dedication from both sides.

We accept registrations throughout the school year, and tuition will be prorated based on your student’s start date.

We offer summer sessions in June and July for continued musical growth and enrichment.

Please contact us directly to set-up in home lessons with the instructor of your choice. We will need to coordinate these lessons along their travel route - going from home to home.

Please include:

- Student Name

- Preferred Instructor

- Preferred Day & Time - You can go see what's available on the booking calendar. Go to studio lessons for your time duration (30, 45 or 1 HR) and search by instructor name. This will tell you what days and time they are working. Please do not request a time that is NOT available.

-Home Address - This will help us organize their travel route and map things out to make everything run efficiently.

MusicalBeginningsBC@gmail.com

As Christ the King Catholic School operates independently, its schedule may differ from the Baldwin County Public School System. In this case, please refer to Christ the King's School Calendar for holidays and school closures.

Our current instructors specialize in:

Instrumentalists:

- Classical Piano

- Jazz Piano & Improvisation

- Worship Music

- Violin - Beginner to Intermediate Level

- Guitar - Acoustic, Electric or Classical

- Bass

- Ukulele

- Drums

- Band Instruments

- Music Theory Crash-Courses for Adults

Vocal Students:

- Opera

- Voice Lessons & Coaching for Confidence Boosting

- Musical Theatre

- Singer-Songwriter Style

- Performance Prep

- Piano Accompaniment Services available upon request.

To perform in the winter or spring recital, students must receive approval from their instructor. This ensures each child is prepared and confident, helping to ensure a positive performance experience.

Approval is based on several factors, including your child’s confidence, preparedness, practice consistency, and comfort with their piece. Students will not be approved to perform if they are not adequately prepared or if performing may cause unnecessary stress. Our goal is to support each student’s musical growth and prevent situations that could lead to discouragement.

If a student is not approved to perform, they will receive an additional lesson in place of the recital. We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to create positive and rewarding performance experiences for all students.

It is the responsibility of each family to be aware of their child’s scheduled lesson time.

We understand that occasional absences may occur. Each student is allowed up to two make-up lessons per term (Fall–Spring or Summer), which will be scheduled during the final two weeks of the semester. To qualify for a make-up, at least 24 hours’ notice must be provided.

• Missed lessons without prior notice may be made up at the instructor’s discretion.

• If more than two lessons are missed, even with notice, additional make-ups are not guaranteed and are subject to instructor availability.

Please note that arriving late does not extend the lesson time. Instructors must adhere to a set schedule and cannot adjust for tardiness.

In the event of extenuating circumstances, additional make-up lessons or a partial tuition refund may be considered. For such cases, please contact our Director, Mr. Christopher Beaudette, at: musicalbeginningsbc@gmail.com.

While most instructors recommend starting piano in kindergarten, some of our students began as early as age 3. If your child can count to five, recognize letters A–G, sit still, and follow directions for 30 minutes, we have teachers experienced in working with young beginners.

For string instruments or drums, students can start once they’re able to follow instructions—but they must have a properly sized instrument. Playing on the wrong size (especially with guitar) can cause discomfort and lead to poor technique. Our instructors can help with sizing, or you can visit a local music store like Bay Music (Fairhope), Pickers Paradise (Bay Minette), or Guitar Center (Mobile/Pensacola).

We welcome students of any age and ability, and we are proud to accommodate any students with special needs. We have teachers who specialize with working with special needs students from autism, ADHD, to dyslexia. When you register, please make a note of any special requests so we that we can accommodate to find the best fit for your family.

We have also offered early childhood music classes in the past and may bring them back if there’s interest—they are a fun way to introduce little ones to music and connect with other families!

Remember - it’s never too late to start. We proudly offer lessons for adults, college students, seniors, and even professional musicians looking to grow their skills or revisit music theory.

While your child will receive valuable instruction during their weekly lesson at school, regular at-home practice is highly encouraged to support their progress. Just a few short, consistent practice sessions each week can make a big difference in building confidence, reinforcing what they’ve learned, and helping them truly enjoy the experience of making music. We recommend 30-minutes per day, but any practice is better than none!

We understand that every family's schedule is different, so we’re happy to offer guidance on how to make practice manageable and fun at home!

Please feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions—we're here to help.

Having a quality instrument is imperative for the education of a student. As such, there are several factors to consider when evaluating pianos and digital keyboards.

If you have a piano, the only criteria we would specify is that the instrument is in tune, all the keys function properly, and all 3 (or in some cases, only 2) pedals function properly.

If you have a digital keyboard, we look for a five key factors:

- Weighted keys: A real piano has over 10,000 parts, and each key contains over 100 parts. The complexity of this design gives each key resistance when being pushed. This feeling is important in digital keyboards as it replicates the actual feeling of a real piano. The terms you want to look out for are "fully weighted" or "graded hammer action". Be cautious of the term "semi-weighted" for it often indicates the keys will not feel realistic at all.

- 88 keys: A real piano has (at least) 88 keys. The first year or two of a child's education may only consistently use 49 of these, but having the full range will be vital for their continued growth. Using a keyboard that doesn't have all 88 keys is akin to buying your child a pair of shoes at age 10 and expecting them to never need newer ones. We must give them room to grow. As a compromise, a 61 key keyboard may suffice. This range will be more affordable, however, it will be almost impossible to find a 61 key keyboard with weighted keys. We would only recommend this option if you are unsure whether or not your student will continue with lessons.

- Brand: The brand of the keyboard is often a guarantee of quality or a lack thereof. We highly recommend Yamaha above all others. They are simply unrivaled in affordability and quality for their average student model pianos. Other comparable brands would be Casio and Roland. These three should be your first choices when in the market. Brands like Donner and Alesis should be avoided, as their instruments are closer to toys.

- Sustain Pedal: A real piano has pedals. These have various functions that are vital to the operation of the instrument. Be aware, most digital keyboards will NOT come with a sustain pedal. Or if they do come with one, it will be a of such low quality that it would hinder the child. Any keyboard your purchase, make sure you are also purchasing a quality sustain pedal.

- Stand: Most keyboards will not come with a stand. It is important that you purchase one so that your keyboard can rest at a comfortable playing height. Do not purchase a single x-brace style stand as they will wobble and move erratically while playing. Double x-bracing is the only acceptable x-brace, and z-style stands are preferred above all others.

What follows are a few of our recommendations (prices may vary):

The $450 Yamaha P-71 is one of the best-selling pianos in the history of the world and it's no wonder why. 88 keys, fully weighted with graded hammer action, and under $500. This is a keyboard you could own and play happily for the rest of your life.

The $220 Casio CT-S1 is a budget keyboard that punches well above its weight class. It only has 61 keys, and they aren't realistically weighted, but they feel good under the fingers and the instrument sounds nice. If you aren't 100% sure that your child will stick with music, this is the choice for you.

The $25 M-Audio SP-2 Universal Sustain Pedal is the gold standard in sustain pedals.

The $75 Liquid Stands Z-Style Keyboard Stand will offer a rock solid solution for keeping your keyboard at a playable height. Easily adjusted and immovable.

The $35 Rockjam Xfinity Double X-Style Keyboard Stand will be the more affordable option for your keyboard. It will not feel as safe and will wobble more with a full sized keyboard on top of it, be warned.

We have many special needs students who require extra parental involvement. Many of our teachers specialize in accommodating these families. Music is a gift that should be experienced by everyone regardless of external factors.

Our instructors are highly skilled and happy to work with you in creating an environment for your child's success. Our flexible curriculum is designed to adapt to each student’s unique strengths and areas for growth. We encourage open communication — please do not be afraid to collaborate with your instructor when it comes to specific measures that need to be taken to give your child the best learning experience.

Unfortunately, our instructors follow a set teaching schedule and are unable to accommodate weekly rescheduling. Lessons are treated similarly to other scheduled activities like baseball practice or field trips—they occur at a set time and location and are not automatically rescheduled.

We do understand that occasional conflicts may arise. If you notify us at least 24 hours in advance, our instructors will do their best to offer a make-up lesson within the same week. However, please note that make-up lessons are not guaranteed and depend on the instructor’s availability.

In the event of inclement weather, we follow local school closure announcements for both our Piano Performers and Private Lessons programs. The safety of our students and instructors is our top priority.

For information on how weather-related cancellations are handled, please refer to our policy section.

While we do not sell instruments or music directly, we’re happy to help you locate reputable local music stores and online retailers that carry what you need. If you let us know what instrument or materials you're looking for, we’ll gladly point you in the right direction!