What is unique about The Piano Studio of Jason Ritchie?
The Piano Studio of Jason Ritchie in Katy, Texas offers quality private piano instruction to all ages and abilities. Under my instruction, students learn how to express themselves through artistic performances of various styles of music and go far beyond playing notes and rhythms. Students also receive a comprehensive musical education through theory lessons, aural skill development, and annual performance opportunities.
What is the practice requirement?
I believe that quality practice on a consistent basis is important to ensure progress. We eat every day, and when we do, we try to eat healthy meals. Practicing the piano follows the same idea. Learning the piano involves an enormous variety of technical challenges, and each challenge requires a different approach, a different practice method, to master. Because of this, I teach and encourage proper, efficient practice skills that render purposeful practice sessions in order for the student to be prepared for every lesson. I rarely require certain amounts of minutes of practice from my students, nor do I usually require them to track how many minutes they are practicing. As a result, my students are often very self-motivated and do not feel as if practice is a chore. During lessons, I notate weekly goals and practice suggestions in the student's assignment spiral.
If a student is not adequately prepared for several consecutive lessons, we will discuss the issue and create a practice goal together with a required number of minutes. The more they practice, the more they learn, and the more they want to practice. It’s a wonderful cycle.
How do I get my child to practice?
Establish a routine. Students who have a set time of day for piano practice tend to practice more and progress more quickly. They may complain about it for a few weeks, but once it had been integrated into their weekly schedule, they usually just go do it when they're supposed to, and they start to see the benefits as they progress.
Be kind, yet firm. You've decided that piano lessons are important to your child's education, and you're investing a lot of time and money to make it happen. So make sure they get the most out of it. Left to their own devices, most kids would rather play with their friends or watch TV. So try making those activities a reward for practicing piano. Rewarding kids for good practice habits is more successful than punishing them for not practicing.
Why do you prefer an acoustic piano over a keyboard with weighted keys?
Digital pianos are electronic instruments that reproduce piano sounds. Unlike acoustic pianos, they have no hammers, no strings, and no soundboard to produce the sound you hear. Instead, they have electronic sound chips and speakers.
While fine in the beginning, the problem with digital pianos is that they can't really duplicate the tone and touch of a real piano. Even with today's sampling technology, individual notes may be quite accurately reproduced, but the tone of notes sounding together, as in an acoustic piano - with complex harmonics mixing and resonating against a flexible wooden soundboard - cannot be matched. As a result, most music sounds rather sterile played on a digital piano.
The “feel” of a piano is very important to the pianist, and it should be part of the student’s daily training as part of learning to play the piano. Digital pianos will never feel like acoustic pianos. "Touch Sensitivity" and "Weighted Action" cannot match the sophisticated inner mechanism, or "action", of an acoustic piano. Digital pianos merely simulate the touch of pianos, and they cannot provide the same feedback or responsiveness to your playing, therefore limiting performance range. Learning this early is important and will provide them with greater advantage and success in their future.
Where can I get an acoustic piano?
I do realize the financial commitment for a piano, and I do not feel ANY parent of a first-time student should go out and purchase an expensive, brand new piano. Although more expensive than digital options, acoustic pianos hold their value better than digital pianos do, so they are usually quite a worthwhile investment even when buying used. I recommend checking out the following piano store, for not only do they sell new and used pianos, but they also offer a rental program:
Kawai Piano Gallery
How often do I need to get my acoustic piano tuned?
Acoustic pianos should be tuned once to twice a year by a piano technician (I use Dave Wallace: 713-384-5190). Regular tuning is crucial to the development of the student's aural skills so that the student is hearing the proper pitches and intonation of each note on the piano. Over time, a well-maintained piano will begin to hold pitch better and better between tunings.
Do I need to pay for books and materials?
Each year, students pay a $75 non-refundable registration fee which reserves the student's place in the studio and is applied to the cost of buying student books and materials, the production of free recital videos, as well as maintaining the studio's lending library, studio pianos, and recording equipment. For most students, this fee is enough to cover materials for the whole academic year.
What events and opportunities does the studio provide for students?
The studio schedules a number of exciting events for private students and their parents each year! All of these events are provided at no extra cost.
Spring Recitals | Performing in a formal recital setting is an exciting opportunity for students to share their hard work and improvement over the year in the presence of their family and friends. This performance is open to students who have been studying with me for at least one year.
Fall Recitals | Our annual November recital is a less formal performance open to Junior High and High School students, and it provides an excellent opportunity for another performance as well as furthering student camaraderie.
Christmas Dinner Music | A very low-key performance opportunity for any student available and willing to share seasonal music on a predetermined Saturday at a local retirement home during their meal time. (Subject to scheduling availability.)
Why is the annual tuition divided into 12 equal monthly payments? Why can't I just pay per lesson?
As much as I enjoy giving piano instruction for the love of it, piano teaching is my career and livelihood. Setting an annual tuition rate allows me to have a regular income all year long. It also makes it easier for students and parents to budget, as they will know exactly what to expect each month. The annual tuition rate covers much more than just "x" number of private lessons each year - it also includes recital expenses, professional development for the teacher, and more. These are all things that allow me to provide the student with the best musical education they deserve.
The Piano Studio of Jason Ritchie in Katy, Texas offers quality private piano instruction to all ages and abilities. Under my instruction, students learn how to express themselves through artistic performances of various styles of music and go far beyond playing notes and rhythms. Students also receive a comprehensive musical education through theory lessons, aural skill development, and annual performance opportunities.
What is the practice requirement?
I believe that quality practice on a consistent basis is important to ensure progress. We eat every day, and when we do, we try to eat healthy meals. Practicing the piano follows the same idea. Learning the piano involves an enormous variety of technical challenges, and each challenge requires a different approach, a different practice method, to master. Because of this, I teach and encourage proper, efficient practice skills that render purposeful practice sessions in order for the student to be prepared for every lesson. I rarely require certain amounts of minutes of practice from my students, nor do I usually require them to track how many minutes they are practicing. As a result, my students are often very self-motivated and do not feel as if practice is a chore. During lessons, I notate weekly goals and practice suggestions in the student's assignment spiral.
If a student is not adequately prepared for several consecutive lessons, we will discuss the issue and create a practice goal together with a required number of minutes. The more they practice, the more they learn, and the more they want to practice. It’s a wonderful cycle.
How do I get my child to practice?
Establish a routine. Students who have a set time of day for piano practice tend to practice more and progress more quickly. They may complain about it for a few weeks, but once it had been integrated into their weekly schedule, they usually just go do it when they're supposed to, and they start to see the benefits as they progress.
Be kind, yet firm. You've decided that piano lessons are important to your child's education, and you're investing a lot of time and money to make it happen. So make sure they get the most out of it. Left to their own devices, most kids would rather play with their friends or watch TV. So try making those activities a reward for practicing piano. Rewarding kids for good practice habits is more successful than punishing them for not practicing.
Why do you prefer an acoustic piano over a keyboard with weighted keys?
Digital pianos are electronic instruments that reproduce piano sounds. Unlike acoustic pianos, they have no hammers, no strings, and no soundboard to produce the sound you hear. Instead, they have electronic sound chips and speakers.
While fine in the beginning, the problem with digital pianos is that they can't really duplicate the tone and touch of a real piano. Even with today's sampling technology, individual notes may be quite accurately reproduced, but the tone of notes sounding together, as in an acoustic piano - with complex harmonics mixing and resonating against a flexible wooden soundboard - cannot be matched. As a result, most music sounds rather sterile played on a digital piano.
The “feel” of a piano is very important to the pianist, and it should be part of the student’s daily training as part of learning to play the piano. Digital pianos will never feel like acoustic pianos. "Touch Sensitivity" and "Weighted Action" cannot match the sophisticated inner mechanism, or "action", of an acoustic piano. Digital pianos merely simulate the touch of pianos, and they cannot provide the same feedback or responsiveness to your playing, therefore limiting performance range. Learning this early is important and will provide them with greater advantage and success in their future.
Where can I get an acoustic piano?
I do realize the financial commitment for a piano, and I do not feel ANY parent of a first-time student should go out and purchase an expensive, brand new piano. Although more expensive than digital options, acoustic pianos hold their value better than digital pianos do, so they are usually quite a worthwhile investment even when buying used. I recommend checking out the following piano store, for not only do they sell new and used pianos, but they also offer a rental program:
Kawai Piano Gallery
How often do I need to get my acoustic piano tuned?
Acoustic pianos should be tuned once to twice a year by a piano technician (I use Dave Wallace: 713-384-5190). Regular tuning is crucial to the development of the student's aural skills so that the student is hearing the proper pitches and intonation of each note on the piano. Over time, a well-maintained piano will begin to hold pitch better and better between tunings.
Do I need to pay for books and materials?
Each year, students pay a $75 non-refundable registration fee which reserves the student's place in the studio and is applied to the cost of buying student books and materials, the production of free recital videos, as well as maintaining the studio's lending library, studio pianos, and recording equipment. For most students, this fee is enough to cover materials for the whole academic year.
What events and opportunities does the studio provide for students?
The studio schedules a number of exciting events for private students and their parents each year! All of these events are provided at no extra cost.
Spring Recitals | Performing in a formal recital setting is an exciting opportunity for students to share their hard work and improvement over the year in the presence of their family and friends. This performance is open to students who have been studying with me for at least one year.
Fall Recitals | Our annual November recital is a less formal performance open to Junior High and High School students, and it provides an excellent opportunity for another performance as well as furthering student camaraderie.
Christmas Dinner Music | A very low-key performance opportunity for any student available and willing to share seasonal music on a predetermined Saturday at a local retirement home during their meal time. (Subject to scheduling availability.)
Why is the annual tuition divided into 12 equal monthly payments? Why can't I just pay per lesson?
As much as I enjoy giving piano instruction for the love of it, piano teaching is my career and livelihood. Setting an annual tuition rate allows me to have a regular income all year long. It also makes it easier for students and parents to budget, as they will know exactly what to expect each month. The annual tuition rate covers much more than just "x" number of private lessons each year - it also includes recital expenses, professional development for the teacher, and more. These are all things that allow me to provide the student with the best musical education they deserve.