How much are students supposed to practice?
No particular amount of practice guarantees results. Our Lil' Trekkers and Foragers programs have practice time built into each lesson and students master songs at their lesson too, so at-home practice is not needed to progress quickly! We don't require practice at home until the student reaches Trailblazers private lessons for either guitar or intermediate - advanced piano levels.
So if your Foragers or Lil' Trekkers student wants to practice at home, great! If they don't want to practice at home, great! We just ask that parents and guardians please don't force, guilt, or bribe any student to practice...this is one of the top reasons that students quit music making altogether...when it becomes a demand or just another task for a reward.
No particular amount of practice guarantees results. Our Lil' Trekkers and Foragers programs have practice time built into each lesson and students master songs at their lesson too, so at-home practice is not needed to progress quickly! We don't require practice at home until the student reaches Trailblazers private lessons for either guitar or intermediate - advanced piano levels.
So if your Foragers or Lil' Trekkers student wants to practice at home, great! If they don't want to practice at home, great! We just ask that parents and guardians please don't force, guilt, or bribe any student to practice...this is one of the top reasons that students quit music making altogether...when it becomes a demand or just another task for a reward.
What schools do Evergreen students attend?
The majority of Evergreen's 50+ students come from Sycamore and Indian Hill schools. We also have students from Wyoming schools, All Saints School, Schilling Gifted, Cincinnati Country Day School, homeschoolers from Monroe to Anderson Twp, Cincinnati Classical Academy campuses, and The Seven Hills School campuses.
The majority of Evergreen's 50+ students come from Sycamore and Indian Hill schools. We also have students from Wyoming schools, All Saints School, Schilling Gifted, Cincinnati Country Day School, homeschoolers from Monroe to Anderson Twp, Cincinnati Classical Academy campuses, and The Seven Hills School campuses.
I have a shy or stage-frightened student. Do they have to perform in recitals or festivals?
No, we never require or force any student to perform in any recitals or festivals, but we do encourage them to perform in at least one Evergreen recital when they feel ready!
No, we never require or force any student to perform in any recitals or festivals, but we do encourage them to perform in at least one Evergreen recital when they feel ready!
My child is easily distractible and doesn't work well on their own, I just feel like 1:1 piano lessons would be better. Are Lil' Trekkers or Foragers lab lessons REALLY better options for their piano education?
YES, these programs are absolutely better options, and we welcome them here! Here's why:
While private lessons have been the traditional route for over a century, we've found in our's and colleague's studios that inattention is often worse in this setting. Students are overwhelmed with practice pressure, not listening to the teacher, and don't know how (or are embarrassed) to ask anyone for help.
Many private music teachers want, but aren't qualified, to work with neurodivergent/disabled students, nor do they fully understand where kids and parents are coming from. Unfortunately, they get overwhelmed with the little research and strategies available to them that keep failing, and eventually ask the student to leave because they don't know what else to do to help them.
At Evergreen, we've solved the root problem, as well as the problem with engaging neurodivergent students in lesson settings. We designed Evergreen's piano programs around NEURODIVERGENT STUDENTS FIRST, not the other way around, so everyone can move quickly and play well from their first lesson. And guess what, our students are obsessed with piano and learning about music, and beg for more lesson time week after week, even after the 40-55 mins of class time is already up!
Trust me, your child or teen has a LOT more capability to work independently, behave kindly and responsibly, and do their best work when they're simply given the opportunity, space, and trust to do so, even if there's distractibility tendencies or ADHD present!
YES, these programs are absolutely better options, and we welcome them here! Here's why:
While private lessons have been the traditional route for over a century, we've found in our's and colleague's studios that inattention is often worse in this setting. Students are overwhelmed with practice pressure, not listening to the teacher, and don't know how (or are embarrassed) to ask anyone for help.
Many private music teachers want, but aren't qualified, to work with neurodivergent/disabled students, nor do they fully understand where kids and parents are coming from. Unfortunately, they get overwhelmed with the little research and strategies available to them that keep failing, and eventually ask the student to leave because they don't know what else to do to help them.
At Evergreen, we've solved the root problem, as well as the problem with engaging neurodivergent students in lesson settings. We designed Evergreen's piano programs around NEURODIVERGENT STUDENTS FIRST, not the other way around, so everyone can move quickly and play well from their first lesson. And guess what, our students are obsessed with piano and learning about music, and beg for more lesson time week after week, even after the 40-55 mins of class time is already up!
Trust me, your child or teen has a LOT more capability to work independently, behave kindly and responsibly, and do their best work when they're simply given the opportunity, space, and trust to do so, even if there's distractibility tendencies or ADHD present!
Do we need a piano to enroll in lessons at Evergreen? If so, what are your recommendations?
We strongly recommend students to have at least a 61-key touch sensitive keyboard at home so they have the opportunity to practice, or just play around and create music on it! We like Yamaha keyboards and digital pianos the most. No matter what keyboard or digital piano you purchase, always check the reviews, check if it comes with an AC adapter or not (not all of them do), and don't forget to buy a keyboard stand!
If you have an acoustic ("real") piano at home in good working condition, awesome! Just make sure it's properly tuned by a professional 1-2 times a year before practicing on it, even if it sounds like it's in tune.
We strongly recommend students to have at least a 61-key touch sensitive keyboard at home so they have the opportunity to practice, or just play around and create music on it! We like Yamaha keyboards and digital pianos the most. No matter what keyboard or digital piano you purchase, always check the reviews, check if it comes with an AC adapter or not (not all of them do), and don't forget to buy a keyboard stand!
If you have an acoustic ("real") piano at home in good working condition, awesome! Just make sure it's properly tuned by a professional 1-2 times a year before practicing on it, even if it sounds like it's in tune.
What if a student misses a lesson? In fact, what are your policies in general?
We don't want to hide anything or have any surprises, so we're up front with everything you need before deciding to enroll! Tap the document below for our policies for this year...
We don't want to hide anything or have any surprises, so we're up front with everything you need before deciding to enroll! Tap the document below for our policies for this year...
| Evergreen Welcome Guide 2024-25 |
Do you have daytime lesson options for homeschoolers?
Yes we do! While the bulk of our studio consists of full-day school students, all of our teachers are homeschool graduates or are currently being homeschooled. Also, about 20% of our studio consists of homeschooled students. We know how important it is to have some earlier PM options for students with schooling backgrounds like us. Check the lessons page for current offerings earlier in the day!
Is this a "special needs" studio?
No, Evergreen is not a "special needs" studio. But I'd say we're an inclusive/"blended" learning lessons studio, hoping to impact as many students as we can, regardless of neurodiversity.
We have a lot of different learning styles and personalities in our studio, as well as students who are gifted and/or have a broad range of neurodiversity, mental health needs, and disabilities - ADHD, autism, Tourette syndrome, anxiety/depression, fine motor difficulties, and FAS, to name a few. No one is singled out or pointed out, we don't mention disabilities or differences in any classes with our students (we practice respecting and helping others in general!), and diagnoses and needs are confidential to teachers only.
We've carefully built each lesson program to engage students and succeed, while fully customizing lessons to each student's interests, pace, and musical goals. Evergreen's founder and owner, Niki, is twice-exceptional herself (neurodivergent and gifted), has Tourette syndrome, and is certified and experienced working with students who are neurodivergent too. We're the only studio in greater Cincinnati with a teacher with both qualifications and personal experience, and we're ready to make any reasonable accommodations for your student's needs and comfort.
We do things differently because we want every student interested in music here to enjoy and grow in their music education!
No, Evergreen is not a "special needs" studio. But I'd say we're an inclusive/"blended" learning lessons studio, hoping to impact as many students as we can, regardless of neurodiversity.
We have a lot of different learning styles and personalities in our studio, as well as students who are gifted and/or have a broad range of neurodiversity, mental health needs, and disabilities - ADHD, autism, Tourette syndrome, anxiety/depression, fine motor difficulties, and FAS, to name a few. No one is singled out or pointed out, we don't mention disabilities or differences in any classes with our students (we practice respecting and helping others in general!), and diagnoses and needs are confidential to teachers only.
We've carefully built each lesson program to engage students and succeed, while fully customizing lessons to each student's interests, pace, and musical goals. Evergreen's founder and owner, Niki, is twice-exceptional herself (neurodivergent and gifted), has Tourette syndrome, and is certified and experienced working with students who are neurodivergent too. We're the only studio in greater Cincinnati with a teacher with both qualifications and personal experience, and we're ready to make any reasonable accommodations for your student's needs and comfort.
We do things differently because we want every student interested in music here to enjoy and grow in their music education!