How to Choose a Piano Teacher in Bloomington, IN: 7 Questions to Ask

Nov 6

Choosing the right piano teacher makes the difference between a student who quits after a few months and one who plays for life. Whether you're signing up a child or starting lessons as an adult in Bloomington, Indiana, here are seven questions to ask.

1. Are lessons private?

Private lessons let the teacher adjust to each student's pace. At The Davis Academy of Music, every lesson is one-on-one.

2. Is there a clear curriculum?

Ask how progress is measured. Our piano students follow a level-based Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) curriculum with books for sight reading, theory and repertoire, so parents can see real growth.

3. How often do students perform?

Performing builds confidence. Every Davis Academy student performs in a student concert each semester, in December and May.

4. How does the teacher keep students practicing?

Our students earn Davis Dollars every time they practice, compete on a semester practice leaderboard for prizes, and work through 8 challenges such as learning every note on the staff and writing their own song.

5. What training does the teacher have?

Our coaches are led by Dr. Craig Michael Davis, who holds a doctorate in composition from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and prepares students for ISSMA events and college-level music study.

6. What does it cost?

Private lessons at The Davis Academy of Music are $180–$340 per month. See our full breakdown in our FAQ.

7. Can you try a lesson first?

Yes — book a free Meet & Greet or a trial lesson. Need a keyboard at home? Our rent-to-own program includes 61- and 88-key keyboards, and we also offer piano tuning for acoustic pianos.

Ready to start? Enroll in piano lessons online or call 812-727-4441. Outside Bloomington? Try online piano lessons.

Craig Davis

MUSIC for MILLIONS The Craig Michael Davis Ensemble is New York based new-music-ensemble dedicated to commissioning new works and educating audiences to the advancement of Contemporary Classical Music (music of our time). The potency of this ensemble comes from the uniqueness and diversity of each of its members who travel the world advancing the latest in classical music. Since 2009, The Craig Michael Davis Ensemble has curated music from David Lang, Louis Andriessen, Terry Riley, Kyle Gann, Lloyd Rodgers, and Frederic Rzewski. As an outreach extension, we have partnered with schools in East New York to provide music to at-risk and low-income students. ‘J.H.S 292’ and the ‘Good Shepherd After School Program’ are two of these schools that we are already partnering with that serve hundreds of students that lack music education and performance enrichment opportunities. Therefore, the objective of the Craig Michael Davis Ensemble is to help 250 at risk students to value and appreciate Contemporary Classical Music (music written by living composers) through ‘hands-on’ and ‘live concert going’ experiences. The Craig Michael Davis Ensemble accomplishes this, by organizing music events; renting concert halls; partnering with musicians, sound technicians, and stage crews; and bringing low income or at risk children to these educational events at no cost!