Brill Music Academy is proud to offer piano lessons to people of all ages and skill levels in the Las Vegas area. Our piano instructors pride themselves in customizing piano lessons to each student, providing well-rounded instructions for students of any age and skill level.
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Our Staff
Debbie Green
Piano & Voice
Graduating in 1973 with a B.S. (Education), Debbie taught music for four years in the Council Bluffs (Iowa) Public Schools. She was the chairman of the Council Bluffs Central Area Music Festival
Herbert Thames
Piano & Voice
Singer/songwriter/composer Herbert Thames was born and raised in Las Vegas. He graduated from Northern Arizona University with a B.A. in Music and has been involved in music from childhood. He has sung
Jennifer Kittinger Loss
Piano & Voice
Jennifer Kittinger Loss has been teaching voice and piano for over two decades. She received her Master of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of
Marie Leatham-Davis
Piano & Voice
Marie is a vocalist, pianist, cellist, published songwriter and music lover who holds arts degrees in Music Composition (2014) and French (2017) from the College of Southern Nevada. She has been playing
Pam Posey
Piano & Voice
Pam Posey is a skilled vocal instructor and pianist. Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, her love for music catapulted due to the strong presence of music in her household. As a
Lesson Pricing
- Weekly 30 minute lessons: $130/month
- Weekly 60 minute lessons: $255/month
New to Piano Lessons? What to Expect
At Brill Music Academy, we welcome all music learners, from absolute beginners to advanced students preparing for university or conservatory study. We understand that for those who are new to music lessons or piano lessons, getting started can seem a little daunting. Here’s what to expect if you’re new to piano lessons.
We’ll Start at the Very Beginning
It’s a very good place to start, after all. (Sorry, but you had to expect a little music humor!)
Don’t worry about the fact that you are a beginner. Everyone was at some point, even our teachers! Our teachers are all great pianists—they have studied how to play the piano. But even more important, they are trained in piano pedagogy, which is the study of how best to teach others to play the piano.
Our experienced teachers will start with the basics: how the instrument works, what the keys and pedals do, and basic posture and hand position. Before long, new students learn how to find home position and middle C, and they begin learning how to identify notes on sheet music.
Books
There are several great piano curricula used for beginners today, and our teachers use a variety of these at Brill Music Academy. In or before a student’s first lesson, the teacher will provide a list of piano books to purchase.
Finding an Instrument
Are you in a piano-less home? For many beginning students, the first and biggest obstacle is finding an instrument. It’s impossible to progress very far without consistent practice, and consistent practice requires consistent access to a piano or digital keyboard.
Deciding between an acoustic piano and a digital keyboard is a complex decision, and the right choice for your family depends on your living situation, your goals, and even your aesthetic preferences.
Your piano instructor will work with you in determining what’s best for starting out. You can get recommendations on what to get and where to buy it at your first lesson.
All Ages and Skill Levels Welcome
Many of the piano instructors at Brill Music Academy love working with beginners, whether those beginners are children or adults. Others focus more on developing the skills unique to intermediate or advanced students.
Some of our teachers prefer working with highly motivated advanced students who are working towards advanced piano study at the university or conservatory level. Of course, many teachers prefer most of all working with a student all the way through their piano journey, from absolute beginner all the way to advanced amateur or even college and performance prep.
What Styles of Music Instruction Are Available?
Some students begin piano lessons with a specific goal in mind, such as to become a jazz pianist or a singer-songwriter. We support endeavors like these, of course! However, all students begin by learning fundamental technique and fundamental music literacy. Technique includes posture, hand position and proper playing technique. Music literacy includes reading and writing skills, music theory, and a little music history as well. Students also learn fundamental literature, both in and outside of methods books.
Of course, once a student has learned the fundamentals, we are happy for them to branch out, and we have the skilled staff needed to train them. Once they reach the proper level of mastery of the basics, students can learn piano-related genres and skills like jazz, musical theater, accompanying, songwriting, and more.
Is Your Child Interested in Piano Lessons? Here’s Where to Start
One of the most overwhelming feelings as a parent is when your own child expresses interest in something you don’t understand or know that well yourself. This is the feeling many parents who haven’t studied music face when their children start showing interest in music.
We understand how this can feel overwhelming, and we’re here to help.
The Best Age for Starting Piano Lessons
One of the biggest questions we get from parents who don’t have musical training is about when to start. At Brill Music Academy, we generally don’t start piano students before age 5. However, that doesn’t mean that every 5-year-old who shows interest in piano is ready to start taking piano lessons.
To know if your child is ready, take a look at your child’s development. To be ready for piano lessons, your child should be on par with peers in physical strength and dexterity. Similarly, as reading music is a big part of learning piano, your child should be at or above the kindergarten level when it comes to reading, phonics, pattern recognition and related skills.
It’s OK if your child is too short to reach the pedals. Beginning level instruction doesn’t require the use of them.
Lastly, your child needs an adequate attention span and ability to stay focused for 20 or 30 minutes at a time.
Overall Benefits of Piano Lessons
Maybe you’re a realist. You’re pretty sure that you (or your child) won’t likely become the next concert pianist or singer/songwriter sensation. Is it really worth it to take piano lessons, then?
Absolutely, it is! There are so many benefits to taking piano lessons (and really to musical instruction of any sort). One of the greatest benefits is musical literacy. We’ve spoken to many, many adults over the years who regret giving up on music lessons (or never having the opportunity in the first place). We’ve never met one that regretted taking them!
Reaching a level of piano ability where you can sit down and play songs by ear (or even sight-read a score) is inherently fulfilling for many musicians. Understanding the mechanics of music brings deeper enjoyment to any situation where music is present—from concerts to TV to the grocery store.
Piano Lessons in Las Vegas
Are you ready to start piano lessons for you or a family member in the Las Vegas area? Contact us to get started.