"Music is the heartbeat of the human soul, and as vital to the spirit as any nourishment. It connects, heals, and empowers us. No one should go through life without its joy, comfort, and magic—as a friend, a teacher, and a daily source of light."
Parents understand the lifelong value of music and want it woven into their children’s education. From cognitive and physical benefits to life skills like resilience and focus, learning an instrument offers tremendous rewards. Music also provides a vital creative outlet, stress relief, and a way for kids to discover their own identity. However, between school, sports, family time, and essential rest, fitting in music lessons can feel overwhelming. Balancing so much often leads to feelings of guilt about not prioritizing music without sacrificing another activity. But there is a way to make music work: our studio has designed a program that fits today’s busy lives while delivering high-quality music education. With our monthly accelerated lessons, you’ll see the same—if not better—results as traditional private lessons. In our 35 years of teaching, we’ve seen students progress faster, enjoy longer-lasting engagement, and become better readers. Here, you can give your child the gift of music without compromise.
Making Music Work: Piano Mini Camps for Busy Families
A Flexible, Affordable Way to Learn Piano—Once per month, instead of once per week! Our monthly piano program is designed for families who want quality music instruction without the commitment of weekly lessons. With just one 2-hour session each month, this program fits easily into busy schedules and, since it’s only once a month, it may be worth considering—even if our studio is a bit further than usual. At half the cost of weekly lessons, it’s also a budget-friendly way to keep your child’s interest in music alive.
While regular practice is helpful, we believe that real progress comes from learning to read music on-sight, which is a core focus of our sessions. Instead of getting stuck on the same song, students develop strong reading skills that make learning new music much easier—keeping home playing enjoyable and manageable.
A weekly routine can sometimes make lessons feel predictable, but with our monthly sessions, the excitement stays fresh! By coming together just once a month, students keep that "honeymoon" phase going, looking forward to each session with renewed energy and enthusiasm for learning.
Our Once-a-Month Piano Mini Camps are designed for students who want to continue their piano education without the weekly commitment. Ideal for those balancing busy schedules, these sessions offer a structured, in-depth learning experience to keep progress steady, even with limited time.
Another plus...there's no long-term commitment. Lessons can continue on a month-by-month basis.
This program is designed for students ages 7 and up who need a flexible yet intensive learning format that reduces the weekly practice commitment by focusing on supervised practice and song mastery during the sessions themselves. Ideal for students with demanding school or work schedules or families needing flexibility due to irregular commitments, each session is two hours—equivalent to four weekly lessons at other studios. Between sessions, only a light practice commitment is recommended (play for enjoyment!), with optional 15-minute virtual check-ins available each week. During these check-ins, students can play through songs, address questions, and receive gentle accountability to support their progress and confidence.
Monthly lessons are also a great supplement for students already studying band, orchestra, or chorus in school, but want to experience more music reading and advance faster.
Program Structure
Session Details Each monthly session is designed to give students a well-rounded learning experience that maximizes growth and builds strong foundational skills. During each lesson, students will receive:
Individual Instruction: One-on-one guidance tailored to each student’s level and learning style.
Guided Practice: Hands-on, structured practice to build confidence and reinforce key concepts.
Feedback on Previous Assignments: Constructive, personalized feedback on past work to celebrate strengths and identify areas for improvement.
Focused Objectives: Clear, achievable goals to work toward between sessions, ensuring every student stays motivated and on track.
Frequency and Duration Our lessons are held once a month in convenient 2-hour sessions. This schedule provides ample time for in-depth instruction, while allowing students the flexibility to balance other commitments. This monthly format ensures that each session is highly effective and impactful. Progress Tracking To support each student’s journey, we offer several ways to monitor progress between sessions:
Practice Logs: Students can log practice time and specific skills they’re working on.
Self-Assessment Tools: Simple, engaging tools help students assess their own understanding and identify areas for further focus.
Online Check-Ins: Optional online check-ins are available, so students can ask questions or request additional guidance between sessions.
How Our Mini Camp is Successful
Instructional Approach Our program uses an accelerated, intensive (but not too intense!) structure designed to maximize learning in each session. Through carefully structured, longer lessons, students cover material efficiently, allowing them to progress at an impressive pace. Each session is packed with focused activities that drive skill development, making the most of every moment together. Skills Development To build strong, well-rounded musicianship, we focus on three core skills essential for musical fluency:
Sight-Reading: Developing strong sight-reading skills to improve accuracy, reading speed, and confidence in approaching new music.
Practice: Encouraging effective, goal-oriented practice techniques that reinforce lesson material and build self-discipline.
Performance: Cultivating performance skills that boost poise and expression, helping students feel prepared and excited to share their progress.
These three areas—sight-reading, practice, and performance—are balanced within our program through hands-on rhythm exercises, music theory integration, and practical activities. This balanced approach ensures students build comprehensive skills and develop fluency, even with fewer sessions. Independent Practice Our program is designed to foster independence and self-motivation. Between sessions, students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning, using the strategies and goals set in each lesson to guide their practice. By building self-discipline and a sense of responsibility, students gain confidence in their own abilities, making each session an opportunity to showcase their growth.
Benefits to Students & Parents
Flexibility and Convenience This program is designed with flexibility in mind, making it an ideal choice for students with irregular schedules. The monthly session format accommodates other commitments, allowing students to maintain consistent progress without the need for a weekly lesson. It’s a simple, convenient way to keep learning on track. Cost-Effective Option Our lesson structure provides a high-value alternative to weekly sessions. By focusing on intensive monthly lessons, students make significant progress without the time or cost commitment of weekly lessons. This format offers families an accessible, effective way to invest in music education while balancing other priorities. Skill Retention A key focus of our program is fostering independent learning, empowering students to build and retain skills even with fewer sessions. Through structured objectives and self-directed practice techniques, students develop a lasting musical foundation that stays with them, allowing for meaningful growth between each session.
Enrollment Options & Pricing
Enrollment is easy! You can choose and reserve your slot through our online calendar. Piano Mini Camp dates are noted on our online calendar and available for sign up there. Students can choose to continue on a month-to-month basis, with no long-term commitment. However, for your convenience, we can set you up with recurring reminders...so you'll never miss a lesson!
What's Included in a single Mini Camp:
One 2-hour in-studio session each month
Weekly 15-minute online check-ins to keep you on track
Pricing:
One-time Mini Camp session: $90.00
Discounted rate for monthly subscriptions: $85.00 per month when you sign up for recurring monthly camps in advance
Choose the option that best suits your schedule and commitment level. Sign up today to secure your spot and start your musical journey with us!
Hear What Our Families Say
"I simply cannot put into words how much my girls are absolutely LOVING the lessons. The gentle but challenging approach is exactly what they needed/wanted. They’ve worked with I think three of the instructors and have loved every single one of them equally. They are seriously enjoying it so much and it feels so FUN to them. They are practicing soooo much every single day because it’s so fun. Cannot thank you enough for everything. It is the PERFECT fit for us. So so so thankful we found you." -Heather S. (Oct. 2023)
"Look no further because you will not find another music instruction company as fantastic and as dedicated as The Music Studio!! My son is now 18 years old and started taking piano lessons at TMS when he was six years old. He was recently accepted into the college of his choice to major in music and has received multiple, competitive music scholarships totaling tens of thousands of dollars!! The incredible patience, knowledge, experience, instruction, and dedication of the music teachers at TMS are unparalleled and I will be forever so grateful for their attention to my son’s music education which has provided him with such excellent piano skills and techniques to help him achieve his dreams. Thank you everyone at TMS!! :)" -Patty L. (Mar. 2023)
Ready to look into Monthly Piano Mini Camps further?
We'd love to hear about your child's interest in music, your scheduling needs, and chat about starting a music education plan that makes sense for your child's success and keeps them playing! Let's plan a Complimentary Tryout Lesson...there's no pressure or obligation to sign up, and it's a great way to check out our studio, meet teachers, ask questions, and sample what a lesson is like!
"What is the monthly schedule like...what days/times are the classes?" Taking into consideration that families and students have a heavy schedule on weekdays, our classes are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays (once per month). For a complete list of specific dates, click here: ONCE-A-MONTH LESSON DATES & TIMES. "What if my child can’t practice much between lessons?" It’s completely fine if your child doesn’t practice extensively between lessons. Over-practicing can lead to focusing too heavily on a few pieces, which often hinders sight-reading growth. Think of it like reading the same book repeatedly without exploring new words or ideas—skills and fluency remain limited. Instead, we suggest (and prefer) a light review of lesson material, a weekly 15-minute online check-in with the teacher, and encouraging your child to play for enjoyment whenever possible. "Will lessons be difficult if they're spaced farther apart?" No. With over 35 years of teaching experience, we find that students retain what they learn in each lesson, even with longer intervals between sessions. More frequent playing does help with familiarity and fluency, though, so we encourage weekly online check-ins to support regular engagement. These 15-minute virtual sessions allow for quick review and help keep the student on track. You can schedule these virtual check-ins easily through our online calendar. "What are the weekly 15-minute online check-ins like?...How do they help?" Weekly check-ins provide students not only provide students with accountability, but also serve to encourage and motivate them to explore new music. It's a chance for them to show off the songs they're polishing at home to their teacher. And, it's a chance for the teacher to make sure progress is ongoing and assign new music as needed. "How is progress measured in an accelerated format?" Students work through their lesson books by practicing and mastering each piece before moving forward, ensuring that completed pages are fully learned. As they progress, we also log repertoire pieces for continued polishing and possible performance. Progress is based on sight-reading fluency and a solid understanding of musical notes, rhythms, and terms. At the end of each level, students receive a Certificate of Mastery and can demonstrate skills through an optional class performance. "Can we switch to a weekly lesson format if our schedule opens up?" Absolutely. Weekly lessons are always available as a flexible option. "What if we have to miss a lesson?" We understand that even with monthly lessons, schedules can change unexpectedly. If you need to miss a lesson, we offer flexible options: you can either reschedule or apply your current payment toward a future class. Additionally, students can "make up" the missed time by scheduling two 60-minute weekly sessions whenever it’s convenient.