Seventeen years of Tuesday afternoons.
Piano is not learned in a week. Every student here has an hour: the same teacher, the same afternoon, week after week. Those hours add up. Seventeen years of them, in Irvine, since 2009. And when a passage will not come together, in the fingers or in the phrasing, that is where the hour is earned.
About
- Kelly Shin, Director and Instructor
- M.M. Piano Performance, Manhattan School of Music
- B.A. Piano Pedagogy · B.M. Percussion Performance, Cal State Fullerton
- Teaching in Irvine since 2009
- Prize winner, international piano competitions
She teaches students of all ages, fusing her love for teaching and performing into lessons that are both rigorous and joyful. She began playing the piano at five, and her training in both piano and percussion shapes the way she teaches rhythm and tone.
Her students range from beginners in their first year to candidates preparing for Certificate of Merit, ABRSM, and AP Music Theory. At every level, the work is to turn the lesson into an engaging adventure for the student.
Private lessons
Weekly, year-round. Rates are per lesson; tuition is billed monthly, based on the number of lessons that month. One-time registration fee of $30.
Exam & theory
Online group theory classes are required for Certificate of Merit and ABRSM students.
Recitals & events
Every student performs in the yearly studio recital.
How to begin
1
Send a request
Fill in the short form with your student's age, experience and the lesson length you have in mind. Kelly Shin will contact you to schedule.
2
Meet Kelly Shin
The first visit is an interview and trial lesson, free of charge.
3
Weekly lessons begin
Each student is given a regular weekly lesson time. A registration fee of $30 is paid once, on enrollment.
Questions
The full terms are in the studio policy.
What age can students start?
Students of all ages are welcome, from age five.
Where are lessons held?
At Kelly Shin's home studio in Irvine.
Are lessons held all year?
Yes. Lessons are held weekly throughout the calendar year, and each student keeps a regular weekly time. The schedule is adjusted for holidays, studio closures and family travel.
What happens if we miss a lesson?
A lesson cancelled with at least 24 hours' notice qualifies for a makeup, as does one missed because of illness, an accident or a family emergency. A lesson cancelled without notice is forfeited. When a student cannot come in, the lesson can also be taken by live video, replaced with a recorded performance that receives video feedback, or moved to a time another student has given up that week.
How is tuition paid?
Tuition is charged per lesson and paid monthly for the lessons scheduled that month, within the first seven days of the month. Payments after the seventh are subject to a $20 late fee. Check, Zelle, Venmo and cash are accepted.
How much practice is expected?
At least five days a week. Parents are strongly encouraged to be involved, particularly with younger students.
Do we need an acoustic piano?
Students should have regular access to a well maintained acoustic piano at home, professionally tuned at least once a year. A digital piano is acceptable if it has 88 weighted keys and working pedals.
Are there recitals?
Every student performs in the spring recital, whose date is announced at the start of the year. There is also a smaller winter gathering. Group theory classes are required for students preparing for Certificate of Merit or ABRSM.
How do we stop lessons?
Please give at least 30 days' written notice. Because tuition follows the lessons taken, nothing is owed beyond the lessons attended during that time.