Beth Smith Studio

Piano Lessons, Music Classes, Home School Resources

in the Baltimore Area

Private weekly piano lessons

Specializing in: beginner - intermediate, home-schoolers, special needs (visually impaired)

Homeschool Music Class (elementary & middle school)

Services Offered

Private weekly piano lessons: $25 for half-hour lesson
Two Recitals a Year (free)
Summer Piano Drop In Day
Optional Performance opportunities through studio classes and nursing home visits (free)
Home School Music Classes (Fall & Spring Semester): K-2 & 3-5, Middle School

My Resume

Taught piano and voice lessons for 14 years
Played piano for 30+ years
Participated in private piano & voice lessons, choirs, county choir, church choirs, show choirs and musicals.
Led children and youth choirs, bands, and musicals.
Taught elementary homeschool music class for 2 years
Bachelors in Psychology
Masters in Special Education certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Orientation & Mobility Specialist

My Philosophy - developing the whole musician

Building strong finger techniques through scales and arpeggio games and activities
Recognizing musical symbols, patterns and intervals for reading music
Ear training for improved expression, improvisation, and composition
Rehearsing musical vocabulary, concepts, history, and composers
Piano Books I Use: Faber and Faber lesson, technique, performance and theory books (primer through Level 5)
Developing proper understanding of the singing instrument, proper warm ups, solfege to develop sight singing and ear training, incorporating vocal techniques and memorization skills into a wide repertoire
Vocal Books: Joan Boytim Vocal Exercises and Solfege training, Con cone, First Books of Solos
Homeschool Music Class Books: A Feast of Ideas Curriculum, John Fierabend, The Kodaly Method by Louis Choksy

2024 - 2025 Payment Policy

$25 / 30 minute lesson; 30 lessons during the school year

Tuition based payment

$750/student for the school year.
- $25 discount if you pay in full at the start of the year ($725/student)
- Payment Plans optional ($750/student)
  - Semester: $375/student
  - Quarterly: $187.50/student

Included in tuition: 30 weeks of lessons, 2 recitals, available for practicing support and questions throughout the week
Refunds will not be issued for missed lessons, planned or unplanned.
Refunds will be given for lessons when I have to cancel a lesson (or make up lesson offered).
If you have to drop out of my studio during the middle of the year, refunds or payment plan issues will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

Absence policy

Please still let me know if you are unable to make a lesson as early as possible. I will use pre-planned absences as fill in slots for make-up lessons. Make up lessons are not guaranteed but will be offered when available.
If you must cancel a lesson the day of, please let me know as soon as possible.
Too many “No-Shows” for lessons will result in losing your spot in the studio.
My lessons run back to back, please make every effort to arrive on time. If you are more than 10 minutes late, I will have to drop “Piano Bingo” during the lesson (which is most students’ favorite part of the lesson).

Studio Safety Policies

- Lessons & Classes will be in-person as a default (extenuating circumstances - family illness, government restrictions, etc.)

- Daily wipe down of contact points.

- Students hand sanitize upon arrival, before they even touch the piano.

- If a family has a sick family member in their home, I will ask the whole family refrain from coming, but will give the student a virtual lesson instead.

- If I have a sick family member, I will give virtual lessons/class that day.

- Music Classes will be held outdoor (weather permitting)

- Families can opt for any of these
1) No playdates with my children (or if they do play together, it's only in the backyard).
2) Parents can drop off children and wait outside or in their car (reduce adult transmission possibilities)

Testimonials

“Choosing Beth as my kids' piano instructor is a no brainer for me. She is professional, prepared from lesson 1 through to the recital, thorough in the content, covering theory, technique, reading and listening skills, and best of all, she's a mother who relates well to my kids. She gets them, they like her, and the synergy is worth more than I could pay for. We'll continue with her next year, for sure.”

— Dee Dee

“When looking for a piano teacher, we really hit the jackpot with Beth Smith Studios. Beth is a gifted piano player and an amazing teacher. She has truly found her calling in life, and we are very grateful that our kids have the opportunity to learn from her! She makes piano lessons so much fun while giving meaningful instruction. Beth is so welcoming and friendly that even my shy girl opens up to her. I cannot recommend this studio enough!”

— Amanda

My son has been working with Ms. Beth for close to two years and his musicianship has developed in more ways than one. My son is visually impaired and Ms. Beth was able to enroll him when it became difficult for his previous teacher to accommodate for his needs. Ms. Beth works with her students based on their individuality, she re-enforces their strengths, and supports them in working on areas of weaknesses as far as music is concerned. She is super attentive to details and also makes the kids, even teenagers, enjoy learning music. As a result of her top quality teaching and dedication, I recently enrolled my son and his high school aged sister (who participates in the Baltimore County Honours Choir) for voice lessons. This for me has been the best decision ever.