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: $900 for yearly tuition ($30 for 30 minute lesson; 30 lessons a year)
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 15 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 5 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

2026 - 2027 Payment Policy

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

Tuition based payment

$900/student for the school year.
- Payment Plans optional ($900/student)
  - Semester: $450/student
  - Quarterly: $225/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

My 16-year-old son has been taking piano lessons with Beth for about 7 years. He enjoys his lessons and not only has Beth fostered a love of piano in him, but he has truly discovered a love of music since starting lessons with her. He looks forward each week to meeting with Beth, learning new techniques and learning about different styles of music. We started seeing Beth while our son was in elementary school, and as a high schooler her influence has led him to join several different bands and to be involved in school musicals.

A mother and teacher herself, Beth has a natural talent for getting to know her students and adapting teaching and lesson techniques to best fit the individual child. Her studio is in her home and provides her students and their families with a comfortable environment where everyone immediately feels welcomed.

I cannot recommend Beth enough for piano players of all ages. Her prices are reasonable and supporting a small business run by a lovely family is an easy decision. Piano has become a huge part of my son's life, and we cannot thank Beth enough for all the love and work she puts into her role as a piano instructor.