Learn Musical Skills for a Lifetime

My teaching philosophy and educational goals for my music students has evolved considerably since I began in 1977. While each student’s preferred learning style is embraced and utilized—i.e., visual, auditory or kinesthetic—focus is also given to the development and combination of a variety of learning characteristics, as further aids to learn and play more musically.

My global educational goal for my students is to teach and empower them to learn for themselves. I aim to create new Masters—musicians that are knowledgeable and functional—rather than simple Followers who are forever dependent on musical assistance.

I believe it is important that students not only learn to read the written notational language of music, but also that they not be limited by it. Therefore, I teach chordal and rhythmic understanding in whatever literature we're working on. Additionally, after learning to play the score exactly as written, I teach students how to supplement the music by adding notes and changing up the rhythms.

With these goals in mind, I embrace the traditional Classical literature, but am also inclusive of other styles as well—i.e., Popular, Jazz, Gospel, etc. Students are encouraged to bring in pieces they want to learn, thus sharing in the ownership of the literature selected for study.

I teach piano, composition, theory and the art of music notation/engraving. While I enjoy working with my advanced students, I also delight in introducing beginners to the joys of musical study. A multiple-key approach for beginning students is my preference, but I often utilize the traditional middle-C method books as well.

In order to develop artistic and expressive performance skills, students are expected to practice daily—spending as much time as is necessary to conquer their weekly musical goals and assignments. Since most students are involved with multiple extracurricular activities—and sufficient practice time is hard to come by—they are introduced to the concept of clearly defined and deliberate practice in order to meet their short and long term goals. While the skill will be developed and honed within a musical context, it should prove most beneficial throughout the student’s lifetime.

By gifting students with musical skills and understanding, they learn how to learn any music they want, thus providing a lifetime of enjoyment in making music.

Welcome to the Matt Johnson Music Studio, featuring private one-on-one instruction for piano, keyboard, composition, theory and music notation/engraving. Lessons take place in my sunny South Florida studio location or ONLINE LESSONS are available. The following will serve as a basic guideline during our work together. If you ever have questions, please speak with me directly to avoid miscommunications.

ADMISSION: Once accepted into the Studio, I will reserve a mutually agreed upon lesson time for you for the entire Session. I use a two Session system…School Session and Summer Session…with breaks in-between Sessions and during the December holidays.

LESSONS: In fairness to all students, lessons begin and end on time. Please ARRIVE no earlier than five (5) minutes before your lesson time. Upon arrival, please knock and enter quietly, take off your shoes, silence your phones, wash your hands and sit on the front bench until your lesson. PARK in the driveway or around the cul-de-sac, making sure to not block another driveway. Do not park on the street immediately in front of the house, since that creates a bottleneck situation for the neighbors. Also, please keep your fingernails short by cutting them weekly…you play on the tips of your fingers!

PRACTICE EXPECTATIONS: Students should be prepared for each lesson, putting in as much practice time as needed to accomplish the assignments and musical goals set at lessons.

TUITION: You are responsible for the entire Session, which will be divided into monthly payments—due at the first lesson each month. I'll send an invoice at the end of each month that will be due the following week (first lesson of the month). Lessons are one hour each.

MISSED LESSONS: No refund or credit is given for missed or cancelled lessons. I reserve your lesson time in my teaching schedule, so please make it a priority to be there. If an advance conflict arises in your schedule, please let me know and I will try to swap lesson times with another student within the same week. Please remember that you are financially responsible for all scheduled lessons during a Session. Any instructor cancelled lessons will be rescheduled.

RECITALS: Biannually, i.e., a Holiday Recital and an End-of-School Recital.
All music must be memorized and participation is mandatory.