Piano lessons for Leaside families
What does it actually take to keep a kid playing piano past the first year? Not talent — most kids who quit don’t lack ability. What they usually lack is a teacher who adjusts quickly when something isn’t working, and material that stays interesting. Those two things are harder to find than a convenient address, but the address matters too.
Our studio at 2180 Bayview Ave is about eight minutes north of Bayview & Eglinton, following Bayview straight up from Leaside. For families near Laird & Eglinton or the Leaside Memorial Gardens, that’s a realistic weekly trip — shorter than most hockey practices. Trevor Flemings, who did his graduate studies in collaborative piano at U of T, teaches piano at that studio. He also teaches voice, so students who want to eventually add singing to their piano work can stay with the same teacher.
The eight-minute drive is worth mentioning because Serena Gundy Park sits close to the route up Bayview — a few families from Leaside have made it a habit to stop there after a Saturday lesson, particularly in the summer. We don’t have a studio in Leaside proper, and we won’t pretend otherwise. What we do have is a presence at the same address since 2003, a team of university-trained teachers, and a track record with Leaside families long enough that we’ve taught siblings and in a few cases the same students for close to twenty years.
Piano lessons run 30 minutes. Current rates are on our tuition page. Regular private lessons are $55.38 (30 min) or $64.81 (45 min); a trial lesson is $20. We’re also an official Music Together licensee, so if you have a child under five alongside an older one taking piano, both programs run at 2180 Bayview. Kennedy Dance is in the same building — many Saturday families double up.
Piano gives students the clearest picture of how music is structured. What takes months to hear on other instruments is visible from the first lesson.
Frequently asked questions about piano lessons for Leaside families
- Is eight minutes from Leaside realistic for a weekly commitment?
- For most families it is. The drive up Bayview from Leaside Memorial Gardens is straightforward — one road, no highway. Many of our Leaside families have been making that trip for years. A few book Saturday mornings and pair it with Serena Gundy Park or Leaside Farmers’ Market on the way back.
- My child has already had one piano teacher who didn’t work out. How is this different?
- We try to match students to teachers based on learning style and age, not just schedule. If the first match isn’t right, we’ll say so and try another teacher before a student loses interest. All our teachers hold university music degrees and pass a Toronto Police Vulnerable Sector Check — that’s the baseline, not a selling point.
- Can piano lessons lead to voice lessons with the same teacher?
- Yes. Trevor Flemings teaches both piano and voice. Students who want to add singing at some point don’t need to start over with a new teacher, which makes the transition easier for kids who are shy about singing in front of someone new.
- What happens if we need to cancel a lesson?
- We ask for 24 hours’ notice for cancellations. Lessons cancelled with less notice are charged unless there’s an illness or emergency. We try to offer a makeup time within the same month when schedules allow.