FAQs

Instruments & Materials‍
Practice & Learning at Home
Scheduling & Attendance
Performances & Ensembles
Billing & Statements

Getting Started

  • We offer programs for students of all ages and skill levels — from early childhood music classes to advanced ensemble programs. Here's a quick overview:

    Seasonally:

    Not sure which program is the right fit? Check out our Browse by Age guide, or contact us — we're happy to help.

  • We have three studios — two in Boyertown and one in Spring City (East Vincent), PA — and offer private lessons online from anywhere.

    View locations, addresses, & maps →

  • A great place to start is our Browse by Age guide, which matches programs to your child's age and stage.

    If you already know you're interested in a specific area:

    Still not sure? Contact us‍ ‍— we're happy to point you in the right direction.

  • No problem — repeating a class is completely okay, and is expected!

    New material is chosen every year and is designed to meet the needs of the students in each unique class, so your child will have a fresh experience even if they've taken the class before.

    And because your child will be a year older and more developed as a musician, they'll continue to learn new things and to solidify skills they worked on previously.

    There's also something special that happens when a returning student becomes one of the more experienced voices in the room — they grow into a leadership role, modeling enthusiasm and confidence for newer classmates.

  • Collective Harmony is our umbrella term for all of the vocal ensemble and choral programs at the Music Studio of Patricia Keith. It encompasses our vocal ensembles and choirs. These groups have performance opportunities throughout the year. Note that the specific programs offered may vary from year-to-year.

    See our current vocal programs →

  • New families can get started in less than 10 minutes. Go to our Enrollment page →

    Returning families can skip straight to the Registration Center.

  • If you're a little nervous, that's completely normal — and your teacher will help put you at ease right away. There are no tests, no pressure, and nothing to prepare.

    Your first lesson will have more talking than most. Your teacher will want to get to know you a little — your background, your goals, and what excites you about music. You'll also get a sense of your teacher's style and what your lessons will look like going forward.

    You'll start making music at the first lesson too! Building a skill takes time and practice, but don't be surprised if you're already playing or singing something by the end of your very first session.

    Come with an open mind and a positive attitude — and if you have any prior experience, feel free to bring music you've been working on. It's not a test; it just helps your teacher understand where you are and plan the best path forward. Beginners don't need to bring anything — your teacher will recommend materials after meeting you.

    You may want to bring:

    • Any music you're currently working on (if you have prior experience)

    • A notebook for tracking weekly practice goals

    • Your instrument (strings, woodwinds, guitar, ukulele, etc. — piano students don't need to bring anything)

    • A water bottle (especially for voice students)

Instruments & Materials

  • Any type of acoustic piano is best, whether it’s an upright or a grand (if you have the space 😊). The greatest benefit of an acoustic piano is the tactile experience of playing—it feels and operates differently than a keyboard.

    If not, a full-size keyboard (88 keys) with weighted action is needed. A bench is needed to sit properly at the piano or keyboard.

    Many younger students need a stool under their feet. If they use a foot stool in lessons, they probably need one at home too. If their feet are dangling they need a foot stool.  If their feet can be flat and touch the floor (not just toes), then they do not need a foot stool. An adjustable bench is best, but if you don’t have one, younger piano students may need to sit on a cushion or book in order to reach the keys effectively. When they place their hands on the keys, their arms and hands should be level and not reaching up.


    We offer a keyboard rent-to-own program that helps students get started at a low monthly rate. Details here.

  • Yes, although a keyboard is not quite the same as a piano, but a keyboard with 88 weighted keys will work when you are first getting started. Any other type of keyboard may be a lot cheaper, but will not be the right type of instrument for taking piano lessons.

    We offer a keyboard rent-to-own package that helps students get started at a low monthly rate. Details here.

  • For all instruments besides piano, students should bring their instruments to the studio.

    Keyboards and/or pianos are available at the studio for piano students.

    In addition, students should come to lessons or classes with their books or sheet music & their notebooks (if used to track assignments or progress).

    Vocal students may wish to bring water.

    Many students find it helpful to have a specific tote bag for their music materials to keep everything together between home and the studio.

  • Materials will vary by instrument and lesson type. Most teachers will assign books or sheet music, which should be brought to each lesson or class. Students may also wish to keep a practice notebook and have pencils for marking music. Voice students should bring water.

    In addition, materials particular to each instrument may be needed: tuners or metronomes (can be apps on a device), capos, reeds, cork grease, picks, polishing or cleaning cloths, and an instrument case.

    Students in some of our vocal ensembles will need to purchase choir attire.

Practice & Learning at Home

  • This is a great question that we hear a lot! It's good to remember that practicing is a skill, just like any other, and takes time and teaching to develop. 

    Some children are highly self-motivated and take the task on independently, but most children need guidance and reminders. 

    • Minimize distractions during practice time. Talk to all family members and be in agreement that the TV, video games, etc. are turned off during practice time. Help other siblings understand the importance of practice time and talk to them about how to be respectful. 

    • Sit down with your child and have them make their own list of what days and times they will practice this week. Sometimes that alone makes a big difference because they are taking ownership in picking their own practice times and won't feel that it's being mandated by someone else. 

    • Plan on giving your child a friendly reminder each day about practicing, but be sure to walk that fine line between reminding and nagging. We know that can be a tricky thing!

    A good rule of thumb is to work towards 5 practice sessions per week. For young students, each session can be just a few minutes long.

  • Get involved in your child's practice time when you feel it may be beneficial. Some children are shy or uncomfortable about playing/singing for family members, so talk to your child about that first!

    Some ideas for parental involvement in practice time: 

    • Look through their practice notes and help them remember to practice everything.

    • Ask your child to teach you something they have learned. 

    • Ask them to play/sing their favorite song for you. 

    • Ask them to show you something that is challenging in this week's lesson. 

    • Suggest they give a mini home recital to: you, your spouse, siblings, friends... or for the youngest students, even pets or stuffed animals can be a fun and willing audience. 

  • This is normal and common—it just means they are human!

    Just like eating vegetables or exercising, practice may not always feel appealing in the moment, but the benefits are always worthwhile. Parents often need to remind their child to practice, and that's completely normal. Setting up a consistent practice routine within the schedule and offering plenty of positive reinforcement helps children succeed. They'll be grateful for it—often sooner than expected!

    Music education is life-changing, regardless of career path or profession. Many adults express regret that their parents allowed them to quit lessons as children. Interestingly, those whose parents encouraged them to continue through the ups and downs rarely regret sticking with it. The skills, discipline, and joy that music brings last a lifetime.

    • Early pianists may wish to sit down at the keyboard for just a few minutes 5 times per week to establish a good habit.

    • Older students should strive for 5-6 practice sessions per week. The amount of time can vary, but 15-30 minutes is a good guideline, depending on age and experience level.

    • Extra practicing for those motivated to do so is always encouraged and will help the student achieve wonderful results even sooner! 

    • Don't feel the need to set a timer, but do watch the clock. 

    • Most students are asked to fill out a practice chart because it is a helpful way to track progress and maintain excellent communication among the instructor, student, and parent. 

Scheduling & Attendance

  • The easiest place to check is your Studio Portal — all of your enrollment details are there. Navigate to the calendar to view your lessons or classes.

    You can also check your email and text messages for our automated reminders, which are sent before each lesson or class. If you aren’t seeing or receiving those, reach out to us!

  • Our messages occasionally end up bypassing your inbox and end up being sent to spam, promotions, or updates. Try searching your email for messages from @patriciakeith.com — if you find them, mark them as important or move them to your inbox. Most email apps will remember this preference and deliver future messages correctly.

    If you're still not receiving messages after checking, contact us and we'll make sure we have the right email address on file.

  • Please let your teacher know as soon as possible, or contact the studio office via email at info@patriciakeith.com or text us at 484-938-8863, and we will pass the message along. Policies for student absences are covered in the Studio Agreement.

  • Make-up and cancellation policies vary depending on your program type.

    Refer to the Studio Agreement for terms specific to your enrollment.

    Contact us if you have questions about your situation.

  • When severe weather strikes, lessons & many of our classes generally continue online at the discretion of the teacher rather than being cancelled.

    We also build snow days into the studio calendar each year to account for weather-related disruptions.

    Please note that we do not automatically follow school district closures or delays. Because schools typically make weather decisions early in the morning — well before the majority of our programs take place — conditions may be quite different by lesson time. Decisions about studio programs are made independently based on conditions at the time.

    When there is bad weather, keep an eye on your email as well as text messages.

    For full details, refer to the Studio Agreement.

  • Our planned closures and holidays are listed on the Studio Calendar.

    Individual teachers may also take a limited number of additional days off throughout the year — how this is handled depends on your program type and is outlined in your Studio Agreement. If your teacher will be absent on a regularly scheduled studio day, you will be notified, either by the teacher, the studio office, through automated reminders/messages, or possibly by all three!

  • Cancellation and withdrawal terms for all programs are outlined in the Withdrawal & Discontinuation section of your Studio Agreement.

    You can visit the Studio Help Center to give your notice of withdrawal.

    Contact us if you have questions about your specific situation.

  • Absolutely — we're happy to help you find a better fit. Whether that means adjusting to a different class time, switching between private lessons and group classes, or moving to a program at a different price point, there are often more options than families realize. Reach out to the office and we'll work through it with you.

Performances & Ensembles

  • Our current and upcoming performance schedule can be found on the Performances page.

  • Recitals are for private lesson students on the membership across all disciplines & for students in piano classes. Students in select classes (such as voice classes, which vary from year to year) may also be invited. Watch your email for an invitation to register for our fall and spring recitals.

    Sign up online through the Studio Portal. There will be several time slots to choose from.

    Go to the calendar, click on "Find & Book" or "Book Now" button, and navigate to the recital date; click on the time slot you’d like and click "Book Now".

    For families with multiple students, you can repeat this process after selecting the other student(s) in the selection box at the top of the calendar.

    There is limited space in each time slot, so don’t delay! If you do not see a particular time, that means it's fully booked!

    In order to be sure that no reservation request is overlooked, recital reservations must be made directly through the portal.

    Please note that you can make changes to your attendance (e.g., cancelling your registration or changing times for the Studio-Wide recital), by going to your Schedule, selecting the event, and clicking "Cancel Booking".

  • No — if you're enrolled in an ensemble, performance dates are provided to all members as part of the program. Participation in performances is expected for all ensemble members. An ensemble’s success is based on each individual’s participation and dedication. Because of this, no separate sign-up is required.

    If you must miss rehearsal and/or the performance, please communicate that with the teacher and/or the studio office as soon as possible.

  • We ask that all ensemble members do their best to attend rehearsals and performances — these events depend on the full group. If you have a pre-existing conflict, please let your teacher or director know as soon as possible and keep the office in the loop so we can plan accordingly.

  • Recitals are one of our favorite studio traditions — a chance to celebrate each student's hard work in a warm, low-pressure setting. Our philosophy is that students of every instrument, every discipline, and every level are welcome and encouraged to perform. There are no auditions and no minimum skill level. If a student isn't quite ready to perform at a given recital, that's completely fine too — there will always be another opportunity.

    Students perform solo, though duets with another student or with a teacher are also an option when that best suits a student's needs. Pieces should be under 2 minutes in length, and performing from memory is strongly recommended.

    We offer studio-wide recitals open to all eligible students twice a year, and a Premium Private Recital option in the spring season, for families who prefer an intimate performance experience with their own guest list.

    Details for each recital are sent directly to eligible families via email each semester.

Billing & Statements

  • Your Annual Membership Fee covers materials, performance opportunities, portal access, and more — with specifics varying by program type. See the full breakdown →

  • We offer several convenient payment options including online payments, bank transfer, and cash or check. For full details on payment methods, how to set up Auto-Pay, and understanding your invoice, visit our Payments & Billing page →

  • No action is needed right away — our staff will send you an invoice after your registration is processed. Payment is made using the link in that invoice, so just keep an eye on your email. If you haven't received anything within a week of registering, reach out to us.

  • If there are no family members actively taking lessons or classes, and are not signed up for any upcoming events, your account is likely disabled.

    If you are a previous member, visit the Registration Center to sign up and your studio portal account will be reactivated by our team as part of your registration. The team will be in touch once your registration has been processed and your account will be active again.

  • The Annual Membership Fee applies to all membership and monthly programs, including private lessons on the membership, schoolyear early learning, vocal, and instrumental programs.

    It does not apply to à la carte lessons, flex lesson packages, summer camps, summer classes, or workshops, or session-based all-inclusive classes that run for a limited number of weeks.

    A few things worth knowing:

    • The fee is billed once per student, per year while continuously enrolled — no matter how many programs they participate in

    • Re-enrollment terms for returning students are covered in the Studio Agreement

    Full details on what's included →