Welcome! I’m Emma Morales, a pianist and educator based in Mississauga, ON, and I’m delighted that you’re considering piano lessons for your child.
At The Modern Piano Room, every child gets individualized, research-backed music instruction in a warm and nurturing environment.
The journey starts with our Piano Discovery Lesson – a gentle 30-minute introductory session designed especially for young beginners and their parents.
This special first lesson lets your child explore the piano in a fun, no-pressure setting while I assess their learning style and readiness. You’ll get to see firsthand how I teach and how your little one responds. By the end, we’ll both have a clear picture of how your child can embark on their musical journey, and you’ll have all your questions answered.
Why Choose a Discovery Lesson?
The Piano Discovery Lesson is the perfect first step before committing to regular lessons. It’s mandatory for enrollment in our studio because it benefits everyone:
- You’ll discover if your child genuinely enjoys the piano in a lesson setting – watch their eyes light up as they press the keys and make music.
- I will gently evaluate your child’s readiness, focus, and musical aptitude in a fun way. With 15+ years of piano experience and teaching qualifications, I can assess where your child is at and how to best support their growth.
- You get to meet me and see my teaching style in action. We’ll have time to talk about any questions or goals you have. It’s a two-way street – you’re evaluating the studio as much as I’m evaluating your child.
- This is a no-obligation trial. There’s absolutely no pressure to sign up for more lessons if you or your child aren’t ready. My priority is that lessons start at the right time for your child, even if that means waiting a bit.
In short, the Discovery Lesson offers peace of mind. You’ll either leave excited to enroll with confidence, or you’ll leave with expert insights about your child’s musical readiness and next steps.
What’s Included in the $35 Session?
For a small one-time fee of $35 CAD (credited toward tuition if you continue), your child’s Discovery Lesson includes:
- A Personalized 1-on-1 Lesson
- Fun Skills Assessment
- Parent-Teacher Q&A Time
- Honest Feedback and Next Steps
Why is there a fee?
The $35 fee ensures I can dedicate my time to families serious about exploring lessons, and it covers the preparation and expertise I provide during the session (essentially, it’s a mini lesson + consultation). Importantly, if you choose to enroll in weekly lessons, this fee is credited toward your first tuition payment, making the discovery lesson effectively free in the long run.
A Caring, Evidence-Based Teaching Approach
I combine evidence-based teaching methods with a whole lot of fun! What does that mean for your child? It means the strategies I use are proven by research to help kids learn music effectively, and I stay up-to-date on the best practices in music education. Studies have shown that piano lessons can boost children’s spatial skills, language development, and overall academic performance, so I incorporate activities that develop those benefits in an age-appropriate way.
At the same time, I know every child is wonderfully unique. I adapt each lesson to your child’s personality and learning style. If your little one loves stories, we’ll turn music into a story. If they’re hands-on, we’ll do more exploring on the keys. My goal is to keep your child motivated, confident, and smiling as they learn.
Studio Environment
Lessons take place in my home studio in the Applewood area of Mississauga. Don’t worry – it’s not a formal, stuffy music school room. It’s a welcoming, child-friendly space in my home, equipped with a high-quality digital piano, musical games, and plenty of books. I schedule only one student at a time, so your child gets my undivided attention (and you get a comfy chair to sit and observe!). I strive to make the studio feel like a second home for students – safe, cozy, and inspiring. From the moment you walk in, I want both you and your child to feel at ease.
What to Expect During the Consultation
During the 30-minute session
When you arrive for the Discovery Lesson, I’ll guide you to the studio where we’ll take a few minutes to chat and get comfortable. I'll then invite your child to the piano, and you’ll be sitting right nearby (within a few feet). We’ll dive head-first into a few simple musical games or activity. These activities serve two purposes: they entertain your child and give me insight into their skills (like recognizing patterns, coordination, listening ability, and willingness to try things).
Next, I will introduce some teaching. I might show your child how to play a couple of very simple notes or a pattern and see how they learn. Do they imitate what I do? Do they want to experiment on their own? There’s no right or wrong – this just helps me understand how to best teach them. All the while, I’m gauging their readiness in a gentle, unobtrusive way.
In the last few minutes, I’ll talk with you (the parent) one-on-one. I’ll share what I observed – like your child’s strengths, any areas they might need support in, and whether I feel they’re ready to start regular weekly lessons. This is an honest conversation: if I think your child is absolutely ready, I’ll tell you what the next steps could be. If I feel they would benefit from waiting a little longer (which can be the case with very young learners), I will let you know that too, in a supportive way.
My philosophy (and many music educators agree) is that it’s better not to start formal lessons until a child is developmentally ready, to ensure that their first experience is positive. If that’s the case, I might recommend some fun musical activities you can do at home for a few months and invite you to try again later. No matter what, you will have clear feedback.
After the lesson
If we all agree it’s a great fit and your child is excited to continue, we can look at the schedule and book a weekly lesson slot that works for you. I’ll walk you through enrollment. I’ll also send you a copy of our Studio Policy & Welcome Handbook, which has everything you need to know going forward (such as attendance, practicing tips, etc.). On the other hand, if you or I feel unsure or need time to think, that’s completely fine. There is no obligation to sign up on the spot. You’re welcome to go home, discuss as a family, and let me know. I can even hold your tentative spot for a couple of days if you need to sleep on it. If ultimately you decide not to continue, I truly hope the session was helpful and a positive experience for your child regardless.
Why I Use the Discovery Lesson Approach
Choosing a piano teacher is an important, personal decision; you're finding a mentor for your child. I want you to be 100% confident in entrusting me with that role. That’s why I offer this initial consultation lesson. By meeting your child and working with them before enrollment, I can give you an informed recommendation about lessons, and you can see if my teaching style is the right match for your family.
From my perspective, this approach also ensures that when a student joins my studio, we’re already starting on the right foot. I invest a lot of energy and care into each student, so I want to make sure our expectations align from day one. After a Discovery Lesson, I already have some ideas on how to tailor future lessons to your child, and they come into the first official lesson with a boost of confidence because they know what to expect. It’s a gentle onboarding for them, which leads to better success down the road.
Thank you for considering my studio for this important first chapter in your child’s music education!
Frequently Asked Questions
The $35 fee helps ensure that I can dedicate my full energy and time to families who are serious about exploring lessons. It covers the personalized preparation and professional assessment you’ll receive during the session. You are paying for a mini music lesson + evaluation with a professional.
Importantly, if you decide to enroll in weekly lessons, that $35 is credited toward your tuition, effectively making the consultation free in the long run.
I’ve chosen to charge a small fee (rather than offer a free trial) because in my experience, families who invest in a consultation are more committed and show up ready to learn, which makes the experience more productive and meaningful for everyone.
Rest assured, I’m not making a profit off one half-hour meeting; the fee simply holds the spot and respects the professional service being provided. By crediting it forward, I also ensure that you’re not out-of-pocket at all if you choose to continue.
That’s completely fine; there is no obligation to sign up for lessons after the consultation. If you or I feel that it’s not the right fit, or circumstances change, the decision is entirely in your hands. Your $35 covers the consultation itself (since I set aside that time and provided an assessment and mini-lesson). However, even if you don’t continue, you will still walk away with valuable insights about your child. I will share my observations and recommendations with you during the session.
I aim to provide constructive feedback no matter what. You’ll either begin lessons with clarity and confidence, or you’ll have expert input to inform your next steps. And I promise there are no hard feelings either way! My priority is that your child starts their musical journey at the right time and with the right teacher. If that ends up being elsewhere or later, I fully support your decision.
Moreover, I want to highlight that the consultation itself is a positive experience for the child. Even if you don’t enroll, your child has had a fun introduction to the piano in a one-on-one setting. That exposure can plant a seed of interest that might grow later. They might say, “Remember when I played the piano at that lady’s house? I want to do that again!” when the time is right.
It’s very common for young children (and even older kids) to feel nervous in a new setting with a new adult. First of all, you’ll be right there with your child during the consultation, which usually provides a big sense of security for them. Parents must stay for the entire session, and you'll be sitting in a chair just a few feet away. This way, your child knows you’re nearby and supporting them. Secondly, I have a gentle and patient approach with shy kids. We’ll take a few minutes at the beginning just to talk and get comfortable. I might ask them about their favourite song or cartoon, or show them a funny sound the piano can make, just to elicit a smile. I never force a child to play or participate until they’re ready. If a student is very hesitant, I might say, “Would you like to try pressing a key while I play along?” My studio is a non-pressured environment.
Remember, the consultation is as much about the experience as it is about the evaluation. I want it to be a positive memory for your child. If they’re nervous, I’ll adapt. Some children warm up after 5 minutes and are enthusiastically playing a little tune by the end. Others might stay quiet and observant most of the time. If your child is prone to anxiety, feel free to let me know in advance; I’m happy to accommodate any strategies that help them feel secure.
Being quiet or nervous in a first meeting doesn’t mean a child isn’t ready for lessons; it just means we as teacher and parent need to provide extra support and patience. Rest assured, I will never label a child “not ready” just because of shyness. I take into account their overall engagement, even subtle things like eye contact or tapping their foot to the beat, to assess if they’re internally interested.
No prior experience is required for the Piano Discovery Lesson (or for starting piano lessons in general). Many of my students begin as complete beginners who have never played a note. During the consultation, I don’t expect your child to know anything in advance. In fact, I love introducing children to their very first musical concepts! If your child is brand new to piano, I’ll tailor the session to be very foundational: we might learn how to find Middle C, try some loud vs. soft sounds, or learn a simple pattern on black keys. I use age-appropriate, fun methods to teach basics from the ground up. For example, for young beginners I might use imagery like “find the group of two black keys – they look like chopsticks – can you play them like this?” or have them do a musical story (imagine we are walking up the stairs as we play up the keyboard). The goal is to spark their curiosity and show that making music is something they can do even on day one. If your child has some knowledge (maybe they learned DO-RE-MI in school or have a toy keyboard at home), that’s great too – we’ll build on whatever they know. But if not, please don’t worry. I’m trained to teach beginners from the very start, and I have lots of experience with young learners.
One thing to note: if your child is very young (e.g., 4 or 5 years old) and a complete beginner, the consultation will mostly be about seeing if they are developmentally ready to start learning. At that age, it’s normal if they don’t grasp everything we try – I’m more interested in their willingness to try, their attention span, and fine motor readiness, than in them actually playing songs. Older beginners (say age 7+) often catch on to a quick lesson even with zero background, which is also fun to see. In any case, beginners are my specialty! My curriculum for new students is very step-by-step and rewarding. If after the consultation we proceed with lessons, I will walk your child through everything from how to sit at the piano, to finding their first notes, to reading music when the time comes. Every expert was once a beginner – the consultation is just the first step of that journey.
30 minutes is just the right amount of time for a first meeting with a young student. It’s long enough that I can introduce myself, make the child comfortable, and do several activities to assess various readiness factors.
Typically, within that timeframe I can get a pretty clear picture of things like their attention span, basic motor skills, and interest level. It’s also long enough for you to get a sense of my teaching style and ask some initial questions.
At the same time, 30 minutes is short enough to suit a child’s attention span for a first visit. I don’t want the child to get fatigued or overwhelmed. If we end up chatting a few minutes beyond the formal 30-minute lesson portion, that’s absolutely fine and common.
For older students (teens or adults) who might come for a consultation, sometimes I’ll do a slightly longer first meeting (45 minutes), because they often have more questions and can play a bit more in-depth. But for children, I’ve found 30 minutes strikes a nice balance. Rest assured, if I ever felt I didn’t get enough time to properly assess something, I would offer to schedule a brief follow-up (at no charge) or gather the info I need via a quick chat with you. In most cases, though, a half hour gives me plenty of “data".
If after the consultation I feel that your child would benefit from waiting a bit longer before starting regular lessons, I will share that with you (in a gentle and constructive manner). My recommendation might be to wait a few months and try again, or to pursue a group music readiness class first, or simply to do some musical play at home before formal lessons.
I only offer a placement in my studio if I genuinely believe your child is ready to thrive in lessons. This honesty is part of my commitment to an evidence-based, child-centered approach. It’s about what is best for your child’s development, not about filling a spot. Experienced teachers know that starting a child too early, before they are developmentally ready, can lead to frustration for the child and parent. I would rather delay and have their first lesson be a success than push ahead for the sake of it.
Remember, there’s no harm in doing the consultation even if it results in “not yet.” You as a parent get clarity, and your child gets a positive exposure to piano. We simply keep the door open for the future.
Yes, I require a parent or guardian to attend the consultation along with the child. In fact, I prefer if both parents can attend, when possible (I know that’s not always feasible, but it’s great when it happens). The reason is that this session is as much for you as it is for your child. I’ll be sharing a lot of information about how I teach, what I expect, and how you can support your child’s practice at home. It’s a lot easier if you hear it firsthand. Additionally, young children tend to feel more secure when a parent is in the room during an unfamiliar activity. Having you there gives them confidence to participate. Your presence also signals to your child that you value this experience since you’re showing interest in what they’re doing, which reinforces their own interest.
During regular weekly lessons (after enrollment), I have an open-door policy for parents. For children under 6 or 7, I often recommend parents sit in on lessons at least occasionally, because parent involvement is crucial at that stage (you’ll likely be helping them practice at home). For older or more independent kids, some parents choose to sit in, others don't - it is up to you. But for the consultation, I definitely want you there the whole time. We’ll probably talk for about 5 minutes at the beginning and again at the end, with your child listening or playing nearby, so it’s important you’re present to have that dialogue.
If there’s a special circumstance (for example, if the child’s other parent or a family member will be the one handling lessons normally but can’t come that day), just let me know. We can perhaps do a call follow-up with them or I can send information. But ideally, the primary decision-makers in the family attend the consultation. Some parents worry they might be a “distraction” or make the child more nervous by being in the room. If you have this concern, we can handle it in a friendly way (for instance, we can take a short break during which you step out to see how the child does solo for a minute or two). Most of the time, though, kids are happy to have a parent watching proudly.
You can book online directly through this page. I offer Discovery Lessons mainly on weekday afternoons or early evenings, since that’s when I’m teaching, but I can occasionally do a weekend if that’s the only option for your family. Once we schedule, I’ll send you a confirmation with my address (we’re in the Applewood area of Mississauga, not too far from Square One) and some quick instructions. I typically ask that you confirm the day before that you’re coming, just so we’re on the same page. If you need to reschedule, I kindly request at least 24 hours notice so we can find a better time (and so I can offer that slot to another family waiting).
After booking, I’ll also send you a short welcome questionnaire to optionally fill out before the consultation. It will ask about your child’s age, any prior musical exposure, what music they enjoy, and if there’s anything you’d like me to know (like learning needs or shyness or particular goals). This just helps me prepare and make the most of our time. It’s not mandatory but definitely useful.
When the day comes, plan to arrive a few minutes early to find parking and get settled. There’s residential street parking in front of my house, and you’re welcome to come in right on time. No need to wait in the car if you’re early, I’ll likely be ready and expecting you a few minutes beforehand. Make yourself comfortable, and we’ll begin our Discovery Lesson!
I truly look forward to meeting you and your child. Taking that first step can feel big, but I assure you it’s a fun and informative experience that will let you know if my piano studio is the perfect place for your young musician to grow. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions, and see you at the piano!
Use the Booking Form Below to Schedule Your Piano Discovery Lesson
I’m excited to meet you and your child at The Modern Piano Room!
During the Piano Discovery Lesson, you’ll see firsthand how your child responds to my teaching approach while I evaluate your child's learning style and readiness for piano lessons. At the end, we'll both leave with a clearer picture of how The Modern Piano Room can support their musical growth.
The Piano Discovery Lesson is mandatory for enrolment into The Modern Piano Room. The lesson must be completed by all prospective students in order to gauge readiness, learning style, and overall fit.
Importantly, if you decide to enrol in weekly lessons, the $35 discovery lesson fee is credited toward your tuition, effectively making the lesson free in the long run.