Aurora Music Lessons

Contact:

Evan Pilate
720-206-7669
evanpilate@gmail.com

20507 E Lehigh Place

Aurora, CO 80013

Amenities

Evan Pilate is committed to providing good value to his clients.  The following amenities are available to AML clients:

  • Grand Piano
  • My Music Staff Website
  • Music Library
  • Recording Library
  • Private Recitals
  • AMTA Events
  • WiFi internet 
  • Amazon Prime Membership (free two day shipping)
  • Excellent service

Apps for Music Study

  • Faber PA Player
  • Pro Metronome
  • Public Radio
  • Spotify
  • Pandora
  • Amazon Music

Calendar

The studio will be open on the following holidays unless notified otherwise:

  • Martin Luther King Day 
  • President’s Day 
  • Juneteenth 
  • Independence Day

The studio will not be open during the following dates and holidays:

  • Memorial Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Eve through New Year's Day

I.  Services offered by Aurora Music Lessons:

  • Traditional Piano Lessons
  • Suzuki Piano Lessons

The Suzuki Method and the Traditional Method

  • The Suzuki Method is effective with young children, while the Traditional Method is effective with older children and adults
  • The Suzuki Method students learn to play by ear, then how to read.  Traditional students learn to read from the first lesson
  • The Suzuki Method is performance based training.  The traditional method is more scholarly
  • The Suzuki Method requires heavy parental involvement.  The traditional method requires less parental involvement

II. Courses Offered

1.  My First Piano Adventure

Type:  Traditional Method

Levels:  A, B, and C

My First Piano Adventure is new from the husband and wife team of Nancy and Randall Faber. This early childhood method address the challenges and joys of teaching young beginners. With this series, students are encouraged to sing, create, and move in rhythm while learning the basics of the piano.

2.  Faber Piano Adventures

Type:  Traditional Method

Levels:  Primer - Level 5

This innovative and exciting method series continues to enjoy an unprecedented response from teachers and students across the United States and Canada.  The series includes Theory, Performance, Technique & Artistry, Popular Repertoire, and Christmas Books correlated with the Lesson Books.  The course strengths are:

  • Combines the strengths of intervallic reading, multi-key, and Middle C approaches.
  • Offers a wide variety of sounds and styles with many optional teacher duets.
  • Entertains and delights students with beautiful color illustrations and a carefully conceived layout

3.  Accelerated Faber Piano Adventures

Type:  Traditional

Levels:  Level 1 and 2

Featuring the proven, pedagogical approach set forth in the basic piano method, Accelerated Piano Adventures for the Older Beginner continues the tradition of learning music through discovery, creativity, and adventure. Book 1 of the accelerated series combines the Primer Level and Level One of the basic Piano Adventures method. Book 2 combines Levels 2A and 2B.

4.  Adult Piano Adventures

Type:  Traditional

Levels:  Levels 1 and 2

This comprehensive, “All-In-One” book includes lessons, solos, technique, and theory in a single volume for ease of use. Book 1 presents the fundamentals of music notation, chord playing, and musical form. Book 2 teaches keyboard harmony using “lead sheets” with chord accompaniment patterns.

5.  Bastien Piano for the Young Beginner

Type:  Traditional

Levels:  Primer A and B

This Primer series for young beginners begins with pre-staff notation, and proceeds to reading on the grand staff. The combination of original, folk, and seasonal songs, and full-color artwork makes learning a treat. Students who complete both Primers A & B are ready for study in Level 1 of Bastien Piano Basics.

6.  Bastien Piano Basics

Type:  Traditional

Levels:  Primer - Level 4

The Bastien Piano Basics method is comprised of five completely correlated course books — Piano, Theory, Performance, Technique, and A Line a Day of SightreadingBastien Piano Basics uses a gradual multi-key approach, with reading beginning in the C five-finger position. Five levels of carefully graded lesson material provide constant opportunities for reinforcing basic concepts. It's the smoothest, most heart-warming, most entertaining, most musical way to teach eager youngsters the joys of playing the piano.

7.  Suzuki Piano School

Type:  Suzuki Method

Levels:  1-7

“From my research of the pedagogical methodology of the mother-tongue acquisition, I have created an educational approach known as the Suzuki Method.  Just as every child has the potential to develop tremendous abilities in the mastery of his mother tongue, each child has been imbued with the potential to develop musical abilities.”

Shinichi Suzuki

III. Student Activities

1.  Achievement Day - $30.00 per student


This festive, non-competitive event is an opportunity to celebrate a student’s musical accomplishments as they progress through 12 levels of musicianship. In addition to performing music for a teacher-listener, students may participate in a music themed arts exhibit, enjoy the game room, test themselves in theory, sight-reading, or ear-training, and observe a Master Class.


2.  Four Forms Festival - $25.00-$30.00 per student


Designed as an formal competition, AMTA’s Four Forms Festival provides students the opportunity to prepare one selection from the repertoire list and perform for a judge. Winners are invited to perform in the Honors Recital the following day at the awards ceremony.

3.  Composition Festival - $20.00 per student

The Composition Festival provides students of AMTA teachers the opportunity to create, write, and perform their own compositions. Each year a composer from Colorado is invited to critique each student’s original composition, offering encouraging and helpful comments to help students develop their compositional skills. Students are then invited to perform their compositions at the January recital.


4.  AMTA Student Recitals – $10.00 per student

AMTA sponsors three student recitals throughout the year. These recitals are designed to offer performance opportunities and teach audience etiquette.


5.  Premier Performances – No extra cost

Premier Performances is a unique and special recital sponsored each year by AMTA. Participating teachers choose only one student from their studio that merits special recognition. This student is chosen based on their exemplification of talent through their dedication to a high standard of effort.


6.  Awards and Scholarships – No extra cost.  Application required 

Each year AMTA offers financial scholarships to students of AMTA teachers. Students may apply for financial awards for state and national competitions, for university tuition or books, or for summer camps and workshops.


7.  Adult Potluck

The Adult Potluck is an opportunity for students age 18 and up to perform in a relaxed, social atmosphere.  Each student will bring an item for the potluck.  There is no requirement to play.


IV.  My Music Staff

My Music Staff is a lesson administrator that the instructor uses to communicate with students.  Students will use the website for the following tasks:

  • To email the instructor
  • To view upcoming lessons
  • To cancel a lesson
  • To reschedule a lesson
  • View lesson history
  • View transaction log, fees, payments, and invoices
  • View an account summary
  • Update personal information, change username or password

V. Student Expectations

  • Come to all scheduled lessons
  • Practice the assignment given in the lesson each day for five days
  • Use the notes to guide home practice
  • Log practice time online
  • Listen to the provided materials and for the prescribed amount
  • Do not move ahead in the material during home practice.  Practice only what is assigned
  • Follow instructions during the lesson
  • Keep fingernails trimmed
  • Do not chew gum or eat while playing the instrument
  • Do not come to the lesson if you are sick

VII. Instructor Expectations

Clients in Aurora Music Lessons can expect the following from the instructor:

  • Well maintained studio space
  • Detailed lesson planning
  • Individually tailored instruction
  • High expectations of students
  • Punctuality
  • Continued professional development
  • Website assistance

My guarantees to all AML Clients:


1.  The student's ability will grow over time as repetition is accumulated.

2.  If the student attends all lessons, finishes all assignments, and listens to directions, the student will develop a good piano playing skill.  

IX. Instrument Purchase and Maintenance

  • Each student must have their own instrument to be used for home practice
  • Acoustic Pianos should be serviced by a technician every six months
  • Keyboards should be touch sensitive and include a pedal attachment
  • Foot Stool and bench cushions are recommended for younger students to help them sit at the right height