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Why Virtual Lessons at Mike Risko Music?
Mike Risko Music has been educating musicians in Westchester County since 1995. We are an award winning music school and store. We are a 13 time Best of Westchester Winner (in the categories of Best Music School, Best Music Store, Best After School Program, Best Unique Birthday Parties) and we are an 8 year National Association of Music Merchants Top 100 Retailer recognized for our innovative programming and we were named Best Community Music Retail Store in 2021.
We began offering virtual music lessons many years ago so when we pivoted temporarily to all virtual in March 2020. We already knew it worked. Our 8 physical lesson rooms became 8 virtual lesson rooms. All our staff uses the same platform, Zoom, and the lesson program is managed by our staff from our central office in Ossining, the same way we do in person. Our music lesson instructors are employees of Mike Risko Music and having this team in place enables us to streamline our program and ensures that all of the staff is using the same curriculum and following the same protocols. All our lesson rooms are set up to teach in-person and virtual lessons.
So how does it work?
- Lessons are available in 30, 45 and 60 minutes blocks.
- Students are scheduled for weekly lessons and register for a semester of lessons which ensures continuity.
- Lessons are available on all instruments and voice for all levels, ages and abilities.
- Lessons are available Monday through Saturday, we offer morning, afternoon and evening lessons.
- If there are mutliple members in your family studying music with us, we can schedule back to back lessons or if you have multiple devices in your home, several members of your family can study at the same time.
How do I register for lessons?
- Students can register over the phone or on line.
- We always offer a free trial virtual lesson for any insterested student.
- All students are also provided with our "Guide to Getting the Most Out of a Virtual Lesson" booklet which makes the virtual lesson process much easier. We also wrote a children's book called "Graham and the Virtual Music Lesson" which is a great tool for children. It takes the reader through a journey with Graham the Grizzly Bear as he takes his first virtual piano lesson.
How do I access my lessons?
- Each virtual student receives a unique log in and they meet their teacher in the virtual lesson room for the lesson. Students should not share their log in info.
- If you need books, instruments, music or gear, we can arrange for you to come shop in our store or offer delivery.
Virtual music lessons are a great option. We also offer in-person lessons and students can choose or do a combination of both. One on one music lessons translate well to virtual. Lessons are in real time, the teacher can focus on the student and they can communicate with a caregiver easily about homework and progress. Our teachers are engaging and know their material and the platform well. Virtual music lessons at Mike Risko Music are a great way to study music and we work very hard to ensure that your child gets the same quality lesson that they would if they were sitting in the same room with the teacher.
Offering a virtual option has enabled us to provide lessons to students from all over. It also has opened the door for us to have instructors on staff who are no longer local or who are traveling with their band or a show. Since travel is not an issue for instructors, we are not limited to instructors in only our geographical area so our staff comes from all over, with different educational backgrounds and musical experience. Students will benefit greatly from these expanded opportunties.
Mike and Miriam Risko oversee both the In-Person Music School and the Virtual Music School offering their expertise to parents and students on how to practice, how to use the Zoom platform and how to keep your child engaged in music. They log into lessons alongside their staff frequently to make sure lessons are going smoothly and to answer questions and make sure students are getting the most out of their lessons at Mike Risko Music School.
While eventually, the world will go back to normal, the Virtual Music School is also here to stay for those who would like to continue down this path. We also are offering an option to do some outside lessons in our outdoor education area for those who would like additional options to connect with the Mike Risko Music School programs. To register for our Virtual Music School, fill out the feedback form here. For information on our in-person lesson program, visit Music Lessons. However we teach you music, we are looking forward to seeing you and watching you grow into whatever kind of musician you want to be.
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