Q: What classes are you offering this quarter?

You can find out about what we are offering via the "Services" page on our Palakamusic.com website: https://www.palakamusic.com/our-services

Q: How do I enroll in group classes or schedule lessons?

PALAKA Music & Arts Studios utilizes the My Music Staff scheduling and billing system. If you are already a student of the studio, you should have received a login to the MMS system and can enroll in classes and sign up for lessons yourself. You can also reach out to Heidi via email for assistance with enrolling. If you are a new student, contact groups@palakamusic.com for Groups or lessons@palakamusic.com for Lessons to get set up in the system.

Q: Do I need to make a commitment to a certain number of lessons?

For the group classes, you sign up for an entire session (usually 4-8 classes) and encourage you to stay the entire session to determine if it's a good fit for you. For the private and semi-private lessons, we offer an introductory rate for one lesson to determine if it's a good fit. If you decide to continue, it becomes a credit for your monthly tuition. Your scheduled lesson slot is held for you for the remainder of the month (and quarter if you pay quarterly, and year if you pay annually). We are unfortunately not able to hold your slot if you decide to take a break from lessons for whatever reason (summer breaks, vacation, etc), but we encourage you to inquire about availabilities when you are ready to return.

Q: Do you offer sliding-scale rates or scholarships?

Yes! We recognize that music education is not as accessible as we'd like it to be and it can be cost prohibitive for your child to participate in these kinds of activities. If your household income is less than $100K/year, we offer sliding scale rates for certain group classes: 20% discounts for households between $80-$99K/year 40% discounts for households between $60-$79K/year 60% discounts for households between $40-59K/year 80% discounts for households less than $39K/year

Q: How are you being COVID safe?

LOCATION: Classes will be held at our open air backyard studio in Oakland Eastmont Hills (94605) near the Oakland Zoo. The studio is a converted garage so one "wall" of the room will be left open. If families prefer to be completely outdoors, we will set up tables that are outside of the studio (covered by a tent). VACCINATIONS/MASKS: I am fully vaccinated as are all the members of my family. I am asking that all adults be vaccinated (or do a COVID-19 home antigen test before coming) and will be encouraged to wear masks. Children over 2 will also be encouraged to wear masks. SIZE OF CLASSES: The toddler classes are capped at 8 and the preschool piano classes are capped at 6. DISINFECTING: I will have hand sanitizer for all to use before entering the studio. Additionally, instruments and surfaces are disinfected between classes, and students are encouraged to keep their hands to themselves.

Q: Do you offer virtual classes?

We are planning to offer virtual classes in the future - if you are interested, please reach out and let us know what days and times work best for you!

Question 1

Where are you located?

Accepted Answer

PALAKA Music and Arts Studio is a new small business, and we started out of our humble backyard studio in Oakland Eastmont Hills.

We are committed to living in a mixed-income, diverse neighborhood and love our urban location in Eastmont Hills. We've got folks of all colors and ages, Elote and ice cream vendors, kids and youth hanging out in the streets, music bumping via cars speeding by, the occasional loud fireworks explosion, and buses running past. If East Oakland isn't for you, we wish you the best and encourage you to find another school and another neighborhood to pursue your child's music education.

UPDATE AS OF MAY 2023: We now have a new satellite location in the Laurel district of Oakland, out of Left Coast Power Yoga at 4148 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, 94619. We are excited to offer classes out of both locations!

Question 2

Where do you teach lessons? How about group classes?

Accepted Answer

PALAKA Music and Arts Studio is a new small business, and we started out of our humble backyard studio in Oakland Eastmont Hills.

Our private lessons are held inside our home with our Yamaha U1 Upright Piano.

Our group music classes and group piano classes are held in our backyard studio to the right of our house down the driveway.

It is a simple, humble converted garage that we renovated with our hands.

We are committed to living in a mixed-income, diverse neighborhood and love our urban location in Eastmont Hills. We've got folks of all colors and ages, Elote and ice cream vendors, kids and youth hanging out in the streets, music bumping via cars speeding by, the occasional loud fireworks explosion, and buses running past.

If East Oakland isn't for you, we wish you the best and encourage you to find another school and another neighborhood to pursue your child's music education.

UPDATE AS OF MAY 2023: We now have a new satellite location in the Laurel district of Oakland, out of Left Coast Power Yoga at 4148 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, 94619. We are excited to offer classes and lessons out of both locations!

Question 3

How much do your groups, classes, and lessons cost?

Accepted Answer

More information about our rates can be found on the "Our Services" section of our website www.palakamusic.com.

We are priced competitively compared to other local music and piano schools, and we aim to provide quality music education that is accessible to families, while compensating our teachers appropriately (based on their training and experience) and still sustaining our small business.

Our rates will increase annually with the rate of inflation, plus any changes based on demand and additional training.

Scholarships and sliding-scale rates are available for families that qualify (household income <$100K/year). If you have any concerns about being able to afford tuition, please talk to our founder and we may be able to work something out.

Question 4

What classes are you offering this quarter?

Accepted Answer

You can find out about what we are offering via the "Services" page on our Palakamusic.com website: https://www.palakamusic.com/our-services

Question 5

How do I enroll in group classes or schedule lessons?

Accepted Answer

PALAKA Music & Arts Studios utilizes the My Music Staff scheduling and billing system.

If you are already a student of the studio, you should have received a login to the MMS system and can enroll in classes and sign up for lessons yourself. You can also reach out to Heidi via email for assistance with enrolling.

If you are a new student, contact groups@palakamusic.com for Groups or lessons@palakamusic.com for Lessons to get set up in the system.

Question 6

Do I need to make a commitment to a certain number of lessons?

Accepted Answer

For the group classes, you sign up for an entire session (usually 4-8 classes) and encourage you to stay the entire session to determine if it's a good fit for you.

For the private and semi-private lessons, we offer an introductory rate for one lesson to determine if it's a good fit. If you decide to continue, it becomes a credit for your monthly tuition.

Your scheduled lesson slot is held for you for the remainder of the month (and quarter if you pay quarterly, and year if you pay annually). We are unfortunately not able to hold your slot if you decide to take a break from lessons for whatever reason (summer breaks, vacation, etc), but we encourage you to inquire about availabilities when you are ready to return.

Question 7

Do I need to have a keyboard or piano at home to participate in groups or lessons?

Accepted Answer

We encourage you to practice at home between classes and lessons. However, we also understand that owning an instrument can be a large financial investment for families.

I wouldn't recommend getting an expensive instrument right off the bat (unless you already have one, or can obtain one). See if your child likes the classes/lessons after a month and then decide after. You can use cheaper alternatives in the meantime.

I also encourage you to use your local Buy Nothing group to borrow one from a neighbor or Facebook Marketplace to buy a discounted, used one.

For Parent+Me and Preschool Piano Prep Students:
A keyboard would be helpful, but not necessary at this level. A basic or a baby piano would be fine.

Basic: Any keyboard with at least 32 full-sized keys ($30-$99)
https://a.co/d/iXjHdpZ 
https://a.co/d/4F35PBj 
https://a.co/d/7baMjZ6 
https://a.co/d/bYmGkOO

Baby Budget: ($25 and under)
https://a.co/d/9V49lHz 
https://a.co/d/9o0GQqs

APP-BASED INSTRUMENT ALTERNATIVES:
For Parent+Me classes, we encourage you to download the FREE app: Prodigies Bells 
For Preschool Piano Prep classes, you can download the Prodigies Bells and a Piano app (there are many out there).

For Private, Semi-Private, and Group Piano Lessons Students:
In order for your child to progress, having a keyboard or piano at home (or accessible on a daily basis) is highly recommended, if not required.

RECOMMENDED KEYBOARDS BASED ON BUDGET:
Ideal situation: Piano or Keyboard with 88 keys, weighted keys, touch sensitive, keyboard stand, adjustable chair, foot stool ($200+)

e.g. Yamaha P-series, Casio Privia, Korg SP series, Alessis Recital Pro, Roland, Kawai, etc
https://www.pianodreamers.com/best-digital-pianos-under-700/ 
https://www.pianodreamers.com/best-digital-pianos-and-keyboards/ 
https://www.digitalpianoreviewguide.com/ranking-the-best-cheap-digital-pianos-with-weighted-keys/

Intermediate: Keyboard with 61-88 keys, full-sized keys (not just the tops) ($100-200)

e.g. Yamaha PSR series or Piaggero NP-12 $200
https://www.musicradar.com/news/best-yamaha-keyboards 
https://a.co/d/aid4uvL 
https://a.co/d/ef1hTpG 
https://a.co/d/0BAXQ0m 
https://a.co/d/2VySKIq 
https://a.co/d/bE6iaab

Basic: Any keyboard with at least 32 full-sized keys ($30-$99)
https://a.co/d/iXjHdpZ 
https://a.co/d/4F35PBj 
https://a.co/d/7baMjZ6 
https://a.co/d/bYmGkOO

Baby Budget: ($25 and under)
https://a.co/d/9V49lHz 
https://a.co/d/9o0GQqs

Question 8

Do you offer sliding-scale rates or scholarships?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We recognize that music education is not as accessible as we'd like it to be and it can be cost prohibitive for your child to participate in these kinds of activities.

If your household income is less than $100K/year, we offer sliding scale rates for certain group classes:
20% discounts for households between $80-$99K/year
40% discounts for households between $60-$79K/year
60% discounts for households between $40-59K/year
80% discounts for households less than $39K/year

Question 9

How are you being COVID safe?

Accepted Answer

LOCATION: Classes will be held at our open air backyard studio in Oakland Eastmont Hills (94605) near the Oakland Zoo. The studio is a converted garage so one "wall" of the room will be left open. If families prefer to be completely outdoors, we will set up tables that are outside of the studio (covered by a tent).

VACCINATIONS/MASKS: I am fully vaccinated as are all the members of my family. I am asking that all adults be vaccinated (or do a COVID-19 home antigen test before coming) and will be encouraged to wear masks. Children over 2 will also be encouraged to wear masks.

SIZE OF CLASSES: The toddler classes are capped at 8 and the preschool piano classes are capped at 6.

DISINFECTING: I will have hand sanitizer for all to use before entering the studio. Additionally, instruments and surfaces are disinfected between classes, and students are encouraged to keep their hands to themselves.

Question 10

Do you offer virtual classes?

Accepted Answer