Welcome to Sierra Music Academy
Sierra Music Academy aims to offer in-person, economical beginner lessons in piano, music theory, and electronic music production starting in Fall 2026 in either Draper, Utah, Tucson, Arizona, or Bisbee, Arizona and nearby areas.
Until in-person lessons are available, you may take advantage of existing online services:
Until in-person lessons are available, you may take advantage of existing online services:
- Self-taught, free piano lessons: material includes a tour of the keyboard, how to write notes and read music, proper finger position, proper sitting posture, and how to play simple songs;
- Music Theory Application, US$25/month: a user-friendly computer and phone application that accelerates learning and application of music theory concepts.
Piano Teaching Philosophy
The Sierra Music Academy Method focuses on beginner piano players who are elementary school-age students. Sierra Schmidt's teaching style for elementary school children is kinesthetic, auditory, and visual. That means students will focus students, from day one, on the touch, sound, and movement of piano parts. One of the distinguishable characteristics of the Sierra Music Academy Method is that it can be taught in either English or Spanish, and that the music style includes classical, American, and Hispanic music.
How Lessons Work
Students of the Sierra Music Academy choose either beginner piano lessons, beginner music theory lessons, or beginner electronic music production lessons. Lessons are given one-on-one or in pairs at one of Sierra Schmidt's private music studios. Price is US$15 per 30 minutes per student.
Piano students in Bisbee or Marana, Arizona learn in-person on a Yamaha C2 baby grand acoustic piano. Students in Draper, Utah learn in-person on a Yamaha Clavinova CSP-170 digital piano with a borrowed or student's own iPad or Android tablet with Yamaha's Smart Pianist app. On-line instruction is also available. Elementary school-age students will learn using Sierra Schmidt's methods supplemented by Faber's My First Piano Adventure Lesson Book A (about $7) and Writing Book A (about $7.50). Other ages of elementary school students will learn using piano methods by Faber, Michael Aaron, Alfred's Basic Piano Library, or Hal Leonard Student Piano Library. Student must purchase the lesson books. The price for a new book online ranges from US$7 to $10 plus shipping. Students of piano are expected to be scheduled for weekly lessons. If an enrolled student does not have a keyboard instrument on which to practice between lessons, they can book a practice session without instruction at the Sierra Music Academy studio for $5 per 30 minutes (use button below to schedule a practice session). It is expected that beginner piano students practice 30 to 60 minutes between lessons.
Students of electronic music production will learn the Ableton Live 12 digital audio workstation (DAW). Students are to provide their own laptop and pay for Ableton Live 12 Intro, which is US$99. Students learn to create electronic music using the DAW in an actual MIDI-equipped studio (musical instrument digital interface) with a digital piano.
Students of music theory will learn using Sierra's Music Theory Application, which has an additional charge of $25/month. A high school student taking the Advanced Placement Course called Music Theory AP can also benefit. Music theory lessons at Sierra Music Academy can be tailored to tutor the student in the topic covered in the Music Theory AP course.
Piano students in Bisbee or Marana, Arizona learn in-person on a Yamaha C2 baby grand acoustic piano. Students in Draper, Utah learn in-person on a Yamaha Clavinova CSP-170 digital piano with a borrowed or student's own iPad or Android tablet with Yamaha's Smart Pianist app. On-line instruction is also available. Elementary school-age students will learn using Sierra Schmidt's methods supplemented by Faber's My First Piano Adventure Lesson Book A (about $7) and Writing Book A (about $7.50). Other ages of elementary school students will learn using piano methods by Faber, Michael Aaron, Alfred's Basic Piano Library, or Hal Leonard Student Piano Library. Student must purchase the lesson books. The price for a new book online ranges from US$7 to $10 plus shipping. Students of piano are expected to be scheduled for weekly lessons. If an enrolled student does not have a keyboard instrument on which to practice between lessons, they can book a practice session without instruction at the Sierra Music Academy studio for $5 per 30 minutes (use button below to schedule a practice session). It is expected that beginner piano students practice 30 to 60 minutes between lessons.
Students of electronic music production will learn the Ableton Live 12 digital audio workstation (DAW). Students are to provide their own laptop and pay for Ableton Live 12 Intro, which is US$99. Students learn to create electronic music using the DAW in an actual MIDI-equipped studio (musical instrument digital interface) with a digital piano.
Students of music theory will learn using Sierra's Music Theory Application, which has an additional charge of $25/month. A high school student taking the Advanced Placement Course called Music Theory AP can also benefit. Music theory lessons at Sierra Music Academy can be tailored to tutor the student in the topic covered in the Music Theory AP course.
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