Choose from beginner piano, electronic music production, and music theory.
Private lessons are given at the Sierra Music Academy music studio at 500 E. Vista St., Bisbee, Arizona. Parent/Guardians invited to listen and watch. Price is US$15 per 30 minutes. The lessons are pay-as-you-go. There is no long-term commitment. The first lesson is FREE. After that, if you book four or more lessons, the fourth lesson is FREE. If you cancel a lesson 24 hours or more before the lesson, no fee. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the lesson, the fee is $5.
Piano students learn in-person on a Yamaha SILENT Piano GC2SH2 hybrid baby grand acoustic piano. Online instruction is also available upon special request. Younger students 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). Older students, including adults, will learn using piano methods by Faber, Michael Aaron, Alfred's Basic Piano Library, or Hal Leonard Student Piano Library. Student should purchase the recommended piano book(s) by their second lesson. The price for a new book online ranges from US$7 to $10 plus shipping. Some used piano method books can be found online. Sierra Music Academy plans to have students of piano perform their compositions at a recital at the end of 2026.
Electronic music production students create music composed of electronic sounds by operating a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) on their laptop. Students select digital instruments, create rhythms, melodies, and manipulate characteristics of sounds. The teacher will teach on either of these three DAWs: Apple Garage Band, Ableton Live 12, or Steinberg Cubase Elements 15. Students are to provide their own laptop then acquire and load their DAW software. (See this page for comparison of DAWs). Students create electronic music using the DAW in a MIDI-equipped studio (musical instrument digital interface) with a Yamaha P-125B portable digital piano. The student may bring their own portable keyboard with MIDI In/Out or USB-B connectivity or a MIDI controller, if desired, to the Bisbee studio. Sierra Music Academy plans to have students of electronic music production perform their compositions at a recital at the end of 2026.
Music theory students learn using Sierra's Music Theory Application, which has an additional charge of $15/month. A college student taking music theory courses or 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 specific topic covered in their music theory course. Music theory topics covered include chord identification, voice leading rules, chord progressions, composition analysis, music sequences, musical forms, post-tonal scales, 12 x 12 serialism, aural skills. Also shared are special tools including circle of fifths, pitch-class clock face, intervals, musical keys, chromaticism, and figured bass notation.
Piano students learn in-person on a Yamaha SILENT Piano GC2SH2 hybrid baby grand acoustic piano. Online instruction is also available upon special request. Younger students 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). Older students, including adults, will learn using piano methods by Faber, Michael Aaron, Alfred's Basic Piano Library, or Hal Leonard Student Piano Library. Student should purchase the recommended piano book(s) by their second lesson. The price for a new book online ranges from US$7 to $10 plus shipping. Some used piano method books can be found online. Sierra Music Academy plans to have students of piano perform their compositions at a recital at the end of 2026.
Electronic music production students create music composed of electronic sounds by operating a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) on their laptop. Students select digital instruments, create rhythms, melodies, and manipulate characteristics of sounds. The teacher will teach on either of these three DAWs: Apple Garage Band, Ableton Live 12, or Steinberg Cubase Elements 15. Students are to provide their own laptop then acquire and load their DAW software. (See this page for comparison of DAWs). Students create electronic music using the DAW in a MIDI-equipped studio (musical instrument digital interface) with a Yamaha P-125B portable digital piano. The student may bring their own portable keyboard with MIDI In/Out or USB-B connectivity or a MIDI controller, if desired, to the Bisbee studio. Sierra Music Academy plans to have students of electronic music production perform their compositions at a recital at the end of 2026.
Music theory students learn using Sierra's Music Theory Application, which has an additional charge of $15/month. A college student taking music theory courses or 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 specific topic covered in their music theory course. Music theory topics covered include chord identification, voice leading rules, chord progressions, composition analysis, music sequences, musical forms, post-tonal scales, 12 x 12 serialism, aural skills. Also shared are special tools including circle of fifths, pitch-class clock face, intervals, musical keys, chromaticism, and figured bass notation.
Don't have a piano?
Students must practice between lessons. If you don't have a piano, you can schedule a piano practice session at the Sierra Music Academy for $5 per 30 minutes. No instruction given during practice sessions. A parent/guardian must stay throughout the practice session.
Piano Teaching Philosophy
The Sierra Music Academy teaching style starts with kinesthetic, auditory, and visual emphasis. 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 performance music styles includes classical, American, and Hispanic music.
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