Please email me (Kaley Shorter, Director) anytime; I check email as often as possible throughout the day and evening. By phone, it’s easiest to reach me during the day before 2:00pm, or in the evening after 7:30pm. Messages received over the weekend may not be returned until the next business day.

We serve Gainesville and as much of Alachua County as possible. We don’t have a central studio. Your instructor will teach in the comfort of your home after being introduced to and approved by you.

The first lesson/meeting is always free and no obligation. We’ve built a special tool on our website to give you an exact lesson fee quote for your needs, based on your location and the student’s skill level. We offer lower pricing for beginners and intermediates, as well as a discount for additional students in the same family. We offer 30-, 45- or 60-minute lessons, depending on the student’s age and level. Please click here for a quick, no-obligation quote.

No. We charge month-to-month or quarterly and only require two weeks’ notice in the event you need to discontinue lessons.

In order for the student to progress and enjoy music lessons, each weekly lesson must be supplemented at least five days a week with 10 minutes to 3 or more hours of practice (widely varies, depending on age and level). Music is a fine art and must be cultivated nearly every day, or an investment in music lessons is not a value. We’ve found that when the student is truly interested (our teachers play a big role in this), they will enjoy practicing and the success it brings, and will make it one of their priorities.

Yes. We cannot teach or expect practicing without it. We would not take your money without the student being able to make good on your investment by beginning consistent practice at home from day one. And it’s very helpful to have it at the time of our initial interview. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on the free trial lesson conducted at that time, and the teacher may not as accurately gauge the student’s talent, attention span, or interest in lessons. We are happy to help you find a good instrument. Please refer to our Resources page for buying advice or contact us by phone or email.

Please note, the following instrument standards are the rule with most studios. These standards are designed to help students get the most out of lessons. We would be wasting your money and time if you don’t help us and your student by investing in at least this quality of instruments and equipment:
• Piano — a fully-functioning real piano of any kind, or an 88-key, weighted electronic keyboard with pedals and matching stand. Non-weighted keys or fewer than 88 keys is not sufficient for piano lessons.
• Guitar — an instrument-quality guitar, sized for the student; guitar tuner; strap; footrest. Picks may be needed depending on style. Guitars bought at department stores or other non-music stores are not sufficient for guitar lessons.
• Electric guitar or bass — guitar/bass purchased at music store or reputable online source; tuner; strap; small-medium amplifier; guitar cable; effects box(es) optional.
• Drums — a practice pad and a couple of pairs of sticks is all that’s necessary for beginner drummers of ALL ages. No need to buy a kit, cymbals or other drums until your instructor introduces these later.
• Violin — a student-quality violin, sized for the student. Violins bought at department stores or on E-Bay are not recommended because of poor quality.
• Voice — a piano or electronic keyboard of any size, the more keys, the better. Kareoke machine or CD/mp3 player with adequate speakers is also very helpful. Microphone optional for some styles but not necessary.
• Woodwinds — a student-quality instrument and accessories purchased at a local music store (see RESOURCES).

Yes. I specialize in assisting potential clients choose a piano or keyboard, and I have great local references for finding all other instruments. (See RESOURCES) Even if you decide to go with another studio, I would feel good knowing you chose the right instrument for your family and that I helped a local business make an instrument sale or rental. Please contact me for my free guide to choosing a keyboard or piano, or for my specific local referrals for buying string instruments, guitars and amps, drums, and woodwinds.

Yes. Our policy states it is imperative that a supervising adult (age 18+) be home at all times during every lesson. I do not employ anyone whom I would not trust in my own home with my child—all teachers clear a national background check and a state driving record check. I have personally spoken with at least three of their references and know most of them through other people. However, we are not licensed caregivers, and The Kaley School will not be liable for damages inflicted by any minor in the home during lessons.

Absolutely. Parents are always welcome and encouraged to supervise as much or as little of the lessons as you prefer. The more involved you can be in knowing what was taught each week, the more you’ll be able to assist your child with practice homework or simply show your support for their efforts as a musician. We’ve seen a direct correlation between parents’ interest in lessons and students’ rapid progress.

However, spending extra time with another child or getting things done around the house is a nice way to take advantage of lessons in the home, and your teacher will always check in with you after lessons to let you know how things are going.

Tuition is billed by email in advance of lessons being taught, and is due on the first of each month. Some clients prefer to pay quarterly, in which case their tuition is due at the first of January, April, July, and October. No lessons will be conducted until tuition is paid in full for at least one month. Tuition must be collected at least 24 hours before the first lesson that month, or no lesson will be conducted. We are unable to hold a student’s time slot which is not paid in full by one week after sign-up.

There is a one-time enrollment fee of $20.00. In the event that you take an unpaid break from lessons, there will be a $10.00 re-enrollment fee to re-activate the student in our system.

We accept VISA, MASTERCARD, and DISCOVER on our customized, secure, free, online tuition payment system. Tuition is payable online monthly, or you can set up an automatic payment every month or every quarter. We also accept checks mailed to our P.O. Box address.

Late payments are disruptive and must be kept to a minimum to ensure continuous lessons for students , competitive pricing, and dependable work for our teachers. A late fee will be assessed on your next bill. The late fee is higher for a late mailed check than for an online payment. After three late payments in a 12-month span, The Kaley School reserves the right to terminate lessons for that student.

We require 24 hours’ notice for cancellations. If you pay ahead for the quarter or sign up for automated credit card billing, you can get a credit for a missed lesson on your next bill. Please note that our teachers only get paid for the lessons they teach. Frequent cancellations or rescheduling can be disruptive to their routes and can be cause for termination of lessons.

No, I strongly believe in the value of weekly lessons where the arts are concerned, especially for children. I feel it is not as productive an investment to have bi-weekly lessons, as it becomes twice as difficult to form good practice and technique habits, and students become frustrated learning half of what they should in a year.

Our five C’s:
• Customization: I promise to match your student to the best teacher available for maximum success.
• Customer Service: Our clients know I am always ready to assist them personally and make their experience the best it can be with our school.
• Cost value: You won’t believe everything you get with our low tuition prices—year-round lessons in your own home, at least two recitals a year, free professional recital photos, online tuition payment options, student progress reports, honest assessments of students’ progress and potential, professional and progressive teachers complete with full background checks, and more!
• Client focus: I know all of our clients and students by name because I meet them in their homes and correspond with them often by phone and/or email. Our teachers become a beloved part of our clients’ families with their weekly visits. I follow and support all students’ progress through private online lesson reports and conferences with teachers and clients. We can also offer advice on how to make a better practice environment in your home, when to get your piano tuned, when to move up to a bigger violin, etc.
• Classification: Our Level System is unique to our school. It helps parents track student progress and expectations, gives students goals to work toward, gives parents a price break for beginners, and helps classify teachers by their specialties with beginners, intermediates, or advanced.

Anytime you’d like to start, we have no set sessions. Demand is highest in August-September and December-January and a wait-list may be in effect.

We teach year-round, with a one-time enrollment fee of $20.00. That’s a great deal when you consider that many studios have extended holidays and require that you re-enroll more than once a year. We offer lessons every week of the year, with allowances for some time off during whatever holidays or vacations you need. It’s my firm belief that taking more than a month off from lessons in the arts is detrimental to progress, especially to children, who are learning a set of fine motor skills as well as a new language. More than ninety percent of our clients manage to fit in 46 or more lessons per year, out of 52 weeks in a year. They consider music lessons a priority, and it shows in the progress and happiness of their students. That’s one reason our turnover rate is very low, and a big reason why our students progress faster than at other studios. In addition, good teachers are attracted to our school because they know they will be kept working as much as possible. Year-round lessons are the best value for students, parents, and instructors.

We offer two formal recitals per year: one in the spring and one in late fall. They are held at the historic Thomas Center near downtown. There is no fee for families or teachers to participate in any recital; your tuition pays for inclusion in all recitals. No recital is mandatory, but we encourage each student to consider performing, and we prepare them thoroughly. We offer photos of each performing student to download, free of charge, from our private web server.

Other competitions and performance opportunities, such as Florida State Music Teachers Association Student Day, Florida Federation of Music Clubs Festivals, National Federation of Music Clubs competitions, Guild Auditions, etc., may be presented to you by your teacher as they arise. If you’re interested in this track of study in a particular instrument, please inquire about teachers who include students in these programs.

Our job is to ensure everyone’s happiness and success. We will always honor such a request to the best of our ability. Occasionally students and teachers grow apart, and a new teacher or instrument provides new motivation for the student to get the most out of music lessons and continue enjoying them.

Your teacher and I will treat your request with utmost professionalism. I will consult with you to see if there’s anything we could have done differently and will be happy to try ideas for making your experience better, if possible. Unlike most studios, we require only two weeks’ paid notice of termination. All other pre-paid, unused tuition will be refunded immediately.

It depends on your location, scheduling needs, and student level. Without this information I cannot give you an accurate price quote or availability report. Please fill out the application form online or give us a call to see what the current availability is for each instrument or teacher.

A few of our instructors have specific knowledge, experience and talent in doing so; please inquire about your needs.

I do not believe that every student thrives only with a teacher who has completed a certain kind of degree. I’ve seen some young beginners start lessons and quit within a year or two because they could not connect emotionally or goal-wise with a teacher who specializes in advanced students. One reason we give price breaks for Levels 1 and 2 is because we have some teachers who do not expect to get paid as much as ones with advanced degrees. However, I only hire Level 1 and 2 teachers with proven talent in teaching and who are eager and able to do what is most important for their beginner students—accurately teach the basics, keep students interested, and foster a joy of music. Level 1 and 2 teachers also lay the groundwork for the disciplined habits needed in advanced music study.

Once students reach Level 3, I do insist that they work with an instructor I’ve approved to teach Levels 3 and 4 in that instrument. These instructors hold or are in the later stages of pursuing an advanced music degree, or have equivalent teaching and performance experience. They are able to impart specialized knowledge of advanced theory, technique, performance practices, and music history. They also generally have more years of teaching experience than our Level 1-2 instructors. One of the great things about our unique Level System is that we have specific ways to track students’ progress and to always provide the right teacher at the right time. In this way we operate more as a school than most traditional studios.

Our Level System was developed exclusively by me, Kaley Shorter, and is evaluated and updated when necessary by my varied team of teachers. We have four levels of skill for each instrument. A detailed written synopsis is available, which includes comprehensive theory, technique, repertoire and practice requirements for each Level. Level 1 is for beginners of all ages and usually takes around a year to complete. Level 2 is intermediate and takes 2-4 years to complete. Level 3 is advanced and can take 2-5 additional years to complete. Level 4 is for advanced students wishing to apply competitively for music programs/opportunities at the university, conservatory or major competition level. We specialize in having specific teachers with the knowledge and experience to teach each Level and will always match students accordingly, so they get the most out of their music education.

All teachers must clear a national background check and a state driving record check. These are performed by a third party company with whom I’ve worked for four years. I also make a point to personally speak to or at least receive a detailed email from three or more personal references, including other private lesson clients, mentors, former employers, etc. Most of my teachers are actually referred to me by my existing teachers, and several were my own personal acquaintances before working with me. I am proud to hire and send to our clients’ homes only individuals of top character and integrity, whom I would invite to work with my child in my home.

Please fill out our online application as completely as possible, or call me, Kaley Shorter, Director, at (352) 371-7225. I will personally contact you as soon as possible to find out more about your specific needs and to give you more information. My job is to ensure that we can accommodate your expectations and that one of my teachers is an ideal match for your student.

Once we agree on a teacher and a lesson schedule, I’ll bring the teacher to your home myself so we can all meet in a no-obligation interview. The teacher will spend time with the student, teaching him or her a few things and assessing where to begin with each particular student. I’ll go over our policies and payment options with the parent who wishes to be on the account. You’ll have ample opportunity to speak with the teacher yourself. If you’d like to begin lessons, I’ll take a pro-rated check at that time and provide you with a receipt and a specific starting date.

We’re not looking for students on their way to Carnegie Hall. We want every student in the school to be successful. All that means is that they have a true love of studying their instrument. They do not need to pass any talent test. They merely need to be interested of their own accord in the instrument, and have the time and encouragement they need to practice. If music is just another activity on your family’s busy itinerary, this semester may not be the best time to start lessons. If you’re insisting that your child learn an instrument because you feel they should be well-rounded, or because you did not pursue one as much as you would have liked, this is a worthy sentiment. But please consider their interests and how much you may or may not have to fight with them over practice time, or how this activity may take away from other things your child might truly enjoy pursuing. Ask yourself if it’s worth your investment in lessons. Consider all the students who truly want to take lessons and may be placed on our waiting list to work with one of our teachers.

The important thing, besides the student’s level of interest, is how much energy you have to enforce regular practice time from your child and to encourage their musical efforts. It doesn’t take much, but without it, your student will be at a huge disadvantage.

If you have a preference for a certain teacher, I’ll make every effort to match your child with that teacher or the next most similar teacher.

We have detailed biographies on this page (click any teacher's name or photo for details). If any of your questions are not answered by these summaries, please don’t hesitate to contact me for more info.

Please let me know, so I can determine if we have enough demand for that instrument to recruit a new instructor.

Attention span and interest level are the main factors; with those in place, I believe that young children can effectively begin learning to play music before they can read it, which is the essential component of the Suzuki method. We have seen a few violin students start (Suzuki) at age three. For our standards, children must be at least four before starting private piano lessons, and then we only take some of those applicants on a case-by-case basis. Five or six is best for piano, age 6+ for drums, 8+ for voice and woodwinds, 9+ for guitars. These are standards I've gleaned from 15 years of teaching experience and from the many teachers I've worked with. I don't usually recommend starting very young children on private music lessons, because it will often take them two or more years to progress to the level they could attain in one year if they’d started later. There are always exceptions, and if you believe your child is showing some outstanding aptitude for music or a particular instrument, we would be happy to meet with you for free and help you evaluate his or her readiness for private lessons.

I always suggest to parents of children under four or five that you try MusikGarten, Kindermusik, O2BKids’ music program, or a church or community children's music class or choir, etc. to begin to develop an ear for rhythm, timbre, and the joy of music. These group music experiences can be very valuable to toddlers and preschoolers and are often the basis for lasting friendships as well.

No, we specialize only in private lessons at this time.

A few of our instructors teach adults as well as kids. The question is, do you have the time commitment to practice, and the patience with yourself to learn a new language and set of fine motor skills? If you do, it’s never too late to realize your dream of being a great musician, or just having fun making music. We have several successful adult students who continuously wow us at recitals.

We offer convenient scheduling. Some of our teachers are available during earlier day hours, which makes it easy to integrate music into your home curriculum.