Learn About the Westlake Music Academy Difference

At WMA, each teacher has at least a bachelor’s degree in the instrument they teach, as this demonstrates that they have devoted serious study to their instrument and to music in general. The majority of our teachers, however, hold advanced degrees in their instrument and many have decades of teaching experience. Learn more about our Faculty here. 

We welcome ALL, from young children to adults of all ages (20% of our students are adults). We understand that people have a variety of goals. Some are highly-driven, while others have very modest goals. Some have never picked up an instrument in their entire life, while others are advanced and have been playing for years. WMA welcomes all! Learn more about lessons for children here and lessons for adults here. 

While the majority of local music schools discourage parents from attending their child’s lessons, Westlake Music Academy is the opposite. We highly encourage it! WMA believes in the value of a parent’s presence at lessons because children do better with learning an instrument and stick with lessons longer if one or both parents are “in the loop.” The parent has a much better appreciation of the process of learning an instrument, as well as what is supposed to be happening at home with practice. 

Most local music schools employ “crossover teaching.” Crossover teaching is when a musician’s area of expertise is in a certain instrument, say, guitar — but this guitar teacher took voice lessons at one time, and also knows a little piano, so they magically become a voice teacher and a “beginning piano” teacher! To actually teach an instrument well, including to beginners, a teacher must have an intimate understanding of the instrument coming from years of study and training.* Learn more about our teaching philosophy here.

Local music schools often pass beginning students off to lesser qualified teachers. But teaching a complete beginner in many ways demands more teaching skills than teaching intermediate and advanced level students who already know the basics. The beginner needs someone who truly understands the instrument and the importance of starting the student off on the right path. Beginners who take lessons with a non-expert will likely develop bad habits, and bad habits are hard to unlearn. Learn more about our teaching philosophy here.