What’s so important about a musical education anyway? 

A musical education doesn’t just mean learning a cool new skill—it’s the ultimate opportunity to explore culture that you love, play, and grow creatively. There’s also a long list of academic and creative benefits that come with music education. Studies have found that students who play and perform music show an increase in both IQ and EQ, improved test scores in language and math, and improved spatial-temporal skills. Along with these academic benefits comes creative thinking and problem solving, goal setting, and self-esteem. 

So what’s unique about SoundLife Music Academy versus other music schools and programs? 

Other music schools typically offer in-studio lessons and performance opportunities, or just private in-home lessons. With these programs, students can easily end up battling it out for personalized attention, or learning in a vacuum. 

We’ve prioritized building a solid and empowering musical community that all students, regardless of age or skill level, are invited and encouraged to take part in. We create as many opportunities for connection among our students as possible throughout their musical journey with SoundLife by making band coaching, jams with peers, and performances a top focus for students when they’re ready and want to participate. This creates a truly immersive experience that skyrockets the growth and confidence of our students. 

What does it mean to be a “performance-based program”? 

Performance refines and solidifies the material learned in private lessons by teaching students how to set, prepare, and execute goals in a fun and supportive environment. However, “performance-based” does not mean that every student has to take the stage or that performance only takes place on the stage. The idea of performance simply means that a student has learned something they are ready to share. We aim to create a positive relationship between learning and sharing with others. Performing could be as simple as playing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” for friends or family in the living room, recording an original song to share with the world, or rocking out under the stage lights. 

What’s the cost of taking private lessons with SoundLife versus other music schools and programs? 

Performance-based music programs at brick-and-mortar locations typically range in price from $300-$500 a month for lessons and rehearsals. Private, in-home lessons with a freelance instructor typically do not include any performance element, and they generally range in price from $260-$400 per package of four lessons. (On average, a qualified private instrument instructor that comes to your home should cost between $75-$100 per 60-minute lesson.) 

At SoundLife, prices for lessons are between $225-$385 per package of four private lessons, while Band Coaching ranges between $160 and $200 per package of four rehearsals. This price includes between-lesson support, customized video tutorials created by your teacher, an online portal to save and store all practice assignments, inclusion in our empowering musical community, regular performance and mentorship opportunities, and top-notch customer service. We can do all this because we don’t operate out of brick-and-mortar locations. Our overhead is less, so we’re able to hire better teachers and offer an unbeatable premium service to our clients. 

How do I know my kid is safe when taking lessons with SoundLife? 

We know that your child’s safety is your top priority, and it’s ours too. We use systems that make it easy to monitor lessons and activities as much as you wish. 

Every SoundLife student receives their own private profile in our online learning portal when they start lessons. All communication between teachers and students takes place through this portal, which is safe and fully monitored. All lesson files, videos, and communication with teachers is safely stored in their profile and can be reviewed by parents at any time. SoundLife is fully insured, and all teachers undergo full background checks as part of our hiring process. 

What if I want to take lessons but I’m not a kid? 

Not a kid, not a problem! Our music lessons are for everyone. Parents often take lessons with their children, and many adults take lessons purely for themselves. Our teachers are professional musicians who tour and record at the highest level. Whatever your age or experience level, who doesn’t want a teacher and mentor like that? 

Are music lessons with SoundLife in-person or online? 

We offer almost all of our premium music lessons and coaching sessions both in-person and online, and our recommendations vary depending on the service. 

All private music lessons are offered in the comfort of your own home, either in-person or online. 

Locals: 

While our music lessons are private, the ultimate goal of our performance-based program is for each and every (Los Angeles local) student to take part in as much of our Five-Stage Program as they are comfortable with so they can benefit from all that our musical community has to offer. We invite and urge all students to take part in our regular Student Jams where they can meet, socialize, and play with other students in a band setting. We also encourage all students to take part in our Student Showcases, where they can build real confidence by performing alongside their peers. 

Out of Town: 

No matter where a student is located, they can take lessons with a professional musician with years of industry experience. SoundLife offers online/remote lessons nationwide, regardless of location! All that’s required is an internet connection and an instrument to get started. If you’d like more information on our remote programs and the many tools and resources we have available online, you can request more info here. 

Band Coaching rehearsals are almost always in-person, which is how band members receive the most benefit from coaching. However, if circumstances require and all band members agree, rehearsals can be held online. When necessary, online band rehearsals are still an effective way to keep learning and progressing until the band can get back together again!