Music lessons provide an artistic outlet for all ages to explore, create, heal, and build self-confidence. Pianos for People currently has approximately 100 piano students enrolled at our free Cherokee Street Piano School, an additional 100+ students at our Ferguson Piano School location, and a growing number of outreach partnership locations.
We offer beginner group piano classes and private lessons as well as music theory classes and tutoring. Our school sessions follow the traditional school-year calendar – with two semesters, each concluding with recitals, separated by Winter and Summer breaks. We recently began offering an optional summer session for current students to continue their classes and lessons, in addition to our Beginner Summer Piano Camps for incoming students. Each semester includes an abundance of events and activities in addition to our weekly lessons and classes, such as performance workshops, specialty skill and knowledge-based camps and events, outreach opportunities to perform within the community at large, as well as fun piano festivals, and fun free community events. Our free piano school program encourages students to challenge themselves, make friends, overcome stage anxiety, develop patience and discipline, and to become confident in themselves.
All beginning students must first participate in our Beginner Group Piano classes before “testing in” to our limited private lesson slots. Incoming students who have previous experience with the piano may contact [email protected] to discuss auditioning for a private lesson slot when one becomes available.
Our piano teachers are the heart of our success. Our teachers are highly qualified, committed and experienced – many of them with music degrees. They are a diverse and committed staff, and most importantly, they are empathetic and sensitive to the issues that many of our families face, happy to meet students where they are at.
To qualify for free classes and lessons, one must demonstrate financial or other special need, along with a genuine interest and commitment to learn the piano. Many of our families have also applied for and received a FREE PIANO as part of our Piano Donation Program, ensuring better engagement and success.
Once you have registered for a class or piano camp, please submit ONE of the following documents to [email protected] to apply for free tuition:
- A letter stating you receive any governmental assistance (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Disability, etc)
- Your most recent tax forms
- Your two most recent pay stubs, OR
- If self-employed, your two most recent bank statements
Educators, if you would like to refer students to PFP for lessons, click here to download a flier you can share with your students and families or print and post in your classroom.
CHEROKEE PIANO SCHOOL
At our 3138 Cherokee Street location, there is a group teaching and performance space with eight acoustic pianos and a concert grand (a generous gift from Graham Nash), along with two private lesson studios and additional practice/lesson space in the basement and our “Piannex” garage.
In 2016, we refurbished our garage (“The Piannex”) which is equipped with 10 pianos allowing us to increase our teaching capacity, while also serving as an area to hold donated pianos before they are delivered to recipients.
An increase in the student body also necessitated the refurbishment of the Cherokee school basement in order to serve as a waiting for parents and students. In addition, this area now serves as a practice area with three keyboards and headphones.
We also have a Music Resource Library, where students may browse through, borrow, and even keep music from the vast selection of music that has been donated to us. We maintain a core of materials for teaching resources.
FERGUSON PIANO SCHOOL
Pianos for People in Ferguson is generously hosted at the First Baptist Church of Ferguson at 333 North Florissant Road. Originally a satellite location, the Ferguson Piano School is now as busy as our original location on Cherokee Street!
We also offer group piano classes, private lessons, and specialty workshops at our Ferguson School, along with Beginner Piano Camps during the summer.
The Ferguson School is generously hosted by the First Baptist Church of Ferguson and supported by the Emerson Charitable Trust and the Siteman Family Foundation.
WEST ST. LOUIS
Pianos for People in excited to open a new location at First Congregational Church of St. Louis. This beautiful space, just West of Forest Park, is centrally located for students in the City, (especially the Skinker/DeBaliviere neighborhoods), Dogtown, University City, and Maplewood-Richmond Heights.
We currently offer group piano classes at our First Congregational School, along with Beginner Piano Camps during the summer.
The Ferguson School is generously hosted by the First Congregational Church of St. Louis and supported by Carol and Ward Klein.
