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If you hire this pro, you’re covered by a money-back guarantee. Learn more
About
I have been playing piano for 28 years and teaching for more than 13 years, both private lessons and at Albany Music School. I am passionate about helping people of all ages and experience levels gain an appreciation and love for the piano by offering engaging, challenging, and enjoyable private lessons. I am currently offering online lessons as well as in-person lessons at my studio in Emeryville, CA. I am able to hold the lessons in English as well as German.
Overview
Hired 66 times
1 similar job done near you
Background checked
1 employee
14 years in business
Business hours
This pro hasn't listed their business hours.
Payment methods
This pro accepts payments via Cash, Check, PayPal, Square cash app, Venmo, and Zelle.
Top Pro status
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2020
2018
2017
Services offered
Musical style
Classical
Pop
Work location
My customers travel to me
I work remotely (phone or internet)
Reviews
Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, responsiveness, and work quality.
Exceptional 5.0
42 reviews
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Read reviews that mention:
Ashlynn V.
Mar 12, 2024
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Hired on Thumbtack
I have been taking lessons virtually for the past six months and it has been an incredible experience! I played piano most of my childhood and decided to pick it up again in my late twenties. It’s such an amazing feeling to be able to play piano again. I’m learning new techniques every week and the feedback I get from lessons is incredibly helpful. I’m so glad that I decided to start lessons with Stella and very excited for what the future holds!
Details: 26 - 44 years old • Yes, the student can read music • 4+ yrs of formal training • Classical • Yes, the student has a piano • 60 minutes • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc. • Remotely (phone or internet)
Piano Lessons
Nick M.
Sep 18, 2019
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Hired on Thumbtack
Stella was a great piano teacher. She was very patient and really tailored the lesson to my needs and interest. Great learning environment as well, I recommend her to both adults and children looking to take lessons.
Details: 18 - 25 years old • No, the student cannot read music • No formal training; some self-taught experience • Classical • Yes, the student has a keyboard • 45 minutes • At the pro’s location
Piano Lessons
Mustafa M.
Feb 12, 2017
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Hired on Thumbtack
I am an adult with zero music education, I love classical music and decided to start playing piano for pleasure. Acquiring a skill is a project in our busy lives, a piano teacher is a partner in such a project, you need to find the one who would make it work.
Finding Stella has been great for me. She is very flexible and dynamic, so far we have been able to schedule regular bi-weekly lessons despite the fact I live in Portland and Berkeley and keep traveling between them. More importantly, Stella is very efficient at utilizing the little time we spend together. She spends half of the lesson time reviewing homework and the rest of the lesson discussing assignment with demos in class. She starts by asking me to exercise my hands at the new assignment in class, she gives comments on posture, hand position and movement of my wrests, fingering and sheet reading. She emphasizes the purpose of the assignment (speed, muscles strengthening ... etc). While I am exercising she is always busy writing notes on my performance and things to watch for and new assignments. *She is super efficient at using the lesson time*.
I definitely recommend Stella. I think she can be your partner in your piano project.
Piano Lessons (for adults)
Yen D.
Nov 18, 2017
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Hired on Thumbtack
Stella is a great piano teacher. She is very friendly but also very professional in her teaching. She makes her lessons interesting especially to young students. My daughter is always looking forward to her pianolessons with Stella.
Piano Lessons
Siobhan B.
Jul 19, 2017
•
Hired on Thumbtack
Taking lessons with Stella has been such a great experience!! I have been playing piano my whole life and have seen more improvement since starting with her than at any other time.
She structures her lessons very thoughtfully and I can tell that she genuinely cares about my playing/improvement.
Piano Lessons (for adults)
Credentials
Background Check
Stella Lim
FAQs
What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
My hourly rate is $80 with weekly one-hour lessons, though some students (especially younger children) have 45 minute lessons in order to accommodate shorter attention spans.
Students can choose to pay online or with cash or check for the coming month in advance.
Cancellation policy: Cancellations more than 24 hours in advance will be rescheduled as soon as possible within the same month. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the scheduled lesson (except for emergency reasons) will incur a cancellation fee.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I offer a free 30-minute trial so we can get to know each other and see if we work well together. Depending on my student's background, I use the beginning of the lesson to get a sense of how advanced my student is in terms of musical education.
If the student has had prior piano instruction, I ask them to perform a few pieces in order to get a sense of the current skill level, such as hand positioning, wrist flexibility, form, finger precision and strength, as well as interpretation, musicality, and expressiveness. I can use the performance to pinpoint specific areas that we can work to improve, and I create individual exercises to help improvement.
What types of customers have you worked with?
I have worked with people from all different backgrounds, all different ages, and all different skill levels. My passion lies in connecting with people beyond the piano lessons, as well as seeing them grow, improve, and receive joy and fulfillment from making music.
