Northwoods Piano Studio, located in Haymarket, Virginia is convenient to Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, Warrenton and Manassas areas. Professional piano instruction is provided by Ellen Nordlof, NCTM, a pianist who holds a Bachelor of Music degree, National Certification through Music Teachers National Association and over 30 years of private piano teaching experience.

Ms. Nordlof started piano lessons at the age of 10 and studied with Marie Kassouny at Malone University while in high school. She received a Bachelor of Music degree from Muskingum College where she studied with Dr. Jack Peterson and Mr. Wilbur Schnitker. She also attended graduate school at The Ohio State University, studying with Sylvia Zaremba. Ms. Nordlof has been Nationally Certified since 2006.

National Certification is a program created by MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) to help the public identify qualified music instructors in their area. A teacher who is nationally certified in piano has proven competency through testing and university coursework in music theory, music history, piano pedagogy, piano performance, music education and business practices.

Ms. Nordlof teaches students aged 7 and older, including adults. Lessons vary in length depending upon the age and experience of the student. 30-minute lessons are available for young beginners, 45-minute lessons for late elementary through late intermediate students and 60-minute lessons for advanced students.



It is essential that students have a lesson-quality instrument for home practice. The ideal lesson-quality instrument would be a Kawai or Yamaha studio upright acoustic piano (44" and taller) or a grand piano. Digital pianos made by Kawai or Yamaha are also lesson-quality instruments due to their carefully engineered and patented action and sound quality. Spinet and console pianos of all brands and digital pianos other than Kawai or Yamaha are not appropriate for serious piano study.



An individualized approach is used with each student. A challenging but achievable progression of work is presented. The curriculum for beginners is based on the Faber and Faber Piano Adventures series. Supplemental books by creative pedagogical composers are also used to expand and reinforce reading skills and provide fun, motivational music.

The curriculum for intermediate and advanced students is based on traditional piano repertoire from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary historical periods. A wide variety of fun and challenging music is used, including sonatinas and sonatas, single-composer collections and multi-composer collections.

Sight reading, rhythm, technique and music theory are elements of each lesson and important skills for students of all ages and levels of advancement. Confident reading of notes and rhythm on the printed page will make piano playing a lifetime hobby. In my studio we study sight reading in every lesson. Late elementary through advanced students participate in a motivational sight reading contest each year. Rhythm independence is studied through metronome and counting skills. Students learn to interpret rhythm independently, without the help of a teacher.

Piano technique is developed through constant scale study. Fundamentals of Piano Theory books are started when students are advanced enough and mature enough to understand music theory and recognize elements of it in their music.



My goal is to develop a high level of pianism and musicianship through a carefully planned, leveled curriculum, with strong emphasis on sight reading and rhythm. My hope is that students will graduate from my studio capable of teaching themselves new music, enjoying piano for a lifetime.

It is my philosophy that the parent's positive attitude and tenacity toward the student's practice routine is the most important ingredient in the child's success.



If you are interested in starting piano lessons in my studio, please contact me by telephone (703) 332-9778 or through the contact form. During the phone consultation I will answer any questions you have and talk to you about your home practice instrument. If everything is satisfactory, an in-person interview will be scheduled. At the interview I will hear the student play, test their sight reading and rhythm skills and discuss prior lessons.

1. In what ways will piano study benefit my child?
   
   Students learn the discipline that repeated, targeted practice makes a person proficient at a skill
   
   Piano playing develops fine motor skills, improved concentration, coordination, memory, problem-solving skills, patience, discipline, creativity
   
   Rhythm improves understanding of math
   
   Students gain confidence and self-esteem from learning increasingly challenging music
   
   Musicians simultaneously consider tempo, tone, rhythm, phrasing, pitch and style, which teaches them to become great at multi-tasking
   
   Students learn to persevere through challenges
   
   Students learn to accept constructive feedback in their lessons
   
   Piano playing is a stress reducer
   
   Students gain a lifelong appreciation for music
   
   

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2. How long does it take to learn to play the piano well?
   
   Learning the basics takes 4 years, but acquiring lifetime piano skills takes 7-10 years of focused study. Learning to play an instrument takes dedication and persistence. If you want your child to succeed at piano, support them through the highs and lows of lessons. Lessons will become challenging and persevering through those times is what builds skill and character. Letting a child jump in and out of lessons, bouncing from one instrument or activity to another, will only result in a loss of money for you and very little knowledge for your child. Musical instruments are not learned in a year or two.
   
   

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3. What type of instrument do I need for piano lessons?
   
   A studio upright or professional upright acoustic piano by Kawai or Yamaha is an ideal lesson instrument. These range in height from 44" to 52".
   
   Kawai digital pianos are also suitable for piano lessons. Kawai engineers have created Responsive Hammer Action and Grand Feel Action for their digital pianos, which provide the same level of nuance and response as their acoustic piano action.
   
   Yamaha digital pianos are also lesson quality instruments, created with various levels of their Graded Hammer Action, providing a touch that is similar to their acoustic piano action.
   
   **It is advisable to refrain from buying other brands of digital pianos because they are not engineered with piano quality action. It is definitely not recommended to purchase a digital piano in a warehouse club, non-piano retailer or online. If you buy a digital piano, the only brands with lesson quality instruments are Kawai and Yamaha.
   
   **It is also advisable to avoid buying spinet pianos or console pianos of any brand (36"-43" tall). These are not ideal due to poor tone, touch and limited dynamic control.
   
   

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4. Where can I buy a suitable instrument for piano lessons?
   
   Yamaha acoustic and digital pianos are sold by licensed dealer Jordan Kitt’s Music in Fairfax. Kawai acoustic and digital pianos are sold by licensed dealer The Piano Company in Leesburg.
   
   Jordan Kitt's Music hosts university piano sales and these are excellent places to find slightly used acoustic studio upright pianos. The Sunday Washington Post classified ads list pianos for sale by private sellers. You can also find listings for used pianos on Facebook Marketplace.
   
   Before buying a used piano, ask the seller how often it has been tuned. If the seller says it hasn’t been tuned in years, avoid that piano! It will be impossible for it to hold a tuning. Stay away from used pianos that have not been tuned yearly.
   
   If you find a used piano that has been tuned yearly, visit the seller and determine if you like the look, feel and sound of the piano. If you do, hire a piano technician www.ptg.org to go back with you and examine the working parts and soundboard before you agree to purchase it. Keep in mind that a skilled piano technician can change the tone of the piano you buy (brighten it or make it less bright).
   

"Ellen has an innate understanding of how to motivate and encourage children. Each child is different, and she tailors her approach and the lessons themselves to best reach each individual student. Because of this - and the respect with which she treats her students - children respond to her and eagerly work to reach the weekly goals that she sets for them. My son has been in Ellen's studio for five years now, and the progress he's made in piano is a beautiful thing to see, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. He has learned that, with hard work, he can accomplish tasks that at first seem impossible to him. I've watched his self-confidence blossom because of that. In turn, as he's realized that applying himself pays off, I've seen his self-discipline grow, too. Despite having had both of my children in piano for years prior, I didn't see any of these benefits. When Ellen looked at them, though, she saw their potential. She saw what they were able to do right then, but she also saw what they were capable of. She challenged them to work toward that potential rather than be content staying where they were in their skill -- and they rose to the occasion. I can't recommend her or her studio enough. If there's an opening in Ellen's studio for a student, snatch it up. Your child will thank you for it. "

Heather G.
Manassas

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"My two daughters wanted to improve their note reading and rhythm skills, so we decided to start lessons with Ms. Nordlof. She has a very professional program and method of teaching that suits our needs! We have been in Ellen's studio for 7 years and are very pleased with the kids' progress. She is kind, patient and knowledgeable and we have had such a wonderful experience with her. My wife and I will definitely recommend her to anyone who is seriously interested in learning how to play the piano."

Ajay Kumar
Manassas

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"My children have been students of Ellen Nordlof for 3 years now and I have seen their piano skills develop tremendously. Ms. Ellen is a Certified piano teacher and she is professional and organized in her class. She works with children very well. My children love playing the piano and I know that having the best piano teacher is a big factor in that. They love her."

Bern Gonzales
Haymarket

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"It has been years since my two daughters took piano lessons from Ms. Nordlof, but her exceptional teaching is still fresh in my mind. Ms. Nordlof was different from other music teachers that we had known, from the outset. She informed us of her expectations. If the students are young, as was the case for my younger one, then the parents are expected to attend the lessons and supervise the practices at home as well. For busy parents that we all are, it requires a level of commitment, and it is well worth your time. I recall Ms. Nordlof's teaching to be kind, individualized, thorough and step by step. She was firm yet gentle and clearly explained how to approach each piece as well as how to play it. I also remember how patient and encouraging she was as my daughters learned new skills or pieces, or fixed old bad habits. She provided specific feedback and timely incentives to the girls at weekly lessons. Subsequently, my daughters learned to play the piano well and developed wonderful musicianship too. Seeing the girls develop over the years, I was amazed by what a superb teacher Ms. Nordlof was and by how dedicated she was to her students."

SooJung Kim
McLean, VA