Current studio families rave about their instructor:
“Miss Julie has that rare combination of skillful teaching, passion about music, and patience with children! Her recitals are not only a tremendous learning experience for the children but are also fun for them. My children genuinely enjoy learning piano from her and that has made lessons and practice time so much easier.”
– Melissa M., mother of 9-year old boy/girl twins
Alexandria, Virginia
“When I started my sports-minded and very reserved six-year-old son in piano lessons with Miss Julie, my goal was simply to give him a little exposure to formal music training, building on his early love of singing and playing instruments.
Within a short time, his study with Miss Julie far exceeded my expectations. His piano lesson became a highlight of my son’s week and within a few months, this profoundly shy child was performing cheerfully and confidently in front of a recital audience, and eagerly selecting his repertoire for the next concert.
Miss Julie creates a calm and happy oasis in her studio, striking the perfect balance between the formal and fun. Her traditional teaching approach allows the children to build confidence in their skills and make rapid progress, while her irrepressible good humor and genuine caring for each child ensure that every lesson is full of laughter and a happy sense of discovery.
Her performance classes are another special benefit, in which the children develop a sense of camaraderie around the otherwise isolated endeavor of learning solo piano. Coming together in occasional group classes, the children meet their fellow “young musicians” and can focus together on building the unique skill-set required for live performance.
Miss Julie is a treasure and her teaching has enriched my son’s life immeasurably!”
– Elizabeth M., mother of 8-year-old boy
Alexandria, VA
“Ms. Julie is an excellent piano teacher. Her emphasis on enjoying the process of learning a musical instrument, combined with the patience she has with even the youngest students has kept our five-year-old son motivated and interested during the year since he began lessons. Ms. Julie also emphasizes professionalism and responsibility for practicing, with performance opportunities throughout the year. Ms. Julie achieves the perfect balance of being demanding to ensure that each child is challenged, while remaining supportive to ensure that each child enjoys learning to play. We feel very lucky to have found Ms. Julie!”
– Parents of 6-year-old boy
Alexandria, VA
“As an amateur musician who tries to practice daily and play music with friends once or twice a week, I wished to pass my love of music on to my granddaughter. I know the right teacher is critical. Julie Zupan is certainly such a teacher. I listen carefully to my granddaughter’s lessons and often to other students. I hear children enjoying themselves while working through a carefully structured lesson incorporating technique, structure, expression, the fundamentals for theory, musical terms, performance etiquette, and music appreciation.
My granddaughter is learning happily and much faster than I expected. Ms. Zupan balances enthusiastic recognition with encouragement and motivation. Lessons are clearly structured around the individual student’s abilities and musical interests. I would like to think there was something magic in a good teacher’s ability to draw the best from each student. Like great music I think this skill comes from dedication, hard work and a great deal of experience. It only looks easy when someone like Julie Zupan does it.”
– Sean D., grandfather of 9-year old girl
Alexandria, Virginia
“The progress my son has made in one year of lessons with Miss Julie is amazing, not only in his skill in playing piano but also in his approach to learning. Piano lessons have helped him understand the value of practicing as a way of becoming better–something adults understand but that is not always easy to communicate to a child. Miss Julie offers a terrific balance of geniality and firmness in her approach to teaching; my son feels pride as he is able to master concepts and pieces, and his success encourages him to continue. He has become comfortable performing in front of other children and on a stage and has become more confident in himself as a result. I am so glad we began lessons with Miss Julie.”
– Jennifer H., parent of 7-year-old boy
Alexandria, Virginia
I began a search for a piano teacher for my two sons about 18 months ago. As a professional opera singer and private voice instructor for over 15 years, I knew that my standards would be high, and that the search for a good piano teacher for my 5 and 7-year old boys might take awhile. The search ended with Julie. Ms. Julie greeted my children on their first lesson day with a smile, and taught them to play that very day. She has the right balance of expectation, compassion and pure joy of teaching young children. She makes it fun. Even when my children complain to me of being tired before their lessons, they rally for Ms. Julie…she pulls a smile or laugh right out of them and gets them to play well!
– Elizabeth K., mother of 7-year old boy
Alexandria, Virginia
“My daughter started taking piano lessons with Julie when she was five years old. The studio’s positive and always relaxed atmosphere makes the lessons both fun and a great learning experience. Julie’s teaching methods embrace good practice skills, music theory, a variety of music, and public performance, providing my daughter a well rounded understanding of music. The low-stress structure of the performance classes makes playing in front of an audience an easy next step, and the recitals feel celebratory and special without all the nerves.
Julie’s supportive and patient approach to teaching brings out the best in my daughter, and her love of music is infectious. Julie’s studio and performance classes teach aspiring young musicians that making music is more than just learning the notes on the page.”
– Kathy G., mother of 8-year old girl
Alexandria, Virginia
To enroll your child in private piano lessons or for additional information, please contact:
Julie Zupan, Founder and Director
Old Town Music School
120 South Royal Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
tel: 703-341-7341
email: Julie@OldTownMusicSchool.com.
Office Hours:
9:00 am – 12:00 pm Monday
9:00 am – 1:00 pm Tuesday and Wednesday
9:00 am – 12:00 Thursday
9:00 am – 3:00 pm Friday
Voicemail and Text all other times.
email: Julie@OldTownMusicSchool.com.
Your email inquiry will receive a response within 24 hours.