Northwoods Piano Studio, located in Haymarket, Virginia, was established in 1988 and is convenient to the Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, Warrenton, Manassas, Prince William County and Centreville areas. Private piano lessons are taught in studio for beginning, intermediate and advanced students age 7 and older.

Professional instruction is provided by Ellen Nordlof, a classically trained pianist with Bachelor of Music degree and National Certification (NCTM) through Music Teachers' National Association as well as 30 years of experience.



The studio 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.



The curriculum for beginners is based on concepts presented in Faber and Faber Piano Adventures series. Supplementary books by pedagogical composers are also used to expand reading skills and provide fun, interesting and motivational music.

The curriculum for intermediate and advanced students is based on traditional classical music from the four historical periods. A wide variety of music is used, including sonatinas, single composer collections and multi-composer collections.

Piano Perspectives series is used as a basis for the Royal Conservatory Music Development Program piano exams. This program represents a national standard of musical achievement for piano students. Students mark their progress by advancing through the levels of this program, studying music from Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary periods and meeting standards in sight reading, ear training and technique.



Students need to have a real acoustic piano or a full-sized 88-key digital piano with fully-weighted graded hammer action and pedals for their home practice.



The piano year includes 38 lessons.

30-minute lessons are appropriate for young beginners only.

45-minute lessons are appropriate for late elementary through late intermediate students.

60-minute lessons are appropriate for advanced students.

Schedule an interview
During the interview a beginning piano student will be introduced to piano lessons. A transfer student will be evaluated on playing, sight reading and rhythmic skills. Parent and teacher will discuss studio program, goals, instruments, curriculum and policies.






  • Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in Piano (NCTM)

  • Bachelor of Music degree

  • 30 years private piano teaching experience

  • Professional Affiliations: Music Teachers National Association

  • NVMTA Adjudicator: Fall Festival, Spring Festival, Bach-Baroque Festival, Concerto Competition

  • Springfield Music Club Adjudicator: Spring Festival, Sonatina Festival, Leestma Scholarship Competition, Mary Smart State Auditions, Composer Competition

  • Springfield Music Club offices held: Vice President, Composer Competition Chairman, Treasurer, Spring Festival Chairman, Publicity Chairman




  1. What type of instrument do I need for piano lessons?

    A studio upright acoustic piano by Kawai or Yamaha is an ideal lesson instrument. Studio uprights range in height from 44" to 49". Shorter spinet pianos are not ideal due to poor tone, touch and limited dynamic control. Kawai digital pianos are 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, 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.


  2. 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 sponsors piano sales with area universities and these are excellent places to find slightly used acoustic pianos. The Sunday Washington Post classified ads list pianos for sale. You can also find listings for used pianos on Facebook Marketplace. Before you even consider buying a used piano, ask the seller how often it has been tuned. If the seller says it hasn’t been tuned in years, it will be impossible for the piano 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 at least 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).


  3. How long does it take to learn to play the piano well?

    Learning the basics takes approximately 4 years, but the student will acquire lifetime piano skills only after 7 to 10 years of study. Learning to play an instrument takes dedication and persistence. If you want your child to succeed, support them through the highs and lows of lessons. Tell them that taking piano lessons is a privilege and that you will let them continue if they keep up their good work. It is better to approach lessons with positive reinforcement (rewarding the child for good work) rather than with negative reinforcement (you can’t use the computer if you don’t practice). If you want your child to become proficient at piano, don’t let him quit when lessons become challenging. 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.


  4. In what ways will piano study benefit my child?

    • Students learn the discipline that repeated, targeted practice makes a person proficient at a skill

    • Students gain a lifelong appreciation for music

    • 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 must simultaneously consider tempo, tone, rhythm, phrasing, pitch and style, which teaches them to become extremely good at organizing and conducting several activities at once

    • Students learn to persevere through challenges

    • Students learn to accept constructive feedback in their lessons

    • Piano playing is a stress reducer



  5. What is “NCTM” next to a teacher’s name?

    This means Nationally Certified Teacher of Music. National Certification is a program designed by MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) to help the public identify qualified music instructors in their area. A teacher who is nationally certified has proven competency through testing and college coursework in the following areas: music theory, music history, piano pedagogy, piano performance, music education and business practices.





"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


"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

"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


"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