$75 / hrMusic lessons
Guitar
Rachel Sullivan
5.0(4)Ukulele, acoustic guitar and folk songs
Montclair
Mon · Wed · FriBackground checked
Piano and guitar lessons at home in Montclair, NJ
Plenty of people in Montclair have a piano in the living room that nobody has touched in years. A teacher who comes to the house can change that. Home Happenings connects older adults in Montclair with local piano and guitar teachers, plus board-certified music therapists, who teach at your own instrument at a pace that feels right.
Learn an instrument, sing favorite songs or explore music at your pace.
Friendly people serving Montclair
$75 / hr
$60 / hrMusic lessons
PianoGuitar
Frank Ellis
4.9(17)Beginner piano, guitar and harmonica
Montclair
Mon · Wed · FriBackground checked
$50 / hrMusic lessons
Piano
Zoe Novak
4.8(6)Singing, keyboard basics and Broadway songs
Verona
Mon · Wed · Fri · SunBackground checked
$85 / hrMusic lessons
PianoMusic therapy
Maya Nwosu
4.8(4)Piano by ear, hymns and Motown
Glen Ridge
Mon · Wed · FriBackground checked
$90 / hrMusic lessons + 1 more
Piano
June Spencer
4.7(6)Singing, hymns and easy piano chords
Verona
Mon · Wed · FriBackground checked
Starting again after a long break
Most first lessons begin with a conversation, not scales. The teacher asks what you played as a kid, what you stopped playing, and what you would love to be able to play by spring. Some students want Chopin back in their hands. Others just want to get through "Moon River" without stopping.
From there it is small steps. Hands separately, then together. A teacher may mark up a simple arrangement so the left hand is easier while your fingers wake up. Guitar students often start with three chords and a song they already know by heart, because that is what keeps you picking it up between visits.
Piano, guitar or music therapy
When you browse teachers in Montclair you can filter by piano, guitar or music therapy. Music therapy is a separate thing: it is only offered on Home Happenings by therapists who are board certified (MT-BC), and their profiles show that credential as verified. Other teachers list their training and experience themselves, and the profile says so.
If you are not sure which fits, message a couple of teachers first. You can ask about their style, whether they have taught adult beginners, and how they handle hands that tire quickly. Your phone number and email stay private in messages.
Music around town
Montclair is a good place to have a reason to listen. The Wellmont Theater in Montclair Center books touring acts all year, and a lot of students like having a song from a show they saw to work toward. The Montclair Public Library is handy for borrowing music books and recordings, so you can hear a piece before your teacher hands you the sheet music.
Some families tell us the best part is hearing the piano from the kitchen again on a Tuesday afternoon.
What it costs and how booking works
Each teacher sets an hourly rate between $50 and $150. Lessons run 1, 1.5 or 2 hours, and most seniors start with an hour. There is a $2.50 booking fee and a 10% service fee when you pay. You can book a single lesson, four weeks at the same time, or every week until you cancel.
Plans change. There is no fee to cancel 3 or more days ahead. Between 3 days and 12 hours out, half the visit is charged, and inside 12 hours it is the full price. After every lesson the teacher writes a short note about what you worked on.
How visits work
Choose a one hour, 1.5 hour or two hour visit. Each visit adds a $2.50 booking fee and a 10% service fee. You pay when you book. Refunds follow our cancellation policy: free up to 3 days before. Every published professional completes an online search, a real conversation with our team, a signed provider agreement, a criminal background check through a screening vendor and a national sex offender registry check. The home address stays private until a visit is confirmed. Read profiles, compare open times and reviews, then book an open time straight from the calendar. Use Message to discuss your first visit.
Popular activities in Montclair
Questions seniors and families ask
Does my mother need her own piano for in-home lessons?
For piano, yes, or at least a full-size keyboard with weighted keys. Teachers can tell you in a message whether an older upright needs tuning first. Guitar teachers will often advise on a comfortable, lightweight guitar if she does not have one.
Is music therapy the same as a piano lesson?
No. A music therapy session is led by a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) and is built around goals like mood, memory and connection rather than learning a piece. On Home Happenings, music therapy is only offered by therapists whose MT-BC credential has been verified.
Can arthritis or stiff fingers get in the way of piano lessons?
Stiff hands are common, and many teachers adjust with simpler arrangements, shorter practice stretches and warm-up exercises. Mention it when you message a teacher so they can plan the first lesson around it. This is music teaching, not medical treatment.
How much are piano lessons for seniors in Montclair?
Teachers set their own hourly rate between $50 and $150, and you can pick 1, 1.5 or 2 hour lessons. There is a $2.50 booking fee and a 10% service fee on top, added at checkout. If a teacher lives 20 or more miles from the home, a $25 travel fee applies per visit.
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