Welcome to the amazing Blue Balloon community!
What can I expect from Blue Balloon lessons?
Your child is about to begin lessons with one of our amazing teachers who has a unique, creative and fun teaching style. Our lesson plans are tailored to each individual student so your child will be learning at his or her own pace. The concept behind Blue Balloon is instrument instruction through songwriting, so unless we've planned otherwise, you can expect your child to be writing songs and learning how to play an instrument simultaneously. You should periodically receive emailed recordings and video clips of your budding songwriter, which become lifelong mementos and allow you to see your child’s progress.
Tell me a little bit about Blue Balloon!
Blue Balloon was founded by Rachel Lipson who started out as a preschool teacher, guitarist and songwriter, and organically grew Blue Balloon from the ground up on her own. What began as a one woman music “school” in a studio in Brooklyn Heights has grown into what Blue Balloon is today: 35+ amazing, talented teachers, teaching over 250 students a week on many different instruments all over NYC, The Hamptons and Nashville!
How does billing work?
You will receive an invoice by email before the first class for the full semester with payment instructions to either pay online or by check in the mail. Please note that our teachers do not accept payment directly.
What is the cancellation policy?
We require 48 hours' notice if you need to reschedule a lesson. Please click here to read more about our policies!
Who do I contact with any scheduling issues (not last minute)?
Please email rachel@blueballoonschool.com with any scheduling issues that are not within an hour of the lesson.
We're running late for our lesson, (etc.) who do I contact?
Please text (917) 608 - 2433 so we can be sure your teacher knows what's happening! Please include your name and your child's name so we know who you are!
Who do we contact if we have questions about our teacher/ lessons/ anything at all?
Email rachel@blueballoonschool.com and we'll be sure to get right back to you to sort out the issue at hand! Please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We pride ourselves on an open line of communication 100% of the time between you and Blue Balloon, so please reach out anytime!
Do I need to sit in on the lessons?
Nopel! Generally, we recommend the parents aren’t in the room for the lessons in order for your child to get the most out of the classes. If you're inclined to listen in, please try to be a "fly on the wall" listening in from another room whenever possible. It's so tempting at times to hang out in the room or even sit next to your child to help them acclimate to the lessons or to see more about our lessons, but it really changes the dynamic of the class itself. We highly recommend giving the teacher and your child space to get to know each other and establish a lesson routine on their own. If you have any questions about the lessons, feel free to reach out to us anytime and we will be sure to fill you in :) NOTE: Please be sure there is always an adult at home besides the teacher for all students under the age of 18. There are no exceptions on this policy!
Can you recommend a good place in our home for the lessons?
We find the best place in your home is the room that has the least amount of distractions! Our teachers will do their best to help you find the space that's most conducive to learning. If you have questions, please ask us or ask your teacher during the lesson.
Do you have any tips to help my child establish a practice routine?
Yes, Click HERE for some great tips! If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to us anytime!
Is there a recital?
Students perform their own original songs at an annual “Spring Songwriting Showcase” held at the Knitting Factory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and at a location TBD in Nashville. Rather than having the usual “recital”, all of our students have the unique experience of performing in public, plugged-in like pros! Our showcases are usually listed in the New York Times (no big deal) and are the highlight of our students' years.
What equipment/materials do we need for our lessons?
Your child should have the instrument they are studying to use in their lessons and to practice on at home. Click here for a list of some instruments we frequently recommend, but please email us anytime if you need any specific recommendations for your family or you have any questions!
Your teacher will bring a Blue Balloon notebook to the first lesson or you will receive one in the mail within the first couple weeks. Please be sure to always keep it in a safe place so it doesn't get lost!
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Reach out to us anytime with questions! We are so excited to get started!