WELCOME TO THE BLUE BALLOON COMMUNITY!
We connect highly talented, passionate teachers with families looking for the most engaging, creative music lessons.
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SEMESTER DATES 2024
FALL: 9/3 - 1/31
SPRING: 2/1 - 6/30
SUMMER: 7/1 - 8/31
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A teacher with a unique, creative and fun teaching style.
Lesson plans tailored to your child
Instrument instruction through songwriting
Many teachers send periodic recording and video clips of your budding songwriter
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You’ll need an instrument! HERE is a list of some of our favorites - email us for more specific recs!
New students having in-person lessons receive a blank Blue Balloon notebook by mail within weeks of signing up :) Please keep it in a safe place!
If you’re having virtual lessons, please see our virtual lesson tips and FAQ HERE!
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An adult other than the teacher must be home for all students under the age of 18. That said, we recommend that parents, caregivers and siblings are not in the room during the lesson. If you're inclined to listen in (we get it!), please be a "fly on the wall" in another room whenever possible so your child can get the most out of the classes. Your presence changes the dynamic of the class, so we highly recommend giving the teacher and your child space to establish a rapport and routine on their own.
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For all lessons, the best place in your home will be the room with 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!
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The Blue Balloon community team is here for you! We usually respond within 5 minutes for anything urgent and within a day (but usually much sooner) for anything more long term.
Text us at (917) 789 - 1600 or email lessons@blueballoonschool.com
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We will email you an invoice for the full semester before your child’s first class. The invoice is payable online (Credit card, Venmo, Zelle) or by check in the mail. Please note that our teachers do not accept payment directly.
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We require 48 hours' notice if you need to reschedule a lesson. Please click HERE to read more about our policies!
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Click HERE for some great tips! If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to us anytime for recommendations on instruments and other supportive tools.
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Students perform their own original songs at our annual “Spring Songwriting Showcase” held at the Knitting Factory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and at a location TBD in Nashville (in normal times) and on zoom if in-person isn't safe. 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!
Our Story!
Blue Balloon was founded in 2010 by Rachel Lipson, the “matriarch of modern music education”. Rachel started out as a guitarist and songwriter working as a preschool teacher at Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn Heights and organically grew Blue Balloon from the ground up.
What began as a one woman music “school” in Rachel’s studio apartment, has developed into what Blue Balloon is today: a network of 75+ amazing and talented independent teachers, teaching over 400 students a week on many different instruments all over the world.