Instruments for Purchase and Required Lessons’ Books
Instrument recommendations
Music Teacher LA’s founder Olesya MacNeil has developed this student library for your convenience. Here you’ll find purchase recommendations for popular instruments that we teach based on our founder’s 30+ years of experience educating students of different ages and levels of expertise.
For additional materials, specific requests or suggestions, please call or text our office at (310) 220-0405.
πΉ Piano or Keyboard
If you’re looking for an upright or grand piano, please contact our office and we will recommend the right brand, based on your budget, as well as refer you to a local dealer. A good used certified piano will start at $3,000 and new pianos cost $8,000-up.
If you would rather start learning on a keyboard, then the most popular keyboard among our students has been Casio Privia. Compare the choice with this version of Casio Privia that has a better stand. For a modern look and to make a statement in your home, consider this Casio Digital Piano. Please click the above link to make your purchase or research an instrument with similar features online.
Remember that your keyboard must have weighted keys, a book rest, pedals, and also a bench.
πΈGuitar

Children under the age of 8 will need a smaller-size guitar with nylon or training strings. This 3/4 Acoustic Guitar is a great brand and choice for younger beginners.
If music production is incorporated into your lessons, purchase 3/4 Electric Guitar (Choose the bundle with Tuner if you already own Amp)
Students ages 11-Adult will need a full-size guitar for their weekly lessons. This Fender Affinity full-size electric guitar is a good choice and comes with an amp, cable, tuner, gig bag, and strap.
A Guitar stand or a wall-mount stand will be needed as well.
If you purchased or inherited a used guitar, that is fine.
Our instructors will tune your guitar and teach you or your child how to do that during the initial lesson.
If your full-size guitar is missing strings, please purchase 11 gauge strings, such as Elixir Strings.
π» Violin
Violins come in different sizes. Please refer to the chart below to choose your or your child’s right violin size.

Preschoolers and kindergartners won’t need expensive instruments because they will grow out of the smaller instruments quickly. Moreoever, they are more likely to break them.
We recommend these inexpensive wood violins for young beginners instead.
Here they are listed by size:
1/4 violin and
If you’re looking for a decent professional violin, then you need an instrument in the price range of $500-up, such as this Eastman Violin
Additionally, our instructors will tune your violin during the initial lesson.
Lastly, don’t throw away your violin’s shipping package until you’ll meet our teacher. There might be a small piece or a bridge that broke off and was left in the package. We will fix it with ease for you.
π₯ Drums
a. Pads. Students don’t need a drum set to start drum lessons, but a practice pad is required. Practice Pads do not produce loud sounds and are actually great for condos/apartments. They can be purchased for as low as $30 (click the link above).
b. Drum kits. Professional drum sets will cost $300-up.
Our beginner students ages 4-10 have been enjoying studying on this small, but decent quality Drum Kit. The kit is tunable and comes with cymbals and hardware.
Older beginners and adults would need a regular size drum set. This Ludwig Complete Set comes with everything you need to hit the stageβright out of the boxβgood to go! The kit includes all shells, hardware, cymbals, and throne. Easy to assemble.
Pearl Drums are also a great choice for beginners.
The popular mid-level Yamaha Drum Kit offers better quality overall and good value at $650.
c. Electronic drum sets.
Simmons Drum Kit is a valuable instrument but does not come with a speaker (you will need to buy it separately).
If you’re looking for a slightly better choice overall, then Alesis Drums are great and come with a speaker.
Required Books π
If you already have books by a different method or author, we will use the books you already have, unless they will not be the right fit for your or your child’s needs.
πΉπ Piano lessons for
Young beginners ages 4-5
Purchase Pre-primer level package assigned by your instructor:
Package 1: Lesson and Writing books
Package 2: Lesson and Theory books
Package 3: 2-Book Set
πΉπPiano lessons for
Piano beginners ages 5-6
Purchase the Primer package assigned by your teacher plus the Music Flash Cards :
Package 1: Lesson, Theory, and any two of the following genre books: Classics, Rock & Roll, Popular or Christmas
πΉπ Piano Lessons for
Piano beginners ages 7-10
Purchase the Level 1 package assigned by your teacher plus the Music Flash Cards
Package 1: Premier Piano Course Set
Package 2: Basic Piano Set
Package 3: Bastien books
Package 4: Lesson, Technique, and any of these two books Classics, Favorites, Performance, Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Popular, Disney or Christmas
πΉπ Piano Lessons for
Older beginners Ages 11-up
Purchase
Package 1: Older Beginner Set, Music Flash Cards and Manuscript Paper
Package 2: Accelerated Piano Set
Adult Beginners purchase the following four books:
a. Piano Course
πΉ π Piano students who are starting the 2nd Level and/or Level 1 CM examinations will enjoy the following Classical Piano Materials:
- Showtime Classics
- Easy Piano Classics
- Masterwork Classics
- Album for the Young
- Classic Melodies
- Classical and Baroque
- Etudes
π»π Violin Lessons for Beginners
Please click the link to the package assigned by your teacher:
Package 1: Essential Elements
Package 2: Suzuki Violin
Package 3: Violin for Adult Beginner
π₯πDrum Lessons for Beginners
Your teacher might require you to purchase both books:
Package 1: Stick Control
Package 2: Fundamentals of Rhythm
πΈπ Guitar Lessons for Beginners
Purchase the following materials (You can also purchase the Guitar Music Notes Vinyl Wall Decal to decorate your music room):
Package 1: Guitar for Younger Beginner, Tuner Metronome, and Manuscript Notebook
Package 2: Guitar Method (Purchase the Guitar Complete Edition if you learned Theory & Technique in Piano Lessons), Tuner Metronome, and also Manuscript Notebook
Package 3: Guitar Picks
πΈπ Ukulele Lessons for Beginners
Package 1: Ukulele Method and Manuscript Paper
We hope you found this student library informative and helpful. We are looking forward to teaching you music! πΉπ€πΈπ»π₯π
Copyright @ 2004-2023
πΉπ Piano Lessons for
Piano beginners ages 7-10
Purchase the Level 1 package assigned by your teacher plus the Music Flash Cards
Package 1: Premier Piano Course Set
Package 2: Basic Piano Set
Package 3: Bastien books
Package 4: Lesson, Technique, and any of these two books Classics, Favorites, Performance, Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Popular, Disney or Christmas
πΉπ Piano Lessons for
Older beginners Ages 11-up
Purchase
Package 1: Older Beginner Set, Music Flash Cards and Manuscript Paper
Package 2: Accelerated Piano Set
Adult Beginners purchase the following four books:
a. Piano Course
πΉ π Piano students who are starting the 2nd Level and/or Level 1 CM examinations will enjoy the following Classical Piano Materials:
- Showtime Classics
- Easy Piano Classics
- Masterwork Classics
- Album for the Young
- Classic Melodies
- Classical and Baroque
- Etudes
π»π Violin Lessons for Beginners
Please click the link to the package assigned by your teacher:
Package 1: Essential Elements
Package 2: Suzuki Violin
Package 3: Violin for Adult Beginner
π₯πDrum Lessons for Beginners
Your teacher might require you to purchase both books:
Package 1: Stick Control
Package 2: Fundamentals of Rhythm
πΈπ Guitar Lessons for Beginners
Purchase the following materials (You can also purchase the Guitar Music Notes Vinyl Wall Decal to decorate your music room):
Package 1: Guitar for Younger Beginner, Tuner Metronome, and Manuscript Notebook
Package 2: Guitar Method (Purchase the Guitar Complete Edition if you learned Theory & Technique in Piano Lessons), Tuner Metronome, and also Manuscript Notebook
Package 3: Guitar Picks
πΈπ Ukulele Lessons for Beginners
Package 1: Ukulele Method and Manuscript Paper
We hope you found this student library informative and helpful. We are looking forward to teaching you music! πΉπ€πΈπ»π₯π
Copyright @ 2004-2023