Private piano lessons for
all ages, levels, and interests
In my private piano lessons I provide a multidisciplinary approach that draws from diverse musical genres and forms, allowing me to help students with specialized interests as well as those seeking a well-rounded music education.
-Charlie Tran, director of Novu Music Academy in Houston, Texas
Achieve Your Goals
Experience quality in-person piano lessons in Houston, TX with expert instruction that will encourage you to excel in the skills you wish to master: jazz improvisation, classical, pop, and more.
As a student, you will learn and progress through 1-on-1 lessons and a personalized curriculum.
My Teaching Philosophy
Traditional music lessons are ideal for students who want to focus on classical music, while modern music lessons provide opportunities for exploring a wide range of musical forms such as playing jazz, composing, improvising, and electronic music.
At Novu Music Academy, I invite students to experience the full range of musical possibilities by spending time in both worlds if they wish. This approach allows them to maximize their learning and discover the joy of music in all its forms.
Lesson Focuses and Offerings
RCM Exam Preparation
The world-recognized RCM (Royal Conservatory of Music) exam is a comprehensive system of music study and assessment from elementary to advanced levels. Learn more
TMTA Theory Preparation
The TMTA (Texas Music Teacher’s Association) theory test evaluates students’ musical knowledge and ability in theory, aural, and musical concepts. Learn more
Performance Opportunities
Perform in Novu Music Academy's semester recitals and gain access to affiliated organizations' additional opportunities, including recitals, festivals, and competitions.
Improvisation
Explore creative expression and freedom beyond sheet music through musical improvisation. Learn to improvise in various genres, including jazz, pop, rock, and more.
Composition & Arranging
Deepen your understanding of the piano and enhance your musicality by learning to compose original piano music or arrange piano covers of your favorite songs.
Electronic Keyboard Skills
Stay ahead of the curve by blending traditional piano techniques with digital technology. Master electronic keyboard skills to unlock new soundscapes and elevate your musical creativity.
Kids and Adults.
Beginners to Advanced.
In Person Private Lessons for Children
Does your child show a desire to play piano? Would your teenager like to learn how to get started in jazz improvisation or composing their own songs? Or do you just believe in the value of an early music education? Regardless of your goals for your kids or your kid’s goals for themselves, I am committed to helping my students build a proper foundation at the piano that will help them achieve a variety of accomplishments for many years to come.
In order to build a strong, lasting foundation in piano playing, the many fundamentals I focus on in my private lessons include note reading at a proficient level, correct hand and body posture, understanding musical vocabulary including chords and scales, playing with proper technique, and many more. But, most importantly, how to build healthy practice habits that will maximize progress throughout a student’s piano journey.
In each lesson I place heavy emphasis on utilizing proper technique and developing strong musicianship, but we also have fun and make sure your child enjoys the music that they’re learning.
And though it is crucial to establish and maintain the many principles of good piano playing from a young age, I also advocate for musical freedom by encouraging young students to improvise compose their own music.
In Person Private Lessons for Adults
Whether you’re a young professional adult seeking to advance your current abilities or a retired individual ready to dust off the piano in your living room, I’d be thrilled to be a part of your piano journey. My adult piano lessons take many forms and will incorporate the goals I will discuss with you; some adult students wish to learn piano enough to play along with their favorite hit songs; some want to learn how to structure an effective practice routine to prepare classical repertoire; others want to dive deep into the jazz language and learn about advanced music theory concepts that go into jazz improvisation and composition.
My private piano lessons will be tailored to your individual goals and preferences, but just as I do with young beginners, I place heavy emphasis on developing the proper fundamentals in order to make real progress and work through technical hurdles.
Whether you're an expert at sight reading or unfamiliar with the concepts of chords and key centers, my piano lessons will guide you in building a strong foundation that will allow you to progress beyond the fundamentals and open the door to more advanced techniques and concepts.
Student & Parent Testimonials
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Positive, helpful, and enjoyable
Overall, my experience with Novu Music Academy has been incredibly positive, helpful, and enjoyable! In music, especially jazz, it’s difficult to make consistent progress without a good mentor. Charlie is an amazing musician and an even better teacher. He is always positive, motivates me when I’m struggling, and pushes me to improve in every class.
-Luis Zambrano
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Thoughtful and engaging
“Our daughter has been at Charlie’s Studio for last 4 years. Charlie is exceptionally thoughtful and engaging in the way he teaches and explores many styles and genres taking into consideration our daughter’s interests making for a well rounded and fun learning experience. Highly recommended - just waiting for our youngest daughter to be old enough so we can sign her up!!”
-Ken Williamson
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Worth the drive
“We now have to drive 44 miles round trip but it's all worth it. My son does not whine when it comes to his daily 45-minute practice time and has challenged himself in tackling difficult pieces. You can hear the difference and joy in his playing and Charlie is a big part of that. He knows how to motivate kids and gets them to enjoy the music while doing the daily work that they have to do to improve. Thank you, Charlie!"
-Ida Cruz
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Develop jazz skills
Charlie is an amazing musician who has dedicated years into understanding the language of jazz. I am classically trained but have some amateur experience with jazz and wanted more formal training. We played several jazz standards and broke down the chord progressions and ways to improvise over them. It was exactly what I needed to help me develop my jazz skills and inspire me to play more jazz music.
-Brandon Chen
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Patience, humor, discipline
“My kids enjoy that Charlie is versitile in his choices for music and that he is such an accomplished pianist himself. I have watched him teach and he has an excellent blend of patience, humor and discipline. We have had several other teachers but no one compares to him. Thank you Charlie!!”
-Uma Ayyala
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Passionate and dynamic
My 2 kids have been working with Charlie for 5 years. Charlie is a passionate and dynamic teacher. He is versatile in what he can teach - classical, pop, jazz, improv and electronic music. We have really enjoyed working with Charlie and seeing our kids progress. You will be very happy with your progress as a student working with Charlie.
-Ryan Nunes
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Deeper knowledge
I've been learning from Charlie here and there throughout the past couple of years, and I come out of every lesson with a deeper knowledge and appreciation of piano, as well as music in general. Charlie is classically trained, but he goes even beyond that to expand his knowledge and experience in all aspects of music. He is able to uniquely tailor your learning experience based on what you're looking for.
-Yong-Hwi Cho
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Less rigid, more fluid
“Charlie was great … was flexible with our kids helping them focus and learn with music that interested them which made a huge difference for the kids compared to the rigid learning we had experienced previously. The kids loved learning with Charlie and this came through clearly in the results, and watching the kids play the piano for pleasure outside of practice was inspiring.”
-Daniel Vizel
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Individualized lessons
“Charlie is meticulous, in a good way, in his intent for students to nail the fundamentals both in playing and in technique. Having three children and one teacher, it is interesting to see the various processes Charlie uses with each child given their specific individual talents, improper and proper technique, and gaps in general music knowledge.”
-Terry Ray
About the Director, Charlie Tran
A versatile pianist with a diverse musical background, Charlie's mission as a teacher is to accommodate the wide spectrum of musical goals among students. After earning his bachelor's of music degree at the Moore’s School of Music at the University of Houston, he established Novu Music Academy to do just that - help students achieve their unique musical goals whether it's performing classical music at competitive levels, jazz improvisation with friends, writing their own songs, or a mix of it all.
Charlie is an active member of many professional organizations including Music Teacher's National Organization, Texas Music Teacher's Association, and the Houston Music Teacher's Association where he’s a former chairman of the music theory department. He has also co-founded a local rock band program and developed piano courses at several institutions, constantly innovating to meet his students’ needs.
Contact us
Ready to schedule a free meet and greet? Have any questions?
Let us know - we’d love to hear from you!
7707 Braesview Ln, Houston, TX 77071
info@novumusicacademy.com
(832) 930-2357