For advanced pianists, prodigies and committed developing artists. Work directly with Nic Patterson on technique, interpretation and the complete musical mind. Each advanced student will perform at the annual Carnegie Hall studio recital.
Annual studio recital at Carnegie Hall. Students cover travel; dates, hall and program details are confirmed separately. No application fee.
Personal instruction with Nic Patterson
01 / PRIVATE STUDY
Choose the depth of your next chapter.
Two courses of study. One teacher. In person in St. Augustine or live online.
ADVANCED · PERSONAL ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT
Advanced Private Study
$1,500 / month
For serious pianists refining their artistic voice and preparing for our annual student recital at Carnegie Hall.
Weekly one-hour private lessonsIndividual instruction, online or in St. Augustine
Four optional one-hour Performance LabsFour one-hour online classes each week · optional attendance · four shared hours available
Theory & aural trainingOnline Thursday musicianship; developing students have a separate group
Your annual Carnegie Hall recitalEach enrolled advanced student will perform at our annual Carnegie Hall studio recital. Referring teachers are invited to perform alongside their students. Carnegie Hall is the confirmed venue; date, specific hall, repertoire and participation arrangements are shared before enrollment. Students cover travel costs.
One private hour Monday–Wednesday plus four optional one-hour online Performance Labs during teaching weeks. Five hours of instruction available; attendance at the Performance Labs is not required.
Placement confirmed? Complete enrollment
Confirm your placement and lesson schedule with Nic first.
Five hours of instruction with Nic each teaching week: your one-hour private lesson plus four optional one-hour online Performance Labs each week, totaling four hours of shared instruction. Individual attention and a daily musical community.
Choose monthly or six-month semester tuition. No automatic renewal. Placement is reviewed personally.
YOUR NEXT STEP IS A CONVERSATION
Bring your dedication. We’ll begin with your music.
Tell Nic what you are playing, where you want to grow, and how you prefer to study. Advanced-study and competition-consultation applicants should share an unedited performance link. No audition is required for the all-ages intensive.
Four optional one-hour online Performance Labs each week, plus your one-hour private lesson. Attend the classes that support your practice and goals. Times published in the calendar.
Thursday
Online aural training and music theory · separate Developing Virtuosos and advanced groups.
Friday–Sunday evenings
Required advanced masterclasses alongside the intensive program. Students may be asked to play online or in person; Nic confirms assignments and dates.
Selected Friday evening–Sunday evening weekends
All-ages, all-levels piano intensives · five participants each.
Published session requests
Choose a published time to request it. Private lesson requests are confirmed personally. For an intensive weekend, a confirmed tuition payment secures your place.
ONLY FIVE PARTICIPANT PLACES PER WEEKEND
Choose your weekend. Give your piano passion room.
Friday evening–Sunday evening. No audition. All ages and all learning levels welcome. Book a place with your $5,000 all-inclusive tuition payment.
Availability reflects confirmed online registrations. November 27–29 is closed for Thanksgiving. Students cover their own travel to Jacksonville; JAX airport concierge is included. Parent/guardian guest and lodging arrangements are discussed for participants under 18.
03 / FROM THE PRACTICE ROOM TO THE STAGE
Your ambition. A considered pathway.
We begin with your current playing, then identify the right next performance.
01
Listen & assess
Review your repertoire, technique, musical ear and goals.
02
Choose a destination
Match a recital, audition or competition to your level and eligibility.
03
Build the performance
Develop interpretation, memory, consistency and a workable practice plan.
04
Prepare the submission
Check repertoire rules, recording requirements and the application deadline.
Competition & performance destinations
FLORIDA · STATE EVENTS
FSMTA Competitive Events
Florida opportunities including concerto competition and piano ensemble events. A possible first destination for repertoire and performance planning.
June 10–19, 2027. Applications due November 17, 2026. An ambitious destination for eligible advanced pianists; precise birth-date and video requirements apply.
An all-Chopin competition to consider in longer-term repertoire planning. Check the organizer’s published cycle and eligibility before setting an application goal.
Independent opportunities, not studio partnerships or guaranteed admissions. Fees, travel and competition entry are separate from tuition. Official links reviewed October 11, 2026.
A MUSICAL JOURNEY, WITH A PLACE TO BEGIN
Your home base: St. Augustine
Study locally in Northeast Florida, or connect live online from wherever you are.
Open full map ↗City-level destinations. The private studio address is shared after placement.
Have a specific competition or audition in mind?
THE INSTRUMENT. THE OPPORTUNITY. THE WORK.
Practice with purpose. Prepare to perform.
We practice differently when we know we have an opportunity to perform. Four optional one-hour online Performance Labs each teaching week give advanced students regular opportunities to share their work, listen and refine. Attendance is not required.
All studio lessons and masterclasses are taught on Steinway Model D concert grand pianos. In-person students work at the studio instruments; online students join from their own piano while Nic teaches on a Model D. Familiarity with this concert instrument supports preparation for the competition stage.
Nic represented Steinway & Sons at age 20.
THE REQUIRED ADVANCED CURRICULUM
A complete musician. A committed course of study.
Advanced students complete required weekly aural/theory modules, music history and composition work, and required masterclasses scheduled Friday–Sunday alongside the intensive program. Students may be asked to play online or in person. Nic confirms each student’s assignments, masterclass dates and performance format in the teaching calendar.
The four one-hour online Performance Labs are optional. Together with the one-hour private lesson, they provide five hours of private and shared instruction available each teaching week. The required curriculum and assigned weekend masterclasses are listed separately.
Each additional enrolled sibling receives 10% off the lower-priced standard tuition: advanced piano or voice $1,350/month ($8,100 per six-month semester), Developing Virtuosos $675/month ($4,050 per six-month semester). Request the discount in the enrollment form so Nic can confirm family eligibility before tuition checkout. It does not combine with the early-payment discount or apply to intensives or consultations.
