learn with laughter

Learning music is sort of like learning to ride a bike. A lot of folks think it’s about learning to pedal and to not fall down, when it’s actually about getting your mind in tune with your body and opening up a whole new world to explore. When you take music lessons, you’re learning more than just the steps to a process; you’re discovering a whole new world where you’ll learn to express yourself, to communicate effectively, and to be curious, creative, and excited about the unknown.

At Songhorse, the laughter in our lessons is an important part of the music we make. A lot of studios will assess the quality of their teaching solely on the final performance, looking for things to fix. Here, the emphasis is always on the journey, because every student has a unique path that needs our understanding and our support. At the end of the day, the question we’ll pose to you is this: Do you want to be told to do something, or do you want to enjoy doing it? The latter is where we come in.

We offer lessons in piano, guitar, and composition.

All lessons are taught by our owner, Luke Haefner. Luke studied piano, guitar, and composition at Queens University of Charlotte where he received the Steinway Award for Excellence in Piano Performance, led the Guitar Ensemble for three years, and had his original compositions performed by professional ensembles in Austria, Italy, Brazil, and across the U.S. You’ll be in good hands, no matter what instrument you choose!

At Songhorse, we are always excited about our first lessons with folks. That said, we understand that your first lesson may cause you a bit of anxiety if you don’t know what to expect—so, here’s what to expect! The basis of any good education is a teacher-student connection, so you and your teacher will start by chatting a bit to get to know each other (and if you’re not the chatty type, no worries! We’ve got you covered). Your teacher will want to know more about your interest in music and will be able to translate that into an engaging musical activity. At some point during the lesson, you and your teacher will discuss your goals, the next steps, and what to think about or work on before your next lesson. Remember that our approach is tailored to each student, so if you have any questions, comments, or concerns during your first lesson, it is a safe place to voice them! Your teacher will immediately take your feedback into account and shape your lesson accordingly.

Yes! We have experience teaching ages 3 to 65 and are always eager to expand that range. We understand that music comes to everyone at different times in their lives, and we are excited to support you no matter where you are in that journey.

In on-site studios, kids tend to be crammed into small rooms wall to wall with others having lessons. Our owner, Luke, recalls his experience working in a studio: “There was constant noise bleeding through the door, guitars and drums and trombones, etc. The teachers could hardly think straight, so I can’t imagine how the kids managed. You would walk in the door at ease and leave overstimulated, anxious, and frustrated. Suffice to say, it was not an ideal learning environment.” With in-home lessons, you get high-quality lessons in the privacy, quiet, and comfort of your own home. Plus, it’s far easier to manage your busy schedule when we come to you!

Some of the best learning happens when you are left alone to fiddle with your instrument. That said, we always recommend having your own.

• Piano — You can get a relatively high-quality keyboard for a couple hundred dollars. If you go this route, make sure to purchase something with 88 keys, weighted hammers, and a sustain pedal. Alternatively, you can often find decent acoustic pianos for free on Facebook Marketplace (a moving company will help move it for a few hundred dollars depending on the type of piano). As a certified piano technician, Luke offers free piano diagnoses for all of his students to make sure they find a good quality instrument.

• Guitar — Talk to your teacher about what type and size of guitar you need. For younger beginners, we typically recommend nylon string guitars (they are easier on the fingers) in ½ or ¾ size. These can be bought online for cheap or found in-store at some music shops. For older players, their preference is the deciding factor, and they can go in-store to find a good fitting/quality electric or acoustic (usually steel string) guitar.

• Composition — While you do not necessarily need an instrument, we recommend having one to assist your writing process. For those who haven’t started a different instrument, the piano is the best option. Talk with your teacher about what would best fit your needs. See above for piano guidance.

Depending on your instrument, you will potentially need some lesson books, theory books, or other supplementary materials. Your teacher will communicate what, if any, books you will need. See below in the For Current Students section for links to specific materials.

We offer lessons Monday - Friday (hours vary based on the day).

Mon. 9am - 2:30pm

Tues. 9am - 7pm

Wed. 9am - 7pm

Thurs. 9am - 2:30pm

Fri. 9am - 5pm

If this availability does not work for you, contact Luke (luke@songhorsemusic.com) to see if there is any flexibility at the moment.

Songhorse owner Luke Haefner was homeschooled for much of his high school education, and he loves to work with kids of all ages who are learning in this type of environment.

To help support the homeschool communities in Roanoke and Blacksburg, Songhorse offers flexible scheduling that includes availability from 9am-2:30pm every day of the week. This ensures that homeschool families don't need to compete with the after-school rush when scheduling lessons.

Songhorse also understands the need for a unique approach to teaching based on the academic needs of each student. We work closely with family members / primary educators to personalize a plan that works best for each student's situation.

At Songhorse, we understand that your busy life can make trying new things seem impossible. Our primary goal is to make music an easy decision for you week after week. Once you set up your account and lesson time, you have nothing left to worry about. Worried about adding another stop on your kids’ after-school activity tour? How about getting hit with expensive travel fees? Or about finding a tuner for your piano? Don’t worry! We show up at your door on time week after week, we bill you the price of your lesson (nothing more!), and we can even tune and maintain your instruments—and so much more. Our lessons cost what they do because we do more than teach; we partner with you to make music work smoothly with your life.

Songhorse believes in making music accessible for everyone. That’s why we offer significant discounts (including free lessons in extreme circumstances) for low-income students. To see what discount you qualify for, send an inquiry to luke@songhorsemusic.com. If you were required to file taxes for 2024, include a copy of your tax return in the email.

Yes! Financial constraints on our end can impact our ability to accept a high volume of low-income students. If you know of a student and would like to sponsor their education—or if you would like to be paired with a disadvantaged student—contact luke@songhorsemusic.com.

We utilize an online scheduling and billing platform called My Music Staff. When you start lessons, you’ll set up a bank account in the system that enables you to make ACH payments—no pesky internet transaction fees for either of us! Songhorse will bill you twice per month, and you will have the option to set up auto-pay or to simply pay when you receive the invoice. If you experience problems with the system, you can text us directly so we can work it out!

Please feel free to contact Songhorse’s Owner, Luke, directly at luke@songhorsemusic.com or give him a call at (703) 965-1277. If you have questions that you think would be helpful to have in the FAQs, share those as well so we can add them here!