A new piano school called Payam Music recently opened doors on Broadway and Lincoln in Santa Monica. The Payam Music Program addresses one of the most common issues in music education which is continued interest in playing piano. While traditional piano programs only see 15-20% of students continuing after their first year, Payam Music boasts an impressive 97% retention rate. By ditching the traditional sheet music, Payam Music teaches their students to read music using new learning methods with letters and numbers.
"The most common discussion I have with parents is 'my son doesn't want to play piano' or 'my daughter doesn't want to play piano,'" said Andy Tamara, head teacher at the Santa Monica location, who taught traditional piano for 20 years before joining Payam Music. "Having to constantly change and adapt as a traditional piano teacher was a big challenge. Here at Payam, the curriculum really takes center stage."
After operating two successful schools in the Seattle area for a decade, Payam Music decided to open their first California location. The school’s proprietary “Payam Method” teaches students how to “speak” piano before learning to read traditionally, similar to the concept of children learning about to speak before they can read or write. Additionally, the program personalizes lessons to songs that the students choose. Students as young as four years old can play recognizable songs like "Let It Go" from Disney's Frozen on their very first day.
"I've had a girl come in with full Elsa clothing, and I'm like, 'I have a treat for you. Let It Go on your first day,'" Tamara said, "For her to connect that and say, 'Wow, on my first day, I could play my favorite song' - that really sets a big difference."
The “Payam” philosophy centers on allowing students to develop an understanding of musicality rather than forcing them into the traditional mold. "We have students come to us whose piano teachers quit them because the student wants to play a song a different way. We're like, 'Welcome. How would you rewrite this song?'" Deborah Kelson said, who helps run the Santa Monica location.
The results speak for themselves, while traditional piano educations usually takes 12 years for the small percentage of students who reach diploma level (similar to receiving a black belt in piano) Payam Music students receive the same diploma within four years.
The curriculum focuses on developing true reading fluency rather than memorization of specific pieces. "A lot of students from other schools are really good at decoding music, which means they can read two or three songs they've learned really well, but they're not good at reading music in general," Kelson said.
The program's effectiveness has gained national recognition in competitions. Every year about 300,000 students participate in the National PTA Reflections Competition. Starting in 2015, Payam Music composers started dominating the awards at both district and state level. In 2025, one of their students placed 1st in the entire country for original composition.
"It's not just loving piano – they're getting really good at it too," Kelson notes. "Those two things are connected. If you love what you're doing and you get really confident, of course you're going to get really good."
For parents tired of the piano practice battles or students who've been discouraged by the intimidating traditional methods, Payam Music has an alternative that promises both rapid progress and lasting musical passion.
829 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401, https://www.payammusic.com, (310) 692-4847.