About
Payam Music Los Altos offers private 1:1 piano lessons where each student meets individually with a teacher in a sound-proof room. The program includes an initial orientation and school tour, followed by a free 50-minute first lesson that is customized based on what is learned about the student in the orientation. Students take ongoing private piano lessons and also have the option to learn composition, including participation in the PTA Reflections competition.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Lesson options Tuesday–Friday afternoons and evenings, and Saturdays during the day; every student’s first lesson is a free 50-minute session
Payam Music Los Altos is led by Piano School Director Lindsey Pino and Founder Payam Khastkhodaei. The program is part of an award-winning, nationally ranked piano school in the US based on PTA Reflections winners and speed to diploma, and has been featured on NBC Bay Area. Payam Music students have excelled in the PTA Reflections national competition of 300,000 students, including sweeping the PTA Reflections composition competition with 15 district spots, 5 out of 5 first place winners in WA, 4 out of 14 national medalists, and a student winning #1 in 2025. The school uses the Payam Method, which starts with a patented alphanumeric notation that uses ABCs and 123s, introduces sheet music within the first few levels, and emphasizes mastery of patterns and techniques. All lessons are private, use an innovative notation that lets students learn techniques through songs they love, and include the option to learn how to write music as well as play it.
Every student’s experience is personalized from day one, and the program states that students learn 3x faster than traditional lessons, with the average student reaching a piano diploma in 4 years versus 12 years nationally. The school notes a higher percentage of students who continue beyond their first year of lessons compared with 15–20% in traditional lessons. Families are offered a 30-day cancellation option if they are not happy with their experience, and students need a piano or keyboard to practice at home. In addition to in-person lessons, Payam Music offers live 1:1 online lessons for students ages 7 and up who do not live near a school.
The history of Payam Music begins in 1996, when Payam’s mother taught him piano and he later began formal classical lessons at age 6. In 2000, he began composing songs and won his first competition the next year with a song written for his newborn sister, Payvand. He started teaching piano in his parents’ basement in 2009 and opened his first piano school in Bothell, WA in 2017. Payam Music students began competing in PTA Reflections in 2018, were recognized at the state level, and received their first national medal two years later. In 2024–25, students achieved multiple PTA Reflections composition honors, and in 2025–26, Payam Music expanded by opening its first school in California in Santa Monica and continued opening more schools across the country.
The program describes its environment as joyful and states that students learn from inspirational teachers in a positive setting at their own pace. It also states that one advantage of attending a music school instead of in-home lessons is access to a group of teachers with varying teaching styles, levels, genres, and techniques, along with a seasoned General Manager who works with teachers and families. Community information from the program notes that Payam Music is coming to Los Altos, a community that values innovation and education. Testimonials from parents highlight a positive approach by instructors, personalized learning, and students choosing their own favorite songs to practice.
Last updated April 23, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Lesson options Tuesday–Friday afternoons and evenings, and Saturdays during the day; every student’s first lesson is a free 50-minute session
Payam Music Los Altos is led by Piano School Director Lindsey Pino and Founder Payam Khastkhodaei. The program is part of an award-winning, nationally ranked piano school in the US based on PTA Reflections winners and speed to diploma, and has been featured on NBC Bay Area. Payam Music students have excelled in the PTA Reflections national competition of 300,000 students, including sweeping the PTA Reflections composition competition with 15 district spots, 5 out of 5 first place winners in WA, 4 out of 14 national medalists, and a student winning #1 in 2025. The school uses the Payam Method, which starts with a patented alphanumeric notation that uses ABCs and 123s, introduces sheet music within the first few levels, and emphasizes mastery of patterns and techniques. All lessons are private, use an innovative notation that lets students learn techniques through songs they love, and include the option to learn how to write music as well as play it.
Every student’s experience is personalized from day one, and the program states that students learn 3x faster than traditional lessons, with the average student reaching a piano diploma in 4 years versus 12 years nationally. The school notes a higher percentage of students who continue beyond their first year of lessons compared with 15–20% in traditional lessons. Families are offered a 30-day cancellation option if they are not happy with their experience, and students need a piano or keyboard to practice at home. In addition to in-person lessons, Payam Music offers live 1:1 online lessons for students ages 7 and up who do not live near a school.
The history of Payam Music begins in 1996, when Payam’s mother taught him piano and he later began formal classical lessons at age 6. In 2000, he began composing songs and won his first competition the next year with a song written for his newborn sister, Payvand. He started teaching piano in his parents’ basement in 2009 and opened his first piano school in Bothell, WA in 2017. Payam Music students began competing in PTA Reflections in 2018, were recognized at the state level, and received their first national medal two years later. In 2024–25, students achieved multiple PTA Reflections composition honors, and in 2025–26, Payam Music expanded by opening its first school in California in Santa Monica and continued opening more schools across the country.
The program describes its environment as joyful and states that students learn from inspirational teachers in a positive setting at their own pace. It also states that one advantage of attending a music school instead of in-home lessons is access to a group of teachers with varying teaching styles, levels, genres, and techniques, along with a seasoned General Manager who works with teachers and families. Community information from the program notes that Payam Music is coming to Los Altos, a community that values innovation and education. Testimonials from parents highlight a positive approach by instructors, personalized learning, and students choosing their own favorite songs to practice.
Last updated April 23, 2026.
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