Piano Lessons
Learn to play piano in a nurturing environment that’s friendly and relaxed. Whether you’re playing for pleasure or needing to pass an exam, our lessons will provide you with the motivation to reach your fullest potential while harnessing creativity and achieving impressive results. Our curriculum is designed to be a highly positive, self-affirming experience which incorporates all aspects of musicianship beyond just the practical art of playing a song. Lessons utilise a variety of methods to develop musical literacy, a strong theoretical understanding, build aural skills and strengthen sight reading.
Our curriculum incorporates:
- Resource Books – To build vocabulary, rhythm and notation reading skills
- Computer Applications – Such as SuperSonics where students can play along to backing tracks (rhythm work, simulation of playing with a band); Flashnote Derby where students identify notes on the piano (developing sight reading and literacy skills); and You Tube for accessing personalised tutorials
- Rote Exercises – building technique and quickly learning impressive music without having to read
- Theory Training – where students develop a logical understanding of how music is formulated which in turn allows for clearer comprehension of the songs in which they play
- Sight Reading exercises – such as working with flashcards, worksheets and engaging in timed exercises to develop quick awareness of spatial reading
- Chord Charts and Lead Sheets – Learning contemporary songs within minutes while familiarising oneself with chord progressions
- Composition – Working with applications such Garage Band, putting pencil to paper, working with progressions to develop original music, developing themes and variations, creating arrangements of popular songs
- Improvisation – Playing without music, adding personal flare to a song, jamming 4-hand duets, voicing progressions to back beats, analysing chord inversions, expanding on ideas
- Transposing – Exploring a variety of key signatures
- Exploring a variety of musical genres – including video game music, epic soundtracks, contemporary classic, modern pop as well as the usual jazz, ragtime, blues, classical, folk…
- Voice Training – Encouraging students to match pitch while counting, sing along the melody, and playing piano to accompany one’s own voice in warm-up and in song
What To Expect…
Walk away from your first lesson already with tricks up your sleeve to impress family and friends. It’s easier than you may think to gain just a couple impressive skills in yes, your very first lesson!
Half hour lessons are typically structured in a 10-10-10 format. This includes ten minutes at the start of the lesson for a warm-up / rote activity where notated music is not used. This time is spent to build technique, expression, dexterity and skill while playing music that may sound much more complicated than it actually is. The exercises may include learning popular riffs or sections from songs, flashy arpeggios, 12 bar blues, improvised duets and so on…
The next ten minutes is spent building vocabulary, notation reading, rhythm and gaining overall musical literacy. This is the time during the lesson when a method book may be utilised. Computer apps are also used to help assist in the learning process. The final ten minutes of the half hour lesson is a great time to then work on a supplemental piece which may be selected by the teacher or requested by the student. These songs begin to build the student’s repertoire – and become the collection of works that they enjoy to play.
Parents & Practicing…
I encourage parents to attend the first lesson, or two, in order to get to know me, observe my teaching style and understand expectations. However, I often find that students work best when they are without a parent in the room. Therefore, as the child begins to settle into the lesson routine, I kindly ask that parents allow this space for learning to occur without additional energy in the room.
Building self-esteem and autonomy is extremely important in the development of a well-rounded and confident musician. Please support this philosophy during practice time at home by limiting criticisms that are not constructive and by reinforcing through encouragement, positive behaviours and outcomes.
Parents are encouraged to get involved with their child’s learning. One of the best ways to do this is to enroll in keyboard lessons yourself! But of course this may not always be possible. So then, perhaps have your child teach you what was learnt just after the lesson? I call this two for the price of one! Not only will you get to learn music vicariously through your child, but it’s also a reinforcing method for your child which allow for concepts taught to adhere.
The best time to practice is as soon after the lesson as possible. A regular practicing timetable should be set in place. My recommendation is to set an alarm as reminder to practice for the same time every day. The more time spent practicing, the better the results. The more progress a student sees, the more motivation there is to continue.
Performance…
There is an annual recital at the end of each year which all students are encouraged to attend. I began conducting piano recitals around 1995 – and every year I am reminded just how important this performance opportunity is for aspiring musicians. These recitals motivate students to play their instrument to their best potential. The experience builds confidence and there’s a real sense of accomplishment when they work towards a goal and achieve it. Preparing for and performing in the annual recital has shown itself to be a rewarding journey for all involved. It’s important for the growth of musicians that they play in front of an appreciative audience while also observing others in a supportive environment outside the home or studio setting.
You Tube:
Tutorial Playlist for student practice. Please subscribe for notification of new tutorials and to remain updated. I also recommend bookmarking this link for easy access in the future.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnp1OT9wkXhBHxpW5YIL9toObMT7GLhGv
