We recommend that students get either a full size piano, or a weighted keyboard for their lessons. It is very important to set up a practice schedule every day. You can purchase a basic keyboard at a local music store or an electronic store. Some students may also wish to rent a piano if they do not wish to invest in buying one right away. Digital keyboards offer a good choice for the beginning student because they are portable and easily stored in your home. Keyboards will start at 65 keys at the smallest amount and increase to a full size keyboard of 88 keys. The most common brands of keyboard are Casio, Yamaha, and Korg.
One-on-one piano lessons straight from the comfort of your own home is a great way to learn to play the piano. 90% of our students choose to take lessons from home, mostly due to the convenience of not having to make travel arrangements both to and from their lessons. This is great for parents and students with busy schedules. The content of home lessons is exactly the same as studio lessons, however, you will need to have a keyboard or piano at your home. Home lessons provide the best learning environment, as it is a comfortable, familiar surrounding for students to learn in.
There are several different, but vey important elements to becoming a good piano player. It takes time to master the basic skills that will set you on your way to excellence. For beginners, the lessons will focus on elementary piano knowledge and technique, such as learning all the notes of the piano, hand and finger techniques for playing, learning scales and chords, as well as some music theory; reading sheet music, chord charts etc... These basic skills can then be applied to simple songs. Students with these foundations in place can expect to cover things like, diminished chords and other chord types, sight reading, playing more challenging compositions and learning the 7 piano modes - Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian mode. Lessons for advanced students might cover topics such as improvisation, glissando, or the study of a specific genre of playing or composer, such as Jazz piano or Johann Sebastian Bach.
Many older students are fulfilling a long standing ambition by taking piano lessons. Some students may have had lessons when they were younger and want to re-learn and others are simply looking for a new hobby. Whatever the aim or reason, there are many benefits to piano lessons for older students. Learning the piano can keep you mentally active, help maintain dexterity, improve your hearing and stimulate the brain in a creative way. Older students can develop basic technique and music theory quite quickly, as their concentration, thinking skills and self-discipline are more advanced than that of children.
Piano is a great first instrument for children who have never studied music before. Our instructors specialize in teaching younger children, and will develop an individual lesson plan for your child. The youngest age that we recommend starting piano lessons is age 4. The instructor will be able to teach your child to read music, beginning music theory and musician skills, and how to develop a love for playing the instrument.