Most students start out by learning to play on a keyboard or digital piano. The most reputable keyboards brands are Yamaha, Roland and Casio, and can be purchased from most good music instrument retailers. Students should look to buy a keyboard with 88 weighted keys, as this will most resemble the playability of a real piano. At a minimum, 61 keys will suffice for most songs and practice. Keyboards are portable and can be played with headphones, making them highly convenient for practice. That said, if it is within you means to buy an acoustic piano, it will provide the best learning experience.
Music lessons in your home offer a convenient option to learning music! Most of our students request in home lessons for this reason. As long as you have a piano or keyboard in your home, then you should be all set to start your lessons! Children who have never played an instrument before may feel more comfortable studying in their own home, as it may be less intimidating than going somewhere else. In home lessons decrease the time and gas money spent traveling to a different location.
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.
Learning a new musical skill as an adult is a great way to keep your brain fresh! We have many adult students actively taking lessons with us, and this actually represents around 50% of our student base. Our instructors will offer an individually tailored lesson plan to the needs of an adult student. You will learn the technique of the instrument, specific repetoire suited to your skill level, and learn how to read music and sight read.
Due to the attention span of very young children, we advise that students begin their piano lessons no younger than age 4 or 5. Piano lessons are a great way to introduce an instrument for the first time to a younger child, as learning piano will teach them basic musicianship skills like rhythm and harmony, and how to read sheet music and chords.