Practical instruction for practical people
For all of my students, it’s about what you want. Have you always wanted to play your favorite Chopin Prelude or learn to play like Duke Ellington?
We’ll start at your level and chose songs that will build the skills that you need and want. You’re never too old to jump back into music.
For younger students (under 12), I start with the Alfred Piano Lesson books and build from there. As your student’s ability advances, we'll add fun pieces that aren’t necessarily part of the book series.
I typically recommended one or two books for each student to start with, depending on your interest and ability level. Most of these books are available to order online and range from £7 - £20. I am happy to order the books for you and be reimbursed with your lesson payment.
How much should I practise?
It depends. Are you an adult with limited free time? Are you a parent signing up your child for lessons? Are you a teenager on summer holiday?
I recommend starting with a goal of 15 minutes, 5 times per week. It’s an easy amount of time to commit to, and you may find you stay at the keyboard longer than 15 minutes just because you’re enjoying yourself! Ideally, your length of practice will increase with your ability over time.
For young students it is important that parents attend lessons and supervise practice time. You’ll know when your student is practicing well on their own and when you can give them more autonomy.
The best time to practise is immediately after your lesson when everything is fresh in your mind!
What kind of piano/keyboard do I need?
A full size (88 key) piano or keyboard is ideal.
If you don’t currently own a keyboard or piano, start by looking online at sites like Facebook marketplace. People are often giving away pianos free of charge. Just remember that it will cost around £100 to have it tuned.
Electric keyboards are fine as long as the keys are weighted to feel like a traditional, acoustic piano. This is a great option if you want to be able to plug in headphones to practise any time of day. You’ll also need one damper pedal that will plug into your keyboard. You don’t need to purchase a bench if you have a chair that will seat you at the right height to play comfortably. For adults, the white keys should line up with your belly button (or pretty close).
If you have a smaller size keyboard, we can make it work as long as the keys are the same width as a traditional piano (0.93 in). My first keyboard was a 22-key electric “organ” that my Mom found at a garage sale! It was fine for the first year or so.
What do lessons cost?
My rate is £20 for 30 minutes or £40 for 60 minutes.
Other time frames (45 minutes, 90 minutes, etc) are also available.