FAQ for Beginners
What sort of keyboard/piano do I need to buy before I start lessons?
You will need either a well-tuned acoustic piano; a full-length (7 octaves) digital piano with weighted keys and graded hammer action, plus a sustain pedal; or a good quality keyboard with a minimum of 5 octaves of full-length, touch-sensitive keys.
The advantage of a digital piano is that they never go out of tune and can be played on headphones for quiet practicing. However, they can never truly replace the beauty and harmonics of an acoustic instrument.
What books will I need to buy?
I use a range of books to teach. The most common ones are Piano Time, Classics to Moderns, Music Theory in Practice, Music Theory for Young Musicians and the LCM Handbooks for Piano and Theory Grades.
Will I need 45 minute or 60 minute lessons?
Piano & keyboard lessons normally begin as 45-minute lessons and go up to 60-minutes once exams begin or at a student’s request. Adults can start with 60-minutes, if they feel they have enough time for the practising involved. Lessons for exam training are broken up into sections: playing pieces, sight-reading, scales, ear-training and theory.
Do you teach children with learning disabilities?
Yes, absolutely. I was one myself. I have both dyslexia and dyscalculia and neither of these conditions have ever stopped me from pursuing music or any other subject. I have also taught students with ADHD, dyspraxia and Asperger’s Syndrome.
How long do I need to practise each week?
The watchword is little and often. For example, it’s better to practice in 20-minute bursts and make sure that the student rehearses a few bars at a time properly, rather than ploughing through a whole piece over and over, whilst playing most of it wrong. Absolute beginners often start with just 10 minutes practise a day, while those attempting Grade 8 should practise for about 2 hours a day.
Generally, students should aim to be able to play each piece correctly 10 times in a row. There is a saying: “amateurs practice until they get it right; professionals practice until they can’t go wrong”. Remember this phrase, live by it and the grade exam passes will whizz by!
I am returning to the piano after a break, how long will it take to relearn what I knew?
I have taught a lot of people in this position. If the break you have taken is more than a few months, then you have basically sent your learn path back to the beginning. How long did it take to achieve the last grade you took? It might well take almost as long again. You will need to exercise great patience with youself. It will come back to you! Consequenctly, if you are considering taking a break, avoid it if you can. It is psychologically difficult to get back into practice once you have stopped playing. It also wastes an awful lot of time and money.