One to one piano lessons, Mount Ommaney
Beginners through to advanced students. Children and adults. English or Mandarin Chinese.
Every lesson is planned for one student
Lessons are individual, never group classes, so the pace is set by the student in front of her. Every student works on reading, listening and technique, with theory woven through. Beyond that, what you actually play depends on where you want to go.
- First lessons and complete beginners, including young children
- Graded examinations — AMEB and comparable pathways
- Eisteddfods and competitions
- Adults returning to the piano, or starting for the first time
- Playing for pleasure, with no exam or performance goals at all
What a lesson actually covers
Reading music
Getting to the point where new music is not intimidating.
Ear training
Hearing pitch, rhythm and when a chord is not quite right.
Note recognition and counting
The fluency that makes a new piece click into place quickly.
Posture and hand position
Built early, because it is very hard to correct later.
Finger speed and independence
Exercises and studies that make the hard passages playable.
Theory and musicianship
Scales, key signatures, chord progressions, rhythm and structure.
Sight reading
A skill in its own right, and often the one that unlocks everything else.
Performance and preparation
For exams, eisteddfods, or the twice-yearly student concerts.
It is never too late to start
Adult students make up a good share of the studio — some returning after decades away, some sitting at a piano for the very first time. Lessons are paced entirely around what you want, whether that is reading music properly, playing a particular piece, or simply having an hour a week that is yours.
You will not be asked to perform, and you will not be sat next to a seven year old.
What you need to practise on
You will need something to practise on. An acoustic piano is ideal. A digital piano with weighted, touch-sensitive keys is a perfectly good alternative, and is what most families start with.
A keyboard without weighted keys is fine for the very first few weeks to see whether your child takes to it, but it will hold them back once they progress. It is worth knowing that before you commit to lessons, rather than discovering it a year in.
Lesson fees
Fees are discussed at the initial meeting and confirmed in writing before lessons begin. Nothing is decided until you have met and both sides are happy.