Adult Beginners.
Have you always wanted to play the piano, but haven't had the time so far? Is your grandmother's old piano sitting in your living room, seeming to call out to you every time you walk past it? Perhaps your son or daughter is learning piano and you would like to share the joy of music making with them. Maybe you just want to learn that one impressive piece to play at parties!
Taking piano lessons as an adult can be a great way to keep your mind active, achieve a sense of accomplishment, and reward yourself with some well-deserved time for personal development and relaxation. Practicing music is also a great way to manage stress and anxiety!
What to expect from lessons.
The adult beginner program starts with a movement training series, (think gymnastics for your fingers), and an introduction to music reading! This allows you to develop necessary movement skills for piano playing while you acquire reading skills to help you learn music independently at home. We will choose a beginner reading method book that suits your level and musical tastes. I will supplement this material with exercises, worksheets, and pieces from my own collection.
During each lesson you will demonstrate the exercises and pieces you have practiced during the previous week. I will let you know if they are good, in-progress, or need improvement. We will add new techniques and pieces as you master the previously assigned tasks. After a few lessons I will start to assign you "self-study" pieces that you learn without any help from me. We will also add on "project pieces" which are longer, more interesting pieces that may take about a month to master.
Taking piano lessons as an adult can be a great way to keep your mind active, achieve a sense of accomplishment, and reward yourself with some well-deserved time for personal development and relaxation. Practicing music is also a great way to manage stress and anxiety!
What to expect from lessons.
The adult beginner program starts with a movement training series, (think gymnastics for your fingers), and an introduction to music reading! This allows you to develop necessary movement skills for piano playing while you acquire reading skills to help you learn music independently at home. We will choose a beginner reading method book that suits your level and musical tastes. I will supplement this material with exercises, worksheets, and pieces from my own collection.
During each lesson you will demonstrate the exercises and pieces you have practiced during the previous week. I will let you know if they are good, in-progress, or need improvement. We will add new techniques and pieces as you master the previously assigned tasks. After a few lessons I will start to assign you "self-study" pieces that you learn without any help from me. We will also add on "project pieces" which are longer, more interesting pieces that may take about a month to master.
Contact me for further information or to schedule a free-30 minute consultation.
FAQ
How long before I will be able to play a "real" song?
This depends on what you mean by "real song". We will start learning short pieces right away, including familiar Folk Tunes, my own original pedagogical compositions, and pieces from beginner method books. Sometimes adults find these pieces unsatisfying and they long to play pieces they enjoy listening to in their spare time. The amount of time it takes to master each piece depends on the amount of time you practice! 15 minutes per day can go a long way, and in about four months you can expect to be playing simple pieces that use both the right and left hand at the same time!
What if I don't enjoy The pieces I am working on?
I strive to offer a diverse collection of pieces that are interesting to play and listen to. Many pieces are duets that can be performed with me or with another advanced player, allowing you to perform while hearing richer textures and harmonies. However, you will no doubt encounter a piece that is not precisely your taste at some point during your lessons, and you may even find it frustrating or boring. Don't worry! Experience has shown me that one's perception of a piece can change as they come to master it...what was at first boring or tedious can become a source of accomplishment! Furthermore, we often work on a "project piece" concurrently with our technique and sight-reading material. Project pieces give you a chance to learn to play some of your favourite songs. Be sure to provide me with a list of 5 to 10 of your favourite songs when you start lessons so I can arrange the music to suit your technical level.
How much should I practice?
Many people see consistent progress with about 10 to 15 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week. More practice means faster progress! Try scheduling your practice times into your phone or calendar with reminders to establish a good practice routine. Use a timer to keep track of your practice time. Choose practice times when you are relaxed and alert, such as right after dinner, or perhaps while you drink your morning coffee before going to work. You can improve even faster by exploring mobile music learning apps on your phone or tablet. They can help you improve your pitch and rhythm reading during your commute or while stuck in waiting rooms!
Why is my son or daughter progressing faster than me?
Ah! Kids! They seem to be able to soak up anything we throw at them! If it seems like your child is a "natural" while you have to work hard to master every beat, don't worry, it is normal. Adults have the advantage of advanced cognitive development, allowing them to use reason and logic to learn new information quickly, and make plans for progress. Unfortunately, our motor learning tends to progress much more slowly as adults compared to when we were kids. Furthermore, we don't really remember how long it took us to learn how to swim or skate, so it can be easy to place unrealistic expectations on our progress for new motor skills. The truth is, playing a musical instrument is one of the most complex activities a human being can do, requiring simultaneous bimanual sequencing and timing of finger movements, coupled with the task of performing the music either from memory, or by reading notes. It will take some time to before your brain starts to solve this complex coordination puzzle. Don't worry if it doesn't come right away! With a persistent, playful attitude and many repetitions, you will discover that you are definitely able to learn to play the piano.
Am I too old to learn to play piano?
No one is too old to learn the piano. The rate of progress for adults varies greatly and depends on many factors, such as previous experience with piano or another instrument, general manual dexterity, and amount of time devoted to practice. No matter how fast you progress, learning piano as an adult is a great way to have fun and keep your mind sharp and active, especially if you love music!
Can I learn pop songs?
Yes! Tell me your favourite pop songs and I will try to find arrangements or arrange them myself for you to play. However, you should know that some pop songs are not very good for learning to play the piano. Often the melodies of verses have only one or two notes repeated with very complex rhythms. This type of melody is more vocal, and doesn't sound very good on the piano, nor is it very rewarding to play. The best bet is to provide me with a list of 5 to 10 songs, and I will tell you which ones are suitable choices for making a piano arrangement that will both sound pleasant and benefit your learning.