New Students
If you are seeking private music instruction, you're welcome to learn more about my studio and philosophy. I provide all practice materials, plans, and privately tailored instruction based on student goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I raise a lifelong musician?
What is ABRSM?
How do I support my student's at home practice?
One of the most common things I hear from folks when I tell them I play piano is this:
"I used to take lessons when I was a kid. I hated it then and quit. I really wish that I didn't."
I truly believe this problem stems from the culture surrounding practice, the pressures of what success looks like, and musical autonomy.
At home practice culture for successful students is respected. Meaning, when it is you or your student's time to practice, the focus is supported. This can mean a couple of things: airplane mode or do not disturb for electronics, no multitasking behaviors, making sure you've eaten or had enough water before, taking a moment before setting down to stretch and shift the focus of the mind to music. Musicians are athletes and that takes training, consistency, and coaching.
When it comes to charting success in music, try to avoid finding this in high marks or grades. To sustainably ensure success, chart instead good practice sessions where the student was able to achieve their weekly assignment, student's engagement with the work ("I am understanding something now that was difficult to grasp last week"), and if they've grown comfortable and at peace with the practice schedule ("30 minutes is starting to feel really short"/"I really enjoy playing this specific piece").
To provide musical autonomy for you or your student is to think away from the keyboard about what has been enjoyable and what hasn't. Perhaps your teacher is assigning you music and you are beginning to realize that you enjoy certain styles over others. Expressing your autonomy is letting your teacher know these preferences and in turn curating a learning experience that you enjoy and that you are more likely to maintain throughout your life.
ABRSM stands for The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Students from anywhere can be guided through this program by their teacher. To qualify, a student must prepare three pieces from the ABRSM level they are testing in. List A typically requires a student to focus on technical advancements. It is often sourced from standard classical repertoire and typically consists of Baroque and Classical style selections. List B targets musicality, tone, expression and lyricism sourcing it's selections from Romantic and 20th century style pieces. List C pieces are often dynamic and allow the student to explore diversity in styles, often jazz, rock, or contemporary selections. This program provides levels 1-8. Students must perform their program completely in one uncut video and submit through the website. You can then expect a mark and written feedback for each piece from the adjudicator. If they get a passing mark, they can move on to the next level. The whole process has the potential to be an entirely virtual model. It is a rigorous and rewarding program.
Being the at home coach for a young student is essential for sustainability and progress in music. To support your student, help them establish accountability for their practice time by teaching them how to set timers to ensure they meet the time requirement, maintain interest in their homework by sitting with them or coworking with them as they do it, ask them how they are feeling about their piano lessons and keep tabs on how their interest is shifting, be alert and attentive to their posture at the piano and help guide them. As a teacher who sees their student once a week, it can be difficult to know how the music or assignments are being received in the home. Encourage your student to be open with their teacher about how they are feeling about these things so that we can remain aligned with their goals.
For the adult learner, you must be accountable for all of these things by creating a workflow around the practice. I've heard many times from my adult students that, once they sit down and carve out the time in their busy day, practicing can be a wonderfully meditative and peaceful experience far from their regular activity. Always remember when impatience rises that the daily effort is never wasted.
For all learners, consistency is the only road one can take to gradual progress at the instrument. The common saying, "Life happens" can be mitigated when followed up with always returning to and reinforcing your good practice foundation.