5-Minute Piano Lessons

Extensive research has shown that music study helps people of all ages

(Note from Dan Starr: For the next several essays I’ll present other writings by like-minded teachers.)

Nancee Marin (Inland Empire, CA)

They gain overall life skills and increased well-being (visit HERE for further details). However, research findings have been usually skewed to promote the idea (and thus perpetuate the myth) of starting children earlier in music lessons, which isn’t necessarily better.

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Remember and Use Two Simple, but Powerful Sayings for Better Piano Practice

Introduction: One aspect of successfully teaching adult piano lessons is devising new and concise ways of expressing important ideas – ways of “putting things” that piano students will instantly understand and immediately put to use. During my years as a piano teacher, I’ve come up with quite a few  phrases that work well and these  “maxims” are used over and over in my live adult piano lessons. I offer them to you online for your consideration. (more…)

Mistakes at the Piano are Inevitable but not All Mistakes are Worth Correcting

Many folks are perfectionists by nature and most of the adult piano students I teach seem to be part of this group. They usually hate to make mistakes at the piano, especially in front of their piano teacher. It frustrates them no end, and thus I’ve written extensively about this situation might be corrected. (more…)

Every Adult Piano Student Wants to Get Better at Piano Playing

Whether you want to play sonatas or showtunes, Bach or the blues, an adult piano student always seeks to improve his or her piano playing. Improvement, to the piano student, is the very essence of progress. Unfortunately, learning the piano is much like learning anything else, in that there are good days and bad days, even good weeks and weeks that are, shall we say, “not so hot.” Thus, how does an adult piano student KNOW if improvements are being made? (more…)

Understanding the Truth about Your Piano Playing Goals Leads to Piano Success

Our first essay on this topic defined and explained the two-part goal all adult piano students seem to share. The subject of this essay is vital information regarding HOW. (more…)