5-Minute Piano Lessons

YOU and YOUR Goals are the Very Essence of My Approach to Piano Instruction

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about teaching piano to adult students it’s that they’re interested in different things and thus require different materials and different styles of teaching. Consider a few students from my current crop:

1. A student who loves classical music and wants to play it well.

2. A student who already knows classical but wants to learn pop and rock well.

3. a student who knows nothing about piano except she wants to play it.

4. The student that prefers the many sounds and features of her electronic keyboard to that of a simple piano.

Obviously (at least to me) one size does NOT fit all. (more…)

Practicing Piano Scales is Most Worthwhile when Done Smartly

In Part One, I suggested you ask yourself three questions regarding piano scale practice:

“What will I, personally, get out of the effort that will help me play the music I want to play the way I want to play it?”

“If scales provide something I need, is there any other way to get the same skill/knowledge, perhaps in more enjoyable fashion?”

“Are all scales equally important?” meaning, “Which scales deserve the most attention?” and, “Are some scales not worth my time and effort?”

This essay deals with the first two questions, which are closely related.

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What I personally use for my adult piano students

In a previous essay, I listed my favorite materials. I’d like to first repeat myself and then expand on that list. (more…)

Separating Effective from Ineffective Online Piano Lessons

In the last essay, we read about lessons that treat adult piano students in such a manner that the lessons really don’t help adult pianists fulfill their goals with the piano, whether such lessons are live or online. Unfortunately, my experience tells me that this is the most common approach taken here at the start of the 21st century. Thus, I need to say more about it so you, the online adult piano student, will recognize them when offered. (more…)