FAQ

  • How hard is it to learn to play the piano?
    All musical instruments are hard to play when beginning. It can seem painstakingly slow and tedious at times but for a higher purpose than merely playing just to play, the rewards are priceless. Many people loose hope too soon and quit simply because they see no results in themselves but fail to really see how far they have progressed from the beginning that is why we have recording facilities here so that students may see for themselves just how far they have come over time. With a grand piano and recording equipment hooked up to the piano we can get a full and clear recording even almost to professional recoding standards which adds to the effect.
  • How old do you have to be to start playing?
    There is no better age then another. The younger the students the easier it is for the brain to accept a new way of thinking, however, that is not to say that an adult over the age of 30 or 40 can not still learn just as easily. It all depends on ones abilities and passion for learning to play piano.
  • Do I need to have prior knowledge in music?
    When starting to learn piano every teacher must assume that the student has no prior knowledge or experience at playing. Usually at first meeting details on skill level is discussed then lessons resume from either at the beginning or from where the student left off at. If no prior knowledge then lessons will begin from beginning with basic music pattern drills and procedures as well as a rundown of lesson structures. Rundown of lesson structures can consist of detailed or simplified discussion of what we can do for you and what you want get out of playing the piano and lessons.
  • How often do I need to practice?
    There is no specific time frame in which to practice at home, however it is usually asked from every teacher that students do AT LEAST half an hour to one hour per day to maximize their potential. Practice is vital for any musician to excel at their playing and without practice there is no gain in their skills. Music teachers do not keep a roster of how many hours a week students practice as there is nothing to gain from it, but a teacher can always tell the difference between students that practice and those who don't practice.
  • If I learn piano am I required to have a piano of my own?
    There is no requirement to own your own piano but it will make a huge difference as far as your progress is concerned. Half an hour to an hour per week at lesson times is NOT sufficient playing time to learn music at ANY level. Most musicians will practice for hours and hours every day and week. It is not mandatory to practice for hours and hours when starting out but it is an advantage to have your own instrument to practice in your own time for a couple of hours per week. So I will reiterate that there is no requirement to own your own piano but in order for your playing to improve you must at least have access to a piano for a couple of hours per week if not on your own piano. Alternatively a cheap means of having your own piano without paying thousands of dollars just to own one is to rent one which can start anywhere from $11 per week upwards. If this is more of a better option for you please advise us as we can arrange for you through our affiliates ( Piano Land ) for the hire and use of a piano delivered to your door.
  • I do not have my own piano but I do have an electric keyboard. Is that sufficient for practicing on?
    It is enough when starting out as it at least helps for getting use to a keyboard. Often a lot of students will start out with an electric keyboard as it is a lot cheaper to buy than a real piano. However, usually once the student knows that they will be making a long term commitment to playing the piano and once they are more confident in their skills, then they may choose to by a real piano as it does have an obvious difference in the way it feels when played on as apposed to an electric keyboard.
  • What music is taught to beginners, intermediate, and advanced players?
    Music level is obviously determined through skill level in which basic music is going to be given to beginners which allows them to get familiar with notes as they are written on paper. Beginners music usually consists of familiarizing them with the staves (treble clef/bass clef), but only starting with one handed playing, Then moving on to playing two hands but single notes at a time. This technique develops dexterity and co-ordination in both the brain and the hands.
  • What is the cost of piano lessons?
    Costs are shown on my brochure.
    Click here to download our brochure - 155kb.

 

  • Is one style of piano playing easier to achieve than another?
    All music is hard when starting out but when you finally know what style of music you like to play it becomes easier to understand making it more interesting and easier to play. People tend to play better when they like one style of music as they have a greater understanding and appreciation for it.
  • Is it better to read music or to play by ear?
    It is always good to be capable of doing both as a lot of the time when playing difficult pieces it requires the ability to look at both the music and the keys together. If while looking at the keys and knowing what is to come next then it allows a smooth and mistake free style of playing. Nevertheless, to get to that stage of playing one must first be able to read the music fully and then proceed to memorising the music.
  • What advantage does piano give over other instruments?
    Playing the piano gives many advantages over other instruments as your ears become attuned to the slightest differences in pitch and tone allowing you to tune many musical instruments as well as having the ability to learn other instruments quicker. It also gives dexterity in your finger movements allowing you to better handle different instruments such as guitar, woodwind instruments, brass, etc. Also, as all music revolves around particular scales, chords and musical structures, the piano gives the best visual interpretation of these necessities allowing beginners to better understand musical as a whole. For example, music is divided into a scale of 8 notes called an octave which is stretched form the low register to the high register. On a piano these octaves a set out in sequential order from the bottom of the keyboard to the top of the keyboard allowing for an even easier visual understanding. Once fully understanding octaves, staves and all other musical aspects, then the student will find it easy to understand other instruments giving the advantage of being able to learn other instruments whereas other instruments do not give this ability to students as easily.
  • What sort of piano is better for home use?
    For regular home use there is no right or wrong choice in piano. A lot of people generally start with an electric keyboard just to cut costs until they are satisfied with their level of playing, then later on making the decision to buy a piano for long term reasons. But from having knowledge on the matter I would say an electric piano is not always the best decision to start off with as an electric piano not only lacks in the real sound of a piano but lacks in the real feel of a piano. By this I mean when keys on an electric keyboard are depressed the note has no dynamics which means no matter how heavy you play the keys it will be no louder or softer. Also the keys have no weight behind them so it seems very light and can often lead to the inability to play to ones full potential on a real piano. However this may be, I am not trying to convince you not to buy an electric piano but merely trying to educate you before you choose to purchase either one of these instruments. There are other electric pianos which over come these problems but the cost of these electric pianos are always more expensive. Another option for a beginner pianist is to hire a piano which can be rather cheap in comparison to buying one. Some may start as low as $10-$15 per week.
  • How is technique developed?
    Basic techniques which are covered from beginning lessons are techniques such as finger exercises, note recognition without looking at the keyboard, tone recognition, beat counting, sol-feg (Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Ti-Do).
    Technique is developed individually over time. Every musician has their own style of technique which comes through years of practice and experimentation. Usually it derives from peoples individual emotions whilst playing music allowing them to express themselves in ways which is not possible through words or actions causing them to touch the very hearts of the ones around them listening.
  • Are exams involved?
    Exams are only involved if a student chooses to participate in AMEB examinations which all music teachers can arrange at the students request. Occasionally the teacher may arrange the student to participate in the exams with the students permission if the teacher believes the student is ready for grading. These examinations consist of both practical and/or theory (Pianoforte, Musicianship). Pianoforte examination usually last for about 15minutes comprising of scales, arpeggios, chromatic scales, dominants, augmented scales, sight reading, etc. The musicianship theory test consists of perhaps 30 minutes to complete theory based questions on paper. Grading is not completely necessary however if a student wishes to continue with their playing through to tertiary education then having grades can help for entry and to keep up with the level of competition required in conservatoriums.