Basic materials for beginning students are as follows: (the materials listed below may be added to once the student is able to handle more music)

~ Music book - supplied by the teacher

~ Theory book - supplied by the teacher

~ Assignment book - supplied by the teacher

~ Practice Bag - supplied by the teacher (This holds various manipulatives to aid students in home practice.)

~ Metronome - NOT supplied by the teacher (Click HERE to see what I use in my studio)

~ Music bag - This is optional for the student. However, it is very handy because it keeps everything together so nothing will be lost --highly recommended!

Even for the youngest of students, having a good instrument to play on is helpful and inspirational. If your family is unable to afford a piano, then you must purchase an electric keyboard that has at least 61 keys, with pedal attachment. I strongly recommend that your family then set some money aside during the first year or two with the plan to purchase a piano. It is well-worth the investment!

On average a piano student studies for two years and then decides to stop taking lessons. However, if you make it a priority for your child to learn, practice, and play on a quality instrument, it is more likely that your child will stick with the piano for many years.

If you would like help finding an instrument for your child, I am happy to help in the search. There is nothing like seeing a child’s face light up with joy when she has an instrument of her very own!

Practicing is essential! It establishes good habits, creates a routine, and develops skills immensely. It is quite evident during a lesson when a student has had a good week of practice and when he has not. A teacher can only do so much, and so learning becomes more effective through individual practice! I recommend the following:

~ Ages 4-6: 10-20 minutes per day

~ Ages 7-10: 20-30 minutes per day

~ Ages 11+: 45-60 minutes per day

Of course, everyone is different and schedules can be busy, so this guideline may modified for fit your family’s needs. Consider practicing everyday before school, right after school, or right after dinner, so that a routine is set in place. If one practice session seems too much, then split it in half and practice once in the morning and once in the evening. Do what works for your family!

For example, if your family only has 5 or 10 minutes available on a jam-packed day, then let your child give a mini recital of her favorite song to her favorite stuffed animal. A quick round of imaginative play is a lot of fun for everyone, and your student still gets to her instrument that day. It also demonstrates to her that practicing doesn’t have to be a snooze-fest. If you nurture a love for the instrument, then a love for practicing will come!

Practicing is expected for a student to do regularly. It is better to practice a little each day rather than once or twice a week for a prolonged amount of time. A student is only able to learn what he is willing and able to put into practicing. However, practicing everyday can be a challenge for many students due to how busy the family schedule is. The best way to have consistent practice is to build practice time into the family’s daily routine.

While it is ideal to practice every day, I have recommended to my students to make sure to get a minimum of 5 days of practice. For example, many students come to lessons straight from school, so it may not be possible to practice piano on lesson days. Or a student may be out with the family running errands or participating in other extra-curricular events on a Saturday, so by the time the student gets home, he has homework to do or needs to go to bed. It is completely understandable not to practice that day.

However, if your child consistently does not practice and continually comes to lessons unprepared, then it may result in dismissal from my studio.

Of course! What is unique about the lessons I offer is that students never stay seated for an entire lesson. The students and I are up and moving, experiencing the learning process through kinesthetic movements, games and activities. But I also have my students learn how to actively control their bodies throughout the lesson. Whether it is focusing on how to curve the fingers just right with silly stretches, or concentrating on how to “jellyfish” count a new rhythm with the metronome, or how to sit correctly on the piano bench like a “Perfectly Poised Pianist” (I like to call this “The Triple P”), students of all energy levels are assimilating the information they need to be strong and confident young pianists.

You betcha!

I’m going to share a secret with you…Your child is not alone! A metronome’s one and only job is to click the beat so that a student learns how to keep time consistently. In all fairness, that can get annoying! But instead of viewing this tool as if it were a grumpy drill sergeant, I encourage you to help your student to view it as their best musical friend.

Some families prefer to download a free metronome app on their phone, or their electric keyboard has one built in. There is nothing wrong with either of these options! But let me caution you to NOT use either of these as your child’s primary metronome. Have them use a device that they keep with their instrument and can learn to use independently because this nurtures intrinsic learning.

Below is a short list of fun ways for your and your student to get comfortable with the metronome:

~ Get in touch with everyone’s silly side by moving parts of the body with the metronome as it clicks at varying speeds.

~ Give it a name. (I named mine “Clara”)

~ Purchase a metronome in your child’s favorite color.

~ Use the various manipulatives from your practice bag to play games while practicing with the metronome.

When you first purchase your piano, new or used, it is best to let the instrument acclimate to its new environment for approximately 4 to 8 weeks before having it tuned. After that, it is ideal for your piano to be tuned every six months.

Playing on a tuned piano allows your student to build aural skills, such as pitch recognition and tone quality. As she learns a variety of repertoire, the entire family can enjoy the lovely melodies and harmonies that are best appreciated from a cared-for instrument.

Shameless plug moment! If your instrument needs a tune-up, my husband Russell is an excellent piano tuner in the Tulsa area. :)

I have gotten this question from many concerned adults, and it is definitely a valid question. As an encouragement, I offer a couple suggestions:

1) The method books I use in my studio are wonderfully written and literally begin the student at square one. Take the time to read through the book as your child is going through it. It should be fairly self-explanatory. Of course, if you have questions, you can ask your student or give me a call.

2) Children always enjoy telling an adult what to do. Let your student be your “teacher” during practice times. The student is then reinforcing what was taught to him during his lesson AND the adult gets to have fun being the pupil.