announcing group private lessons for children

If you have a group of up to 4 people who are all beginners at the piano, there is a new way to learn! You can have a group piano lesson once a week, where you'll learn to read music, play games, learn to sight-read, improvise, learn performance pieces and learn to play in front of others. Your self esteem will rise, you'll learn a new skill and all this in a sociable atmosphere. Learning to play the piano can feel a bit lonely, unlike wind, recorder, guitar and violin lessons at school which are often group lessons.

Using some techniques which are becoming more well known in the USA but are rarely used at the moment in the UK, you will have fun, gain a skill, develop your creativity and musicality. Of course it all works out a bit cheaper as the lesson fees are divided between up to 4 of you!

At present it will be necessary for you to find a small group to learn in, and it is better if you are all about the same age- eg 7-8 years old, 9-10 etc as you will get on better socially and your developmental stage in terms of physical and intellectual development will make it easier for you to learn together.

For more information contact Catherine on 07868 028246.

Group Piano Teaching Ideas

New teaching method!

I've been discussing with Julie Knerr, a co-author of a new teaching method for children, about piano pedagogy. She is in the USA and has, with her co-author come up with an exciting and challenging method to engage children which I'll be using, with suitable children in the UK.

I'm also looking at the Faber series "Piano Adventures" and some other methods for adult learners including "Pianoworks" by Joan Bullard.

It's wonderful having the opportunity to discuss teaching methods, sharing ideas etc through the power of the internet.

What do you think about sharing pedagogy?

ABRSM conference

I am very much looking forward to attending this prestigious conference in Birmingham, in September. Seminars that I'm going to attend include those on the new piano syllabus for 2011 and 2012. The presenters will discuss teaching methods and piano techniques, examination preparation and ways of dealing with performance nerves. I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with my students in due course!

I am also going to attend seminars in teaching sight-reading and theory- both essential tools for a budding musician!