FAQs

How early should my child take piano lessons?

It depends. Every child develops differently and every piano teacher has their preferences. I, personally, will not start a child on private piano lessons until they have: Developed fine motor ability in their hands and fingers. Can sustain concentration at the piano bench for at least 15 minutes at a time. Can listen to and…
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How long should I keep my fingernails?

Short enough that you can play on the skin of the fingertips. Long nails tend to force playing with flat fingers, which can lead to improper piano technique and increase the chances of getting injured.

How long should I practice?

Practice as long as you can, provided you do so without discomfort (pain, tension, tingling sensations) in your body and with full mental concentration. What’s more important than the length of a practice session is the frequency and consistency of practice. The more practice sessions you can get in a week, the better. You will…
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How much time do I need to dedicate to piano?

As much as you can. As with any skill or art form, learning to play the piano requires significant commitment. The level of commitment will vary from person to person depending on their independent goals and lifestyle. Some ideas to consider include: 1. Practice Time: consistent practice at the piano is essential to make progress.…
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How long will it take for me to learn to play the piano?

It varies from person to person. It also depends on what you define as your benchmark for “learn to play the piano”, how well you take to the learning process, and how much time you put in to practice. Typically, learning to play an instrument is a long term process. With most students, it can…
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Someone’s giving a piano away for free, or there’s a cheap model of piano on Amazon / Costco / XYZ store – is that adequate for a beginner?

It depends. Without knowing how weighted the keys are, the quality of the sound, the brand, age, maintenance history of the instrument, it can be difficult to tell without trying it out. If it’s a used acoustic instrument, similar to buying a used car, it’s also important to hire a licensed piano technician to examine…
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I can’t afford an expensive instrument. What can I do?

Typically, if budget is an issue, I recommend renting an instrument on a monthly basis first and saving up to buy a higher quality instrument for when you’re ready. There is an added benefit to renting first before investing in something big: It allows beginners time to consider whether learning the piano is something they’d…
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How much should I budget for my piano?

As much as you can afford. With pianos, you typically get what you pay for. In other words, the more expensive the instrument is, the more likely it will be of a better quality. Learning on a bad instrument can be like learning to drive on a golf cart. Of course, it will drive…but it’s…
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What kind of piano should I buy?

It should have 88 weighted keys, a damper pedal and an adjustable bench. Weighted keys means that the volume of the sound from the piano will increase or decrease depending on how much force is used to strike the keys, rather than relying entirely on a volume dial.

What are the benefits of private piano lessons?

1. Individualized feedback:  one-to-one instruction allows you to receive specific and immediate comments to help you address your needs. This allows you to minimize the amount of time spent struggling with the material and progress faster. 2. Tailored Curriculum: private piano lessons can be adjusted to match your individual skill level, learning style, and target…
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What are the benefits of learning to play the piano?

1. Of all the instruments, piano has the most repertoire (i.e. pieces written particularly for the instrument), which allows for a wide variety of music to play and learn from. 2. With the piano, beginners will immediately produce beautiful sound simply by depressing a key, which makes for instant gratification. Whereas with the other instruments,…
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What are the benefits of learning to play a musical instrument?

Learning to play an instrument is scientifically proven to make you smarter. For kids: Music education builds neural pathways in the brain which neuroscientists have linked to developing processing, problem solving, language, and communication skills among a whole host of other benefits. For adults: music lessons boost cognitive abilities including memory, motor and attention skills.…
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