It`s Never Too Late To Learn To Play The Piano

A lot of adult beginners feel really nervous about starting piano lessons. It makes sense. As adults, we`re used to being "good at things". We know how to take care of ourselves, run our home (sort of anyway, if you`re anything like me!!), manage our career, be proficient in our job, and pay our bills. Starting to learn a new skill can feel a bit like wandering off into the jungle. Although the unknown is undoubtedly frightening, it can also be very exciting. I think that as we grow older, it`s really important to keep hold of that magical something that comes with learning something new.

I let the student guide what sort of styles they`re aiming for. Some want a mixture of everything, some want a classical training, some want anything but classical! All are fine with me. I usually teach students how to read music too so that eventually they won`t need me anymore, and ultimately will be able to walk into a music shop, pick up the piece of their choice, and take it home and play it. How I teach the reading of music is again up to the student. Some opt for a need to know basis, whilst others are interested in knowing more about the theory behind the music they`re playing - either classical or popular music theory. Because of my training and experience, I`m lucky enough to be able to support any of these learning styles.

I hope that what my lessons give are a comfortable environment in which to develop a technique at the piano which allows freedom when exploring music. There really isn`t such a thing as a stupid question. And without mistakes, no progress can ever be made! If there`s one thing I`d like to pass on to adult beginners, whether they come to me or lessons or not, it`s that every mistake made is not a step back - it`s a step forward on your journey.