Fees & Studio Policy
Full information on tuition fees can be found on the Tuition Fees page.
Your tuition fee covers:
Your tuition fee does not cover:
The procedures for cancelling a lesson can be found on the Studio Policy page.
The policy and procedures for suspending lessons can be found on the Studio Policy page.
Age Suitability
No
Don’t let age stand in your way. I’ve taught lots of adult students – some starting in their 20s and others in their 60s and 70s. If learning to play the piano has been on your bucket list, then it’s time to tick it off!
As a general rule, I don’t teach beginner students under 5 years of age. That said, I have a lengthy waiting list, so it's never too early to complete the New Student Enquiry form and get your child registered with me.
If you have a child aged 5 and you would like them to begin piano lessons, we would have an initial introductory lesson to assess their suitability. At this age, so much depends on the individual student’s musical aptitude, concentration and general maturity. If they’re not quite ready for lessons at this point, they can be placed on my waiting list for tuition in the future.
Equipment Related Questions
Believe it or not, I do get asked this question more regularly than you would think! Yes – you will need to have an instrument available so you can practise in between your weekly lessons.
You can use an acoustic piano (a normal piano), or a digital piano. Bear in mind, that an acoustic piano will need to be regularly tuned to stay in optimal condition.
A digital piano can often be more convenient for students, particularly if you are short on space in your home. It is also more portable and doesn’t require tuning. Additionally, digital pianos will come with a headphone jack so you can practise ‘silently’ – something to consider in a busy household or if the piano is in a shared living space.
If you are wanting to purchase a digital piano, there are a couple of features you want to make sure it has:
My first love will always be an acoustic piano, and for more advanced students, I would strongly recommend you have the real thing. However, for beginners to intermediate level pianists, a good digital piano should fit the bill.
Piano's are usually an expensive purchase and you want to make sure you don't buy a dud. Here are some of the things I advise people to investigate when they ask me what they should look for when buying a piano.
Music Matters
I teach a wide range of musical styles including:
I want you to enjoy the pieces you’re playing so we will discuss the type of repertoire you’re interested in and want to learn.
Starting out is a really exciting time! You’ll learn how to read music, lay the foundations of a good technique, hone your listening skills and so much more!
A ‘Journey of Discovery’ takes you on an in-depth look at the various practical skills and knowledge I’ll be introducing you to in your first year of tuition. Please explore this page if you’d like to know more.
Although I’m a Classically trained musician, I do incorporate a lot of jazz music and improvisation in my lessons for those students who are interested. The improvisation work is tailored to beginner and intermediate level students, so if you’re looking for more advanced Jazz training, I’d recommend seeking out a specialist Jazz instructor.
Not every student is a theory buff, but I do strongly recommend and encourage including theory work in the lessons, particularly for younger students. Gaining a greater understanding of the written symbols and knowing how these should then be interpreted, and ultimately translated into sound, all contribute to developing a well-rounded and ‘literate’ musician.
Piano Practice Related Questions
Learning to play the piano takes time and regular reinforcement – after all, you’ve probably never required your fingers and wrists to undertake such finely nuanced movements before. As with any activity which needs sophisticated motor control, awareness and repetition are important factors. Imagine a tennis player practising to hit the ball into a specific location – the position of the body needs to be just right, the angle of the racket needs to be just right, the amount of power in the stroke needs to be just right, and probably most importantly, the shot can’t just be a lucky fluke achieved every now and again – it must be reproducible, called upon whenever required – especially if it’s needed to win the match!
The same applies for musicians. We’re finely tuned athletes!
I can’t remember who said it, but they were very wise - “We don’t practise until we get it right, we practise so we don’t get it wrong”.
Exams & Performance
No – not if you don’t want to.
But if you’re keen to undertake an exam, I’m more than happy to work with you towards that goal.
Publications
I have written five books which range from music for pre-Grade 1 students to more advanced learners at Grade 6.
‘Garden Party’ – Pre-Grade 1
Imagine a miniature world where spiders, butterflies, ants and ladybirds come together for a ‘Garden Party’
‘Garden Playtime’ – Grade 2 – 3
Revisit a world where garden creatures come to life in a fun and imaginative way
‘Fantasy & Fairy Tale’ – Grade 4 – 5
Explore a mystical realm where characters from ‘fantasy and fairy tale’ come to life
‘Freestyle’ – Grade 3 – 5
10 lively piano solos embracing a sense of freedom and spontaneity
‘More Freestyle’ – Grade 4 – 6
A collection of pieces ranging in style from gentle and contemplative to extroverted and energetic