Music Moves for Piano underpin piano lessons with me.
Piano lessons are suitable for children of 4 years upwards. Initially, they will start with Music Moves for Piano Keyboard Games A and B and will then progress to the Music Moves for Piano Series. I add Piano Safari to my lessons too, particularly for working on rote learning and piano techniques. Technique work is also underpinned with the recently published Technique books by Penelope Roskell. I believe this trio of resources (Music Moves, Piano Safari and Roskell Technique) to be extremely powerful in developing a well rounded musician with healthy technique.
My Piano Lessons are totally unlike the standard piano lesson that most adults reading this will have experienced, unless you have been taught using Music Moves for Piano or Music Learning Theory principles. As far as I can glean, the method of music instruction is uncommon in the UK.
The emphasis in this method is upon developing audiation (how we think in music) skills and musicianship skills AHEAD of music reading and writing. Learning to read music too young (before the brain is ready for abstract thinking (usually around 9 years of age) results in a music “reader” who is simply decoding symbols with very little, if any, understanding of the meaning of the music symbols AND the student is distracted from listening to the sounds in favour of looking at representations of the sound.
Musicianship means everything except for the instrument. Rhythm, beat, melody, harmony, phrasing, dynamics, articulation, structure, etc. It has been a frequently ignored part of traditional piano lessons and the outcome of that is that many piano players and teachers are unable to improvise, to create music and get into the flow without the stimulus of printed music. They are tied to the page of printed music. Now, the page has MUCH to offer, but it is not the primary way to learn to be a musician. Many cultures in the world would be described as extremely musical and yet they have no written music tradition. But you wouldn’t say that they aren’t “proper” musicians.
Learn more about Music Learning Theory here: https://www.giml.org
Learn more about Music Moves for Piano here: https://www.musicmovesforpiano.com
Learn more about Piano Safari here:https://pianosafari.com/about/about-piano-safari/
Learn more about Penelope Roskell here: https://www.roskellacademy.com/about/
FEES
For Music Moves Book 1 and upwards, lessons are an hour long and may be in groups if desired. Individual rate is £44 per hour. Group rate (minimum of 2 students) is £27.50 per hour per student. Maximum 4 students.
For Keyboard Games A/B students, lessons are 45 minutes long and may be in groups if desired. Individual rate is £33 per lesson. Group rate £20.63 per student. Maximum 4 students.
My core teaching is for 30 weeks in ten week terms, in line with Southwark School Term Dates. I can teach outside these dates if it is mutually convenient for you and me. It is preferable to keep piano lessons running weekly, but I appreciate that some families like to have fewer commitments during holiday dates.
For my piano students who are ASC or ADHD, I would recommend continuing during school holidays as much as is possible, as the routine and predictability is important and beneficial for them. As an adult with ADHD and ASC, I certainly benefit from the routine too. I can often be more flexible during school holidays as far as piano lesson times are concerned.
Musicianship with Trish 