Are you curious about what happens during your very first piano lesson? Perhaps you think the piano is a difficult instrument to learn, there are a lot of keys on the keyboard after all. Here I will give you some tips to follow before your first lesson and try to give you flavour of what to expect during the lesson.
Preparation Tips
The first thing you need to do is not be nervous. Learning to play the piano opens up your world to an amazing array of music. I had a first lesson once and fell in love with the piano and have been teaching others to play for over 30-years.
Think about what your goals are. Are you simply wanting to learn to play for enjoyment at home or to entertain friends and family? Are you planing on forming or joining a band? Do you want to train to professional standard? Having this clear in your mind will help me as I plan your study course.
Meeting your teacher
The first meeting with a student who has never played piano is something very particular and very important because it leaves its mark on the student and teacher. Establishing a good student-teacher relationship is important. I will ask you a few questions that you will have the answers to if you have followed my preparation tips above. I will ask you things like ‘What are the songs you’ve always wanted to play?’, ‘Who are your favourite bands or composers?’ to get a feeling of your influencers and aspirations.
This is also a perfect time for you to ask qestions of me; ‘What will you expect of me as a student?’, ‘What does a typical 2nd, 3rd and later lesson consist of?’, ‘Do I need any books or equipment etc.?’, ‘What happens if I have to rearrange a lesson?’ are the type of thing new students are keen to know.
Introduction to the piano
Here I hope to build on your curiosity. You will come in to contact with the piano, hear the sound and get a feel for the keys. I will explain to you all of the elements that make up a piano; where does the sound come from, what causes the sound in the first place, how do the pedals affect the sounds produced and how striking the keys with different pressure affects the sound.
We will then discuss the black and white keys and talk about bass and treble notes.
Once you are familiar with the different parts of the piano, I will play a short piece of music (perhaps one of songs you mentioned as your favourites) and gauge your reaction to the melodies produced. You’ll have read on the About Me page that I have a nice singing voice and we will probably be singing a duet at this stage. Lessons are fun with me as your teacher!
Now it’s your turn
The next step is to sit properly in front of the instrument, to adopt proper posture while at the same time remaining comfortable. I will then teach you hand posture, wrist placement and finger curving.
Once you are comfortable I will explain to you where the note middle C is on the keyboard becasue until now the keybaord is something vast and unknown to you. The introduction of middle C is important and I will explain how knowing its postion will help your find your way around the keybord. I will introduce you to finger numbers as these will be used throughout your course both in method books and practial exercises.
With the use of basic, simple rhythms, you will learn about quarter and half notes and be playing your very first piano music.
Next Steps
I will recap the lesson we just had and give you an assignment with guidance notes on what you need to practice before your next lesson. There will be short theory assignment on musical notation which will help you in later lessons but mainly you will be practicing the keyboard skills you just learned and repeating your hand and finger placement skills until they start to become second nature to you.
Wrap up
At the end of your first lesson I hope you feel enthusiastic and want to explore the world of sounds and very deep feelings to be gaind from playing piano but at the same time you have had an entertaining and enjoyable experience.
Book your first piano lesson today
I hope this has given you a good idea of what to expect during your very first piano lesson. If you would like to make a booking, please use the Book piano lessons page to get in touch.
If you would like to take your very first piano lesson or add to your existing piano education, please book a lesson with me today, you can book online.
Hello!
Can we include piano anatomy in the first days of the piano lesson? I guess, piano tutors/professors can give their students ample time to learn what a piano consists of: piano keys, piano key face, piano key bed et al.
I found that piano lesson books don’t teach anything about the piano. They just present symbols of how to play the piano. I was thinking that they could understand piano and play the instrument better and more wholesome if they know what a piano is.
I was thinking of the other musical instruments wherein professors/tutors teach the parts of the instruments before they finally touch or use them one by one. For example, I think, it would be better if the child or student knows what a fret is before finally playing the guitar with modern notations or with ancient notations. I think, they will not play the guitar without knowing what a fret is. This goes with violin, viola, cello or double bass. I think, knowing the parts of the instrument or knowing the anatomy of a musical instrument would be a must before they play them one by one.
Please check out https://www.google.com/search?q=piano+anatomy&client=opera&hs=yrh&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEg4-l5Iv4AhUQEIgKHTYcAycQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1240&bih=651&dpr=1#imgrc=YIu4Hv_jwozk-M&imgdii=GUDyGClVlOdX6M for more details about piano anatomy.
I think, these symbols may help professors or students achieve their musical or personal goals using the piano instrument.
I hope that you understand what I am talking about.
Thanks!
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