Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an instrument at home?

Yes. Don’t worry you don’t need to invest in an acoustic piano just yet, a decent keyboard or digital piano will be perfect for beginners. You’ll need to look for a keyboard that has at least 5 octaves (or 61 keys) and either touch sensitive or (better) weighted keys. Touch sensitive means the harder you press the key, the louder it sounds, which is essential for piano playing. Weighted keys are made to feel like real piano keys, requiring a little more pressure to play the key, so is great for developing finger strength. I’m happy to advise you if you need help choosing your first instrument.

The initial investment in a good digital piano can seem daunting, but I would strongly recommend considering this over a keyboard as the progress you/ your child will make will be far superior on a good instrument. If cost is an issue, I would recommend saving the money you would have spent on piano lessons in order to buy the instrument, and delay starting piano lessons until you’ve made your purchase.

How long are the lessons?

I do 30 minute lessons as standard. This, in my experience, is the optimal lesson length for maintaining focus (it’s a real brain workout!) without being overwhelming. Occasionally longer lessons of 45 minutes are needed, but these are for students studying music theory as well, or for students preparing for the higher grades (6+).

How much do lessons cost?

£68 per month for 30 minute lessons.

£102 per month for 45 minute lessons.

Theory marking (anything subsantial, e.g. marking complete workbooks) is charged pro rata at my standard rate of £42.94 per hour. Music theory forms a natural part of most lessons and is not charged for as an extra.

Can I pay for lessons in blocks?

The payment schedule is a fixed fee paid on the 1st day of each month (see lesson costs above). I teach 38 lessons per year (during term time only), so the fees are averaged across the 12 months. This means some months you will have more lessons than others, and in August you won’t have any lessons, but you will still be paying each month. In the event that you give notice to stop lessons, I will always calculate the number of lessons that have been available to you and align this with the amount you have paid, which will result in a final invoice to be paid or a refund for the amount overpaid.

Please note I don’t operate a pay as you go set up.

How do I pay for lessons?

Bank transfer is the simplest for most people, and my bank details are included at the bottom of the invoice you’ll receive. Fees are due on the 1st day of each month, so setting up a standing order from your bank account is the easiest route.

Where do you teach?

I teach at my home in Bedhampton in a spacious ground floor room with plenty of room to move around and play rhythm and notation games - a favourite with young students!

Do you teach during school holidays?

No. I teach during term time only, with breaks at half terms, Christmas, Easter and Summer. It’s useful, as the student, to have a break to allow all they have learned to sink in, then to be ready for the next term and learning more new skills.

Do you teach beginners?

Yes! In fact most people who come to me are beginners and it’s such a joy to be there to start the musical journey together. Beginner children and beginner adults are all welcome.

Do you teach face to face?

Yes. I returned to face to face teaching on 19th April 2021, after a year of only teaching online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the benefit of all, I decided to maintain some COVID safety measures, including making sanitising hand gel/ hand washing facilities available and sanitising the keys and surfaces.

Do you teach online?

Yes. I started teaching online in April 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, and it turns out it is a really effective method of teaching, allowing for a few drawbacks. To read more, click on the button below:

How often should I practice?

Regular practice is essential for progress and the more frequently you can practice in the week between lessons, the better your progress will be. Ideally, you’ll find time every day to practice, even if it is 5-10 minutes (beginners) and if it can be in the morning when your brain is alert, the practice will be even more effective. This may be too much to squeeze into an already busy life, so even 3-4 times per week is still great. Most importantly, whichever practice schedule you decide on, it must be able to fit into your life and become part of your routine - this way you avoid falling into the situation of forgetting about practice, remembering at the last minute and ‘cramming’ before the lesson, which, unfortunately, never produces the intended effect. I can help you devise a practice strategy that works with your other committments, so that you can get the most out of your piano lessons and see the results you hope for.

Which music exam boards do you use?

I use the ABRSM (Associated Board for the Royal Schools of Music) exam board. It is the gold standard, in my opinion, among the existing boards and provides a well rounded musical education and assessment structure.

Can I do music exams?

Yes, I teach using the ABRSM exam board (see above) and prepare students thoroughly for all parts of their exam, including practice exams with me ahead of the exam sessions.

I would recommend beginners to have at least a year or two of learning before attempting to prepare for an exam, purely to allow enough of the techniques and learning to become internalised first. There will always be time to prepare for exams comfortably, once you’ve got the hang of the basics. Grade 1 is actually more complex and demanding than most people assume!

One point to note here is that exams are a valuable and fulfilling part of learning to play the piano well, but should not be done in the absence of a wider musical knowledge and experience. For this reason, I encourage my students to try new repertoire between exams, which is a welcome change of pace after working hard and succeeding in their exams.

Do you teach music theory?

Yes! Music theory is a really important part of being a well rounded musician, and provides much of the context and understanding required to get the most out of playing the piano and making music.

What happens if there is another COVID-19 lockdown with restrictions on face to face lessons?

I will provide online lessons until we are able to return to face to face lessons, so there is no gap in learning and progress is continued.