My Teaching Priorities
In my piano teaching I have always aimed at a balance between pleasure and progress. I try to tailor the choice of pieces, studies, scales and any theory work to what each pupil wants. However: 1) I do not think that any online (skype or facetime) piano teacher satisfy all musical tastes regardless of their website claims. 2) What certain pupils WANT to do is often way beyond their capabilities at that time. To return to my first point: the piano repertoire is simply too vast for a teacher to offer informed tuition of any piece the pupil mentions. Every two years the ABRSM exam board releases new pieces for the syllabus and contained within is usually 3 or 4 composers I've never even heard of!! (And I've been teaching for 30 years...) Thus: piano teachers tend to be strong in certain areas, such as classical, pop/rock piano, jazz improvisation or meeting the needs of very young beginners. It is possible for a music teacher to be successful in helping pupils develop in the early stages of playing, and yet that same teacher to be weak when working with grade 8 exam standard pupils [and please note, vice versa]. I am not saying that a teacher cannot be successful in both areas; but I've yet to meet a piano teacher who is all things for all ages and styles.
One of my adult pupils informed me that his previous teacher (well known as a pianist nationally) never told him that the thumb is useful as a pivot for changing hand position, something that has transformed one of his performance of one of his current pieces: great performers are not necessarily good teachers.
So: for a healthy balance between pleasure and progress I will listen to each pupil. It is even better when they listen to me as well! Sometimes pupils ask if they can try some pop music. Unfortunately when these items are reduced to solo piano grade 2 standard, the spice and flavour has been lost - pop is usually designed to be sung, and beginner piano arrangements never come near anything like the original; sorry but its true.
Please note that when teaching children by skype I insist that a responsible adult is present in the room for the whole duration of the lesson.
EXAMS
I admit that I thoroughly enjoy entering pupils for piano and theory exams; ABRSM exam preparation is a particular strong point of mine. However; exams are not compulsory. Go to exams for more information.
One of my adult pupils informed me that his previous teacher (well known as a pianist nationally) never told him that the thumb is useful as a pivot for changing hand position, something that has transformed one of his performance of one of his current pieces: great performers are not necessarily good teachers.
So: for a healthy balance between pleasure and progress I will listen to each pupil. It is even better when they listen to me as well! Sometimes pupils ask if they can try some pop music. Unfortunately when these items are reduced to solo piano grade 2 standard, the spice and flavour has been lost - pop is usually designed to be sung, and beginner piano arrangements never come near anything like the original; sorry but its true.
Please note that when teaching children by skype I insist that a responsible adult is present in the room for the whole duration of the lesson.
EXAMS
I admit that I thoroughly enjoy entering pupils for piano and theory exams; ABRSM exam preparation is a particular strong point of mine. However; exams are not compulsory. Go to exams for more information.