Advice for Parents and Adult Learners

From my many years working as a teacher and performer I've discovered that music and music-making is such a rich and varied field that if you come to it with too fixed an idea of where you want to end up, you might at best be surprised and at worst disappointed. Being motivated and inspired is a great way to ensure you'll make progress, and most of us either start or return to an instrument with a real desire to play, so this is usually a great beginning. Remembering that everyone is unique - where we end up is ultimately up to you.

You do need to have a piano or keyboard and you'll need to practice. There is no getting away from this and nor need there be. Sometimes it's true - you'll need to repeat things many times before they feel natural to you, but this process is actually satisfying, rewarding and stimulating. As your ability develops your playing becomes more able to engage both you and others until you have enough ability to really make music. This process is continuous and a lifetime's work - we've never had our last lesson.

If you are a parent considering lessons for you child my first recommendation is that you explore Suzuki piano. This way of learning has tremendous benefits associated with it where we begin 'early' - usually when your child is about 4 years old. We teach without music at first (ear before eye) and work to develop ability in a step by step fashion using a common repertoire for all Suzuki students. The parent learns at the same time and is a part of every lesson and the daily practice sessions. To get a more complete picture I'd recommend the British Suzuki Institute website. Have a look under "Suzuki" and then scroll to history, philosophy, method and misconceptions etc. 

If your child is older, sometimes the Suzuki method can still be appropriate but I do also teach in the traditional way for many older children and especially if they are transferring to me from another teacher.

Adults: most often I find that adults have something to say about why and what they want to learn. This is usually what motivates. Sometimes, in their day jobs, adults are used to thinking through problems and reaching solutions and making a change straight away, so it's as well to mention that it can be a bit of shock to go back and have to train fingers to move at will! Like anyone else learning a new skill, things always progress faster if you're having fun so I try and pitch the lessons appropriately to this end. I always recommend you go hear some concerts or other gigs and take a look online and on DVD at some of the performers in whatever genre interests you. I played in Pianocircus (a six piano group) for a number of years, so if contemporary music is your thing that might be of interest, or if you're an easy listening fan you can find me on Youtube playing with The Mike Flowers Pops (Wonderwall and Light My Fire). For really great performances check out Rubinstein and Arrau.