Frequently Asked Questions

What age does my child need to be to take lessons?

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Usually, our youngest students would be at least 5 years old.

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The main criteria are that the child knows his/her alphabet and can focus for 30 minutes.

This depends on every individual child so we can do a trial lesson first to see if your child is ready and we can take it from there.

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Do I need a Piano/Keyboard at home for the lessons?

 

Yes. Since the lessons will be happening at your home, you will need to have a piano or keyboard at home. Also, it's very difficult to make progress if you don't have an instrument to practice on.
If you have a piano, make sure it is tuned regularly. We can also recommend a piano tuner if needed.

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Do you offer one-off lessons?

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We ask all students to enroll on a term basis.

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However, you are not required to sign up until you’ve had your first lessons and you are satisfied with how the lessons went, etc...

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How many terms do you have during the year?

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We have two main terms: our Autumn/Winter term goes from September until the end of January and our Spring/Summer term goes from February until the third week of June.

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It is possible to start lessons any time of the year, and we will adjust the number of lessons and the fees accordingly.

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Do you have lessons during the Bank Holidays or Mid-term breaks?

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Our term is based on the School Calendar, so we don’t teach during the Bank Holidays, Christmas and Easter Holidays, Midterm breaks, etc.

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Will I need to purchase any additional materials?

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Most teachers require a book for their students to use, especially the ones that are preparing for Piano exams. Books can be bought online and delivered to your address. Individual pieces can also be bought online and downloaded immediately.

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We are more than happy to help you with sourcing the right material.

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Do the teachers teach you to read music?

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Yes. You will learn to read music and also music theory. This will be gradual, based on your own needs or what you are required in order to prepare for a piano exam.

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Can I watch my child take his/her lesson?

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Yes, you can watch or stay with your child during the lesson (this is especially useful for the younger ones).         

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If my schedule changes, how difficult will it be to change my lesson time?

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If your schedule changes, let us know as soon as possible and we will try our best to accommodate you.

Since visiting students in their home's requires quite a lot of planning to make the schedule of the teacher work, sometimes it's not possible to keep the same teacher, however an alternative teacher may be provided.

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Do you have any other activities for students, such as recitals?

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We have a recital at the end of each term, at the end of January, and the end of May.

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Since the pandemic began, we have already organised three online recitals, which you can view them here.

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I already know a little about my instrument, do I have to start at the beginning?

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No. Lessons are tailor-made to the individual needs of the student. Your teacher will assess your level after the first lesson, discuss your goals, and determine the best course of action based on your current level of understanding.

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I’m not sure if the instrument I already own is good enough, how will I know?

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Your teacher will be more than happy to inspect your instrument to see if it is suitable for instruction. This will be done during the first lesson. We will be more than happy to advise you in case a new instrument is needed.

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Do you teach adult beginners?

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Yes, absolutely! The beauty of music is that you can pick it up anytime. We’ve worked with many adult beginners over the years and as all our lessons are tailor-made, we can design them according to your goals and musical interests.

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How can I help my child progress more quickly?

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The key to progress when learning an instrument is practice, practice, practice. Unfortunately, there’s no workaround. It helps immensely if you’re able to support and encourage your child through that process. It’s really valuable, especially for younger children, if you’re able to sit with them and show that you’re interested in what they need to learn. Even if you don’t have any prior musical knowledge, you’ll be able to follow the teacher’s notes and make sure that your child understands what they need to practice.

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Do you prepare students for graded exams?

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Yes, many of our students over the years have successfully passed graded exams. We work with different examining boards, most commonly with RIAM and ABRSM, some other options include Trinity College London, London College of Music, and Rockschool.

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Please talk to us and your teacher and we can assess what grade might be most suitable for you and suggest an examining board.

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How often and how much do myself or my child need to practice?

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Whether the lessons are for yourself or your child, first determine when is the best time to practise.

 

In the case of children, It is important to involve them in this decision, so as not to make them feel ‘forced to do it. Daily 15 mins practice sessions are ideal for the younger ones, and this time can increase to 30mins as they progress.

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The most important thing is not to force it and don’t make practice a chore. It should be an enjoyable experience. You will notice that if your child is becoming more interested in learning his/her instrument, they will naturally lengthen the practice time.

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What happens if I have to cancel my lesson?

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Lessons missed by a student will be at the student's expense, including in a case of illness, as it's unfortunately not possible to reschedule them on short notice. In exceptional circumstances, lessons may be re-arranged to a mutually convenient time if that is possible due to the busy schedule. A notice of at least 1 week is required.

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Lessons missed by the teacher will be made up at a mutually convenient time. In

special circumstances a substitute teacher may be provided.