Piano and
Keyboard Lessons - Piano and Keyboard Lessons
FAQs
1. What areas do you teach in?
I teach in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. My current schedule has me in the West
Norriton, Montgomeryville, Blue Bell, Plymouth, Doylestown, and Lionville areas on various
days. I'm based in Jeffersonville and try to keep my lessons in the vicinity, although I
teach in Doylestown on Thursdays and Lionville on Saturdays.
2. How do I get started with piano lessons?
I always like to have an interview with students who are interested in lessons. I find it
very helpful to get an idea of the student's interests and goals. For younger beginners
it's also an opportunity for me to meet their parents and answer any questions they may
have. I also take that time to outline how the lesson books are structured and what will
be expected of them to succeed with the lessons. There is no fee for the interview.
3. How much are the lessons?
Please contact me for current prices. Patrick McCabe at 610-279-7922.
4. How are the piano lessons set up and structured?
I give itinerant (in-home) lessons. Most of my students take half hour lessons, once a
week. More advanced students, and even some beginners, may benefit from one hour lessons.
The extra time allows us to deal more in depth with things like music theory,
sight-reading, and even composition, depending on the student's goals.
5. Can I get started on an electronic keyboard?
Maybe. It really depends on the keyboard. A lot of newer keyboards in the $100.00+ range
should be fine, but some older ones or less expensive ones may be a problem. Two things
that are essential to have on a keyboard are:
1. Full size keys (the same size as a piano). Now this does not mean the same
number of keys as a piano up and down, but the actual size of the keys so that your
fingers will develop proper technique.
And
2. "Touch sensitivity". This means that the harder you strike the
keys, the louder the note will sound. Most newer keyboards have this feature, but a lot of
older ones don't. Again, without this ability, a student will not be able to develop
proper control of their fingers and hands.
*Important Note on Keyboards: While a keyboard is fine for a
beginner, as a student progresses it becomes increasingly important to move on to a real
piano. I'd say somewhere between 6 months to a year is OK to be working with a keyboard,
but eventually a student should make the transition to a piano before they develop
improper (weak) technique. The piano is harder to play in the sense that it is harder to
strike the wooden keys than the plastic keys of a keyboard. Some teachers insist on a
piano from the start, but I feel that it is not a bad idea to be sure the student is going
to stick with the lessons before making that big investment.
6. How old should my child be to begin lessons?
An ideal age is around 8 years/ 2nd grade. Many authorities feel a child should have a
least 1 year of elementary school before beginning. But children can vary a lot at this
age in term of readiness. Can your child read fairly well? And concentrate for a period of
time? Does your child do fairly well in school? Does your child show at least some
interest in music? If the answer to any of these questions is "no", you may want
to consider waiting a little longer.
I always like to interview students interested in lessons before starting, and for younger
children one of the things we do is very basic coordination exercises at the piano. We
also talk about the importance of practice. This can also help me in advising you as to
whether the child is ready for lessons.
7. How much should I (my child) practice?
Practice times may vary according to the student's attention span, motivation,and the
amount of encouragement received. A general rule of thumb is as follows:
Early Beginner (first 1-3 months) 15 minutes/ day
Beginners (first 3-6 months) 20 minutes/ day
Later Beginners (remainder of 1st year) 30 minutes/ day
I can't stress enough the importance of a student getting into a regular practice routine.
A set time (or times) during the day without distraction from TV, the computer, or other
family members is crucial to getting the most out of lessons. This is also where a student
can learn the importance and benefit of self discipline, one of the greatest skills a
student can learn through lessons.
If a student's attention span is short, I suggest 2 short practice session: maybe one
before school (or work) and one in the afternoon or evening. Keep in mind that the quality
is much more important than the quantity when it comes to practice. 15-20 minutes a day of
concentrated practice usually results in steady progress for beginners of any age.
*Note For Parents: It is important to keep track of how much a student is practicing so
that I can best guide the student along. It's possible that a great deal of practice was
put in, yet very little progress was made. Or very little practice put in, and the lesson
was mastered. In either case, I would want to adjust the lessons so that the student can
make the optimum progress for their skill level.
8. Should I help my child practice?
Younger students (7 and under) especially can use guidance to make sure that they are
practicing the right songs and that their hands are set right on the keys. I encourage
parents of younger students to sit in on lessons or at least try to get a general idea of
the musical concepts being learned. A few minutes at the end of a lesson is usually enough
for a parent to know what to look out for during the child's practice that week.
Students of all ages can benefit from practice time that is free of interruptions, and
parents can help to see to that. Ideally a student will have a quiet, well lit place to
practice and a time free from distractions (dogs and cats, brothers and sisters, TV, the
computer, etc..) I know this is easier said than done in busy homes, but the better the
student's concentration during practice, the faster they will be able to progress.
9. Should I reward my child for practicing?
A parent's encouragement is essential for a student to get the most out of lessons. A
child may see practice as cutting into play time and feel isolated and lonely during
practice sessions. You can reward your child for good practice habits in many ways. Tell
him or her how much you enjoy hearing their new song that week, or mention that the music
they are working on seems to be getting more advance and impressive. Be quick to give them
a word of encouragement, but always be sincere. A child will quickly sense if you are just
"going through the motions."
Reward your child with things like going to the zoo, having a friend stay over, or a
much-wanted toy/ game. You may also want to include practice as part of a child's weekly
duties towards their weekly allowance. Remember, nothing can replace the encouragement and
praise a child receives from a parent!
10. I'm an adult beginner, how can I most quickly learn to
play?
The same principle applies to all beginners, at any age- regular practice is the only way
to make progress. As adults we often want to find the "quick fix." Indeed, there
are plenty of "Teach Yourself Piano Overnight" methods out there. Generally,
those are about as effective as fad diets. Real progress can only be made when a student
sets playing the piano as a definite and real goal, and then is willing to take the steps
to succeed in that goal. The first steps should be finding a good teacher and setting a
regular practice schedule.
I understand that it is often hard for adults to find time to practice. But progress can
be made with even a minimum of practice, ( 3 or 4 fifteen minute sessions per week), as
long as it is maintained on a regular basis. One or two long cram sessions are no where
near as helpful as a regular, steady habit of a few minutes every day or every other day.
Also, feel free to ask questions such as "when will I be ready for this song?",
or "Is there another method we can try- I'm just not clicking with this?!" There
are many different approaches we can use and my job as a teacher is to find one that
you're happy with and improving with. Also, having a set goal, such as learning a favorite
song, can be useful for us to have so that I can guide the lessons in the right direction.
