the FAQ'S

Here are some quick answers. If you still need help please contact me.

Teacher Contact

I need to tell or ask the teacher something. What is the best way to communicate with the teacher?
Please email Bronwyn.Piano@gmail.com . I will usually respond within 24 hours. Good communication between parents and teacher is key!

instruments and
materials

Do I need a keyboard or piano at home for my child?
YES. This is an educational experience that requires not only learning concepts, but physical skills. Without a piano, the student will not be able to develop the fine motor skills needed, and consequently will fall behind in class.

Instrument Requirements

What type of instrument should I purchase for lessons?
Each teacher has preferences. For my classes, the most cost effective is to purchase a digital piano first in order for the child to try out the class. The keyboard has a few different meanings. Just like band instruments, there are some that range from beginner to professional level. If the student decides to continue their piano study, they will outgrow their instrument and will require a higher-level instrument in order to perform higher-level pieces. I personally recommend intermediate-level keyboards initially so you do not have to purchase two instruments within a year.

Digital pianos are also nice in the fact that you can practice with headphones, they are more portable, and they require less maintenance (tuning, repair, etc.). If the student continues to be interested, I would recommend an acoustic piano later in order to develop more advanced techniques. Before purchasing, please contact me to assure the instrument is appropriate for the purpose.

What is the difference between keyboards and acoustic pianos?

The two most important factors initially are how the sound is produced and what is called the “touch” of the instrument.

SOUND: On a piano, when a person presses a key, there are several mechanisms inside that physically move a hammer to a string, and the hammer strikes that string. Then the string vibrates to produce the sound. For keyboards, the sound is produced electronically through a signal, like you pressing a button to change the TV channel, pressing a key on the keyboard tell the electronics to play a certain sound at a certain volume level.

TOUCH: The “touch” is an important component to playing the keyboard and piano. Pianists have to develop strength and fine control of very small muscles in the fingers in order to be able to control the length of notes, and the volume of the notes. In order to build finger strength and control, weighted keys provide feedback and the ability to play in different volumes and articulations (short notes, connected notes, etc.). Keyboards usually have little to no weighted keys, so students playing mostly on keyboards will notice they have to adapt their playing techniques and will find a piano more difficult to play. Digital pianos are electronic instruments that have the weight of an acoustic piano, so they provide some feedback that can transfer easier to an acoustic instrument. They are not the same, but a digital piano will be better than a keyboard.

Each genre of music requires a certain instrument and a set of techniques to play that instrument. For example, it is more common to see an electric guitar in the heavy metal genre over a classical or acoustic. Similar situations apply to pianos!

DIGITAL PIANO RECOMENDATION

I personally would recommend a digital piano with the following characteristics:

88 Keys
Hammer-effect
Possible to hook up a sustain pedal (ideally a three-pedal unit)
Can hook up to headphones
Has its own speakers (some models require you to buy separate speakers)
Has built-in metronome
Keys that are “normal” size. (Some keyboard instruments use different size keys for various purposes. Like string instruments, students learn spatially the distance between one note and another. It is important to use the standard size keys in order to build muscle memory.)
AC Adaptor
Keyboard Stand
Bench
Music Stand (if your instrument does not come with one built-in)

How much time does the student need to practice?

Approximately 20-30 minutes a day for beginner students, usually more time as the student advances in level. It is ideal to have a habit in which the student practices at the same time each day. Music is a mix of mind and body practice. Some parts of music require written homework to complete, other parts require certain physical skill sets that need to be repeated in class, and rehearsed at home.

For Parents/Legal Guardians: Why is it important for me to attend and sometimes actively participate in my child’s piano lessons?

For the younger students, it is required! This is extremely important. Overall, parents/legal guardians are the most important factor in establishing the value of music and the importance of learning an instrument in the home. Just like parents establishing good school habits, parents need to help their child review concepts covered in class and rehearse the concepts at home.

In order to know what the student should be practicing; the parent should observe and participate in the classes when appropriate. For younger children, the parent needs to be present in all classes to assist in proper classroom behavior, reading, and being the teacher at home to reinforce skills and topics covered in class.

I don’t know how to play piano, and you expect me to teach at home?! (This applies to the younger kids only.)
Yes, especially for parents of 5- and 6-year-olds. Just like teaching kindergartners math, English, science, etc., these books are designed to be slower paced with more repetitions for children in order to establish a strong musical foundation.

I have had many parents with the same reservations in previous classes that felt very comfortable with the pace, and even had fun learning the material, and re-teaching the material at home. This can be a very fun bonding experience with your child!

Can I just leave my child here?
Not recommended.

For the young kids (5-7), that is detrimental to their progress, because the class is structured for the parent to participate in both the class and home practice. The student will not progress as fast (sometimes not at all) without a parent assisting in class.

For the older kids (8 and up), it is not required, but it is recommended in order to observe what is expected of your child to complete at home.

My child does not want to practice, what do I do?
There are many reasons for this that I could explain. The best way to solve this is to communicate with the teacher.

Still have Questions?

Email Me