Group piano lessons are one of my favourite ways to teach beginners. I run group classes for beginner students from ages 5 – 10, with a maximum of 4 students in each class.
Here are some of the benefits of group piano lessons. • Singing. It’s much easier to sing with kids in a group. Singing is the best way to internalise and understand music. Once a child can sing a song it is much easier to transfer it to any instrument. • Social. Piano can be an isolating instrument at times. In groups, kids make new friends or explore music with existing friends. Duets are common place in a group music class. • Group morale. Learning piano with a grown up can get a bit daunting at times, especially for very young learners. In a small group, children support each other’s progress as they watch each other learn. When in a small group of supportive peers, children feel less intimidated by new experiences. They express themselves through speech, physical movement and musical sounds that makes sense to kids. They are ready to tackle new musical challenges. • Motivation. When kids learn together they motivate each other. Together they learn how to practice during the week at home and recognise the need to keep up with what’s going on in class each week. • Games. Playing games are fun. They are also a great way to learn the fundamentals of music. Playing games with your peers is sometimes a bit more fun than playing with a grown up. • Performance. Regularly performing for peers builds a child’s confidence and reaffirms their ability to progress through new repertoire. • Cost. Group classes are cheaper than individual lessons and can sometimes make learning music affordable for families. If you are interested to find out more about group learning or to find out if there is a place available in a group class for your child, get in contact.
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Congratulations! |
Those participating in the event were piano students, piano teachers, their friends, family and a couple of folks who saw the event in the Darebin Music Feast program. The event gave whole families the opportunity to get involved. Three generations of one family were involved, one piano student, plus her mum and grandma! There were several parent and child combinations too. |
A big thanks to Mellanie Shaylor and her students for coming and getting involved! Mell teaches piano at her studio in Macleod. Some of her students learnt the piece in their lessons and others came along to see what the fuss was about and got swept up and involved in the performance. I have some beautiful photos of the day thanks to Mell’s partner Ben! A big thanks to Gavin Gray from Gray’s Piano World. It’s every piano shop keeper’s worst nightmare to have every one of his pianos being played at the same time, with loud callous sounds! Gavin was so encouraging of the event and not only did he enjoy it, he has invited us back! Gavin’s shop has recently opened a bar and will be running regular events under that name, The Piano Factory. Watch this space for more exciting events coming up. |
The Piano Orchestra Project is an opportunity for those considering piano lessons to have the confidence to get up and muck around on these magnificent instruments. For some, this event is the first time that a child has touched an acoustic piano. It is a humbling experience for parents and teachers to be witness to that first step in a musical journey. Especially when that moment is on stage, at a public event, in front of an adoring audience.
The first Piano Orchestra performance took place at Prestige Pianos as part of International Piano Week 2014.
Piano students, parents and friends had a chaotic kind of fun at the inaugural Piano Orchestra, an event which was part of International Piano Week. Sonny Chua wrote a piece for the occasion called Umi's Lullby. A total of 14 players turned up at Prestige Pianos, a piano shop in Preston and together we created a version of Umi's Lullaby on 9 pianos. It was a fun challenge bringing it together and not quite knowing who was going to turn up or what was going to happen until the day.
Among those performing were veteran teachers and performers, adult students, young learners and volunteers who have never had lessons but were willing to give it a go. We had duets and trios from parents, their children and younger siblings. There was a combination of those who could read music and those who couldn't. Everyone had a part to play.
I had a number of aims when arranging the piece. I wanted families to experience practicing together at home. It was a way for parents and siblings to experience what it is like to prepare a piece for performance and the types of preparation one needs to go through. This will help to support students in their future musical endeavours. I also wanted a performance outlet for my adult students to be able to participate in without feeling like they were participating in a kids only event. It was public, but not pressured, so that the event promoted musical participation in a way that onlookers would see that learning the piano is not exclusive and high pressured.
In the weeks leading up to the Piano Orchestra performance, all my students were excited with anticipation knowing that we were taking part in an International event. It was also very exciting knowing that the composer was watching and interested to find out what we would do with his piece.
Thanks to Hal Leonard and to Sonny Chua for the opportunity to get involved. We are all looking forward to next year's piece and to learning more of Sonny's music.
To read about International Piano Week in The Piano Teacher Magazine, follow the link here:
Piano students, parents and friends had a chaotic kind of fun at the inaugural Piano Orchestra, an event which was part of International Piano Week. Sonny Chua wrote a piece for the occasion called Umi's Lullby. A total of 14 players turned up at Prestige Pianos, a piano shop in Preston and together we created a version of Umi's Lullaby on 9 pianos. It was a fun challenge bringing it together and not quite knowing who was going to turn up or what was going to happen until the day.
Among those performing were veteran teachers and performers, adult students, young learners and volunteers who have never had lessons but were willing to give it a go. We had duets and trios from parents, their children and younger siblings. There was a combination of those who could read music and those who couldn't. Everyone had a part to play.
I had a number of aims when arranging the piece. I wanted families to experience practicing together at home. It was a way for parents and siblings to experience what it is like to prepare a piece for performance and the types of preparation one needs to go through. This will help to support students in their future musical endeavours. I also wanted a performance outlet for my adult students to be able to participate in without feeling like they were participating in a kids only event. It was public, but not pressured, so that the event promoted musical participation in a way that onlookers would see that learning the piano is not exclusive and high pressured.
In the weeks leading up to the Piano Orchestra performance, all my students were excited with anticipation knowing that we were taking part in an International event. It was also very exciting knowing that the composer was watching and interested to find out what we would do with his piece.
Thanks to Hal Leonard and to Sonny Chua for the opportunity to get involved. We are all looking forward to next year's piece and to learning more of Sonny's music.
To read about International Piano Week in The Piano Teacher Magazine, follow the link here:
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Katrina Wilson O'Brien teaches piano, plays music and encourages frivolity.
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