My approach to Teaching
Having a really bad teacher is worse than having no teacher!
As a piano and keyboard tutor in Eccleston I aim for a balance between pleasure and progress. I try to tailor the choice of pieces, studies, scales and all set work to what each pupil wants and is willing to practice. However, I have always believed that any piano teacher simply cannot cater for all musical tastes & requirements. The piano repertoire is simply too vast, and the needs and challenges of individual pupils are too multifarious for that. Piano teachers tend to be strong in certain areas, such as classical, or pop/rock piano, jazz improvisation or meeting the needs of very young beginners. It is quite possible for a piano teacher to be highly successful in helping young pupils develop in the early years of playing [eg up to grade 4] and yet that same teacher to be weak in working with grade 8 standard pupils [and please note, vice versa]. I am not saying that a piano teacher cannot be successful in both areas; but I've yet to meet a music teacher who is all things for all ages and styles. A great performer may indeed be a great concert pianist, but may lack patience and have no rapport at all with individuals.
I will listen to each parent/pupil and what they are after [depending on age of pupil]. The reality with young children is that they often have no real specific aims {eg trying pop/classical} and it is simply up to the teacher to choose books containing tunes and tasks that are suited to their age and abilities. With teenagers and adults it is a different matter. Sometimes they come along with a book or piece of sheet music and ask if they can 'give it a go'. Normally I will say yes but will advise as to whether it is easily within their grasp or not. Usually it is too hard for them because the reality is that the vast majority of music that people really want to play is only accessible after 5 or so years of practice and progress.
I will listen to each parent/pupil and what they are after [depending on age of pupil]. The reality with young children is that they often have no real specific aims {eg trying pop/classical} and it is simply up to the teacher to choose books containing tunes and tasks that are suited to their age and abilities. With teenagers and adults it is a different matter. Sometimes they come along with a book or piece of sheet music and ask if they can 'give it a go'. Normally I will say yes but will advise as to whether it is easily within their grasp or not. Usually it is too hard for them because the reality is that the vast majority of music that people really want to play is only accessible after 5 or so years of practice and progress.
Scales? Why?
You may not like the thought of integrating scales, broken chords and arpeggios into your piano practice but they continue to be well respected as a means to an end, and not an end in themselves. I DO NOT insist on them. However they are relatively easy to memorise and therefore pupils can concentrate on using them for warming up, developing dexterity and technique in general.
For example: try C major scale hands together with LH staccato and RH legato. This will help develop independence of the hands.
A solid skill in playing the major and minor scales in all the keys is very useful for improvising and playing by ear (not just for jazz- we can improvise in a classical manner), as well as simply getting started with a new piece in an unfamiliar key.
If you still not convinced, then that's fine. As a piano teacher I do not insist on them: but please remember that scales etc are a compulsory part of most piano exams. and are a frequent element in classical music.
Scales are not the only exercise to practise: go to my blog of 17th June 2015 "developing finger strength".
For example: try C major scale hands together with LH staccato and RH legato. This will help develop independence of the hands.
A solid skill in playing the major and minor scales in all the keys is very useful for improvising and playing by ear (not just for jazz- we can improvise in a classical manner), as well as simply getting started with a new piece in an unfamiliar key.
If you still not convinced, then that's fine. As a piano teacher I do not insist on them: but please remember that scales etc are a compulsory part of most piano exams. and are a frequent element in classical music.
Scales are not the only exercise to practise: go to my blog of 17th June 2015 "developing finger strength".
