Category: Frequently Asked Questions
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Is it Damaging to Start Lessons on an Electronic Keyboard?
Please note: The following material was written by Martha Beth Lewis, Ph.D. Short answer: no. Not to -start-. Not for a month or two. And now for the long answer! First of all, what do you mean by electronic keyboard? Is this a digital piano (such as a Korg, Roland, or Yamaha)? Or…
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Renting or buying a piano
Please note: The following material was written by Martha Beth Lewis, Ph.D. The cost of purchasing a piano is the primary incentive to rent. In fact, it is the most common reason to rent, especially for a beginning student. Note, however, that there will be other expenses beyond the monthly fee. You will…
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Choosing A Piano
Please note: The following material was written by Martha Beth Lewis, Ph.D. Here are some general thoughts on piano brands: which ones are good, which ones to stay away from. Please note that these are my personal opinions. Instruments from the same manufacturer differ from year to year, and within a given year! …
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Is an inexpensive or less-experienced (or no-experienced) teacher “ok” for a beginner?
Please note: The following material was written by Martha Beth Lewis, Ph.D. Not really. In fact, no, not at all. Why? In a nutshell, an experienced teacher will give you more value for your dollar, even if you have to pay more. Think back. Were you not thrilled when your child got “the…
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My Kid Wants to Quit Piano!?!?
Please note: The following material was taken from http://pianoeducation.org/pnotchld.html#Quit%20Piano . It’s very common for kids, usually about the time they reach the secondary school years, to begin to temporarily lose interest in their piano lessons. If they are allowed to quit lessons, they usually regret it in later years. It is possible to get…
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Suggested Practice Techniques
Please note: The following material was taken from – http://pianoeducation.org/pnotchld.html#Practice%20Techniques . HOW OFTEN AND HOW LONG SHOULD I PRACTICE? Practicing needs are different for each student, but a good starting goal is 30 minutes a day. You may wish to split the time up into 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes…
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How to Help Your Child Practice at Home
Please note: The following material was written by Martha Beth Lewis, Ph.D. The most important part of music study takes place at home, not at the lesson. At home, the student tries out new ideas, plays his assignment as specified, and has fun experimenting. Note: I am going to use practice here because…
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How Parents Can Help the Teacher
Please note: The following material was written by Martha Beth Lewis, Ph.D. When your child begins lessons, the child does the piano-playing, but -you- make a commitment of time, energy, and money. Here are some tips which will help you realize the greatest reward from your investment. Find the Best Teacher You Can…
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Some Common Misconceptions About Piano Lessons
Please note: The following material was taken from http://pianoeducation.org/pnolsmis.html . Starting Lessons “You only need lessons if you want to play the classics.” Learning piano is a lot more than just being able to “plunk out” a few tunes. If you’re going to carry any skills over to other music, no matter the type, you’ll need…
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Piano – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Please note: The following material was taken from http://pianoeducation.org/pnopnfaq.html#Basics . Piano – Basics and History Q: How and why was the piano invented? A: The mechanical genius Bartolomeo Cristofori invented the piano around 1700. The name piano is actually a shortened version of the Italian term pianoforte, meaning soft-loud, and referring to the fact that the…
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