Piano Lessons in Grants Pass
Piano is the classic first instrument to learn, and with good reason! You can start playing simple versions of songs you know almost right away, and music structure and note reading are often easier to understand on the piano keyboard. Whether you plan to master the piano or move on to another instrument after a year or so, our piano lessons in Southern Oregon will prepare you to reach your goal!
Beginning Piano Class
Imagine your child sitting at their own keyboard (wearing headphones), progressing at their own pace with individualized teacher support, surrounded by friends, confidently playing songs as they quickly progress through our carefully designed program.
In our Beginning Piano class, your child will build confidence, develop excellent musical skills, and discover the joy of making music. Providing double the weekly learning time of private lessons, our unique curriculum combines the strengths of two nationally respected group piano methods to create an engaging learning experience that is both enjoyable and highly effective.
What does the class look like?
The first 30 minutes of class are devoted almost entirely to playing. As your child learns and plays songs, the Piano Express App on the connected chromebook provides immediate feedback and help for making corrections and then provides awards for each success -- a strong motivation to master each piece! The teacher moves throughout the room, working one-on-one with each student, offering encouragement, reinforcing proper playing technique, answering questions, and helping them master any difficult sections of the music.
In the last half of the class, the headphones come off so the students can play songs together and participate in teacher-led activities that focus on proper playing technique, sight-reading, ear training, rhythm, improvisation, and beginning composition skills. We often run the entire 2nd half of the class as a game, using a spinner and moving around a gameboard posted at the front of the room as we do each music activity. The winner gets a prize. This is a favorite part of the class for many and is an enjoyable way to learn music concepts!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What piano methods do you use?
Our Beginning Piano program combines the strengths of the Piano Express and Mayron Cole methods. Both are highly acclaimed group piano curricula that dovetail effectively together, providing a carefully structured approach that is also very motivating! Your child will learn to read music, develop strong rhythm, note-reading, and keyboard skills, create their own music, and play with confidence.
Why choose group piano instead of private lessons?
Group piano offers the best of both worlds. To begin with, student get twice the time with the teacher as in private lessons. Every student has their own keyboard and progresses at an individual pace while also enjoying the encouragement and motivation that comes from learning with friends. Students develop confidence, listening skills, teamwork, and musicianship through group activities and ensemble playing, while still receiving individualized instruction from the teacher throughout each lesson.
Will my child receive individual attention?
Absolutely. During the first half of every class, the teacher works individually with each student, providing personalized instruction, reinforcing proper technique, answering questions, and helping students master each song before moving on.
What if my child has never played the piano before?
Perfect! Our Beginning Piano classes are specifically designed for complete beginners. No previous musical experience is necessary.
Does my child need a piano at home?
Yes. Regular home practice is essential for steady progress. We recommend a full-size digital keyboard with touch-sensitive weighted or semi-weighted keys.
How much should my child practice?
For most beginning students, 10–15 minutes a day, five or six days each week is ideal. Consistent, shorter practice sessions are far more effective than practicing for a long time only once or twice a week. However, if your schedule only allows for a few days a week, your child will still make progress, just not as quickly.
How many students are in each class?
We intentionally keep our class sizes small—typically 4 to 5 students—so every child receives plenty of individual attention while enjoying the fun and motivation of learning alongside friends.
What should my child bring to class?
Students should bring:
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Their music bag (which they will receive the first day)
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All piano lesson books
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A positive attitude and a willingness to learn!
How can I help my child succeed?
Parents play an important role in their child’s success. You can help by:
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Establishing a consistent practice routine
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Encouraging effort and celebrating progress.
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Recognizing each new accomplishment, no matter how small.
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Attending performances and celebrating your child’s musical journey.
Are the classes fun?
Absolutely! We believe children learn best when they enjoy learning. Our classes combine engaging songs, games, ensemble playing, technology, and positive encouragement to create an environment where students look forward to coming each week. Our goal is to help every child develop a lifelong love of music while building a strong musical foundation.
Where can this class lead?
Your child will learn to play new and familiar songs in this beginning class. As they progress in their piano playing ability, their teacher will help them to choose additional songs they wish to learn that reflect your child's musical preferences.
As your child continues in our group piano program, they will develop the skills and confidence to perform increasingly challenging music and, if they choose, prepare for nationally recognized piano exams such as Piano Adventures and ABRSM.
For students who choose to pursue music beyond high school, preparation for ABRSM examinations builds a strong musical foundation and leads to internationally recognized credentials respected by colleges, universities, and conservatories worldwide.
Will my child eventually need private lessons?
Not necessarily. Our group piano curriculum is designed to continue well beyond the beginner level, and many students enjoy the benefits of learning in a group for years. The group setting provides ongoing motivation, ensemble playing opportunities, and the encouragement that comes from learning alongside friends.
Some students eventually choose private lessons based on their individual goals and interests. Private lessons can be a great option for students who wish to focus on a particular musical style, prepare for auditions or college music study, or to pursue other specialized musical goals.
Private Lessons
Piano is a rewarding instrument to learn at any age. From the start, students get to play familiar songs while building strong musical foundations through scales, chords, and patterns. Along the way, they’ll also learn music theory to support their progress and prepare them for styles like classical, pop, or rock. As skills grow, lessons focus more on the music each student enjoys most.
A Little Info About the Piano:
The word “piano” comes from the Italian pianoforte, meaning “soft-loud,” a nod to the instrument’s ability to change volume based on how the keys are played. Invented in the 1700s, it was the first keyboard instrument to offer this kind of dynamic control. Over time, the piano has evolved into a powerful and expressive instrument, capable of a wide range of tones and emotions. The Best First Instrument: The piano is often recommended as the best musical instrument to learn first. There is a reason for this. The structure of the piano, with scale patterns made obvious by the white and black keys, make understanding the building blocks of music easier than other instruments. Even if you would like to learn to play a different instrument later, a year or two on the piano will be an excellent preparation and will give them a deeper understanding of music.
Did you Know that Playing the Piano is Good For You?
If you research the lives of the most successful people, you’ll find many accomplished pianists. Albert Einstein was an expert violinist and pianist. Former Secretary of State Condolezza Rice and 33rd President of the United States Harry Truman were both very talented pianists. Perhaps this is because of the extra-musical benefits of studying the piano which has been found to sharpen the mind, improve hand-eye coordination and motor-skills (ability to move fingers with intended precision and accuracy), train the ear to hear the tiniest details, and improve reading and comprehension.
Private Piano Lesson FAQs:
What do you recommend for children younger than 7 years of age who want to learn piano?
We recommend that children younger than seven years of age start in our Kindermusik program. There are several reasons for this: -In Kindermusik your child will learn to read the music for over a dozen songs and play them on the glockenspiel - a pre-keyboard instrument that prepares students for learning the piano. -Kindermusik graduates have learned to read and write music notation. With this background, your child will be able to focus on the physical process of playing the piano. Learning piano will be more fun, more successful, and much less stressful because they can focus their full attention on what their fingers are doing and not try to figure our how to read music at the same time. -Finger dexterity and coordination is often not completely developed in young children, making learning to play the piano very challenging. Children this age are usually much more successful with the glockenspiel, an instrument that uses large motor movement to play melodies. -Sitting quietly on a piano bench and focusing for 30 minutes in a private lesson is often difficult for young children. Kindermusik is an active learning experience that teaches music reading and instrument play through the power of music games, creative movement, and musical story telling. This fosters a love for music that your child will carry with them as they continue their journey into a life of music making.
Piano or keyboard? Which is best for lessons?
Either can work well for private lessons! While an acoustic piano is ideal, many students learn successfully on digital pianos or keyboards at home. The important thing is to have an instrument with touch-sensitive and weighted keys that replicate the feel and dynamic range of an acoustic piano. This helps develop proper technique and musical expression.
Do I need to have a piano at home? If so, what do I need to look for when I purchase a piano?
Because daily practice is essential to progress, students are required to have an acoustic piano, digital piano, or a full-size high-quality keyboard at home. If you’re buying a digital piano or keyboard, here are important features to consider: -88 keys (full size keyboard) -Touch-sensitive keys -Weighted keys If you choose a keyboard instead of a digital piano, you’ll also need: -A sustain pedal -An adjustable keyboard stand =A seat adjustable to the your height Used acoustic pianos are also a great option. Before purchasing a used piano, it’s a good idea to have a piano tuner inspect it to make sure it’s in good condition and can be properly tuned.
Why is the piano the best first instrument?
The piano is often considered the best first instrument because its clear, visual layout of black and white keys helps beginners easily see and understand the building blocks of music. Playing the piano also develops both hands independently, building coordination and dexterity. Plus, unlike many other instruments that can be challenging to sound good on at first, the piano lets beginners produce a rich, beautiful tone right away. This makes it easier to stay motivated and enjoy making music from day one. Starting on piano will give your child a strong musical foundation providing a significant advantage even if they decides to pursue learning a different instrument in the future.
Is it possible to schedule lessons every other week (biweekly)?
It could possibly work during the school day, but not after 2:00 pm since these times are in such high demand. Also in our experience, we have found that although it can work for adults, biweekly lessons with children are generally not successful. They need the consistency of weekly support from their teacher.
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Out of all the moments of my day, the ones I spend with music are my most favorite...
~Anonymous
