Piano Lessons in Birmingham

This fingering is the same for many major and minor scales, including G, D, A and E majors and A, D, G minors. We look at one octave together first and boldly go on to two octaves.

This video would aid pupils after their first or second lesson. The excerpt is from Tunes for Ten fingers by Pauline Hall. It is designed to reinforce counting, note lengths, hand position to lead to a lovely fluid performance by pupils.

At the beginning of December, we had our first Zoom Concert. Nine pupils aged 8-80 dailed in and played their pieces to each other. It was the easiest concert I have ever had. All nerves about handling Zoom disappeared as pupils used the technology easily and were clearly well versed in the protocols of muting etc

In a normal concert, in our house or the local church there are always treats, but in this case the pupils had to give themselves their own treat in their own house afterwards. Everyone played beautifully and can be very proud of themselves 🙂

We will undoubtedly have another concert this term, so pupils have a strong incentive to practise their latest pieces.

Lessons will remain online only for a little while longer, until it is safe go back to’ in person’ lessons.

I have been teaching solely digital lessons since the end of March. The lessons are effective.

We use all sorts of platforms such as FaceTime, Skype, Zoom and WhatsApp. The equipment is slightly different in the piano room……..there is a phone, iPad and a gooseneck holder for the phone and a whole pile of books ready for each pupil. Obviously there is a lack of bustle of pupils and parents but some of our pets sit in on lessons anyway despite the lack of humans except myself.

The lessons are very much to the point and they definitely make pupils more independent. They have to know their music well and be able to find specific areas that need work and identify all the various signs on the music. They also have to listen well both to my voice and to my playing of their pieces.

It is a strong lesson in listening to each other as you have to be mindful not to overlap each other when talking.

We hope to have a Zoom concert in the near future which will be another great learning experience. Normally our concerts involve cake and food goodies, this time it will have to be virtual cake 😊

If you would like to give a lesson a go, please do give a ring, you will need some form of keyboard, a good internet connection and a phone, tablet or laptop.

Piano lessons from now on will be moving onto video platforms such as Skype and FaceTime.

A lesson is relatively easy to set up, pupils will need good WIFI near their piano/keyboard and a phone/tablet or laptop.

These wonderful means of communication thankfully allow us to continue many of our hobbies and interests under the current circumstances.

Anyone interested in learning to play the keyboard/piano using these media please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

best wishes and please do stay safe.

This years’s Summer Concert will take place at 2pm on July 13th at the lovely St Augustine’s Church is Edgbaston.

This is always a heart warming occasion as we cheer adult learners alongside children. All pupils play to us their favourite current pieces either in solo or duet form. Great pleasure is always given to the audience of family and friends.

Details will be given of the theme for this year’s design for the Concert Programme Cover. All designs submitted will be printed.

This years Summer Concert will be in the afternoon of Saturday July 14th.

This is Bastille Day, so maybe the design for the Programme cover can have a French theme this year.

Child and adult pupils are welcome to design a cover for the concert programme and I copy a few of all of them for the day. Past themes have been somewhat random, including Star Wars, The Wombles, the Tour de France, the 2012 Olympics etc