Piano Lessons for Children
We offer piano lessons at the Piano with Po Studio in Balmoral Singapore as well as lessons in your own home if you are based in Central or West Singapore.
For at home lessons, it is important that a quiet environment is maintained during the lesson. This means that family members shouldn't interrupt during a lesson and the piano should be in an area that is away from the happenings of the home. In our experience, children learn best when they are not distracted by what they hear elsewhere in the home. There needs to be a clear boundary between the "class space" and the "home space" for piano lessons.
For more information on lessons, click on the tabs below!
Piano for Preschoolers (Ages 3 - 4)
Learning piano at a young age is a wonderful way to develop a positive, life-long relationship with music.
Similar to how they learn languages, preschoolers imitate what they hear and can memorise and reproduce sounds and rhythms from very early on. Learning the piano helps little ones to coordinate their bodies with their minds and allows for self-expression in a very joyful way.
What will my child be learning?
In piano lessons for preschoolers, we emphasise musical concepts which form the foundation for playing the piano. Many older students are rushed through the basics when they first learn the piano which creates a multitude of issues for reading and technique as they continue.
By giving little ones ample exposure to the fundamental elements of music in a fun and creative way, these ideas become second nature to them which makes their progression with reading music much faster and easier later on.
Our focus areas for lessons at this age are:
- Singing
- Listening and motor skills
- Translating aural sounds into playing sounds (playing by ear)
- Keyboard geography - what are all the keys and how are they arranged? What are their names?
- Pattern recognition and playing by memory
- Rhythm
- Improvisation
Our teaching style is to encourage learning through play. At this age, making learning fun through games and songs helps to foster an enjoyment of piano.
Group Preschool Piano Lessons
Group lessons are wonderful for music learning as children can learn from each other as well as from the teacher. Seeing others "go first" is great for children who may be a little shy at first, and being "the first" suits those who are eager and enthusiastic to try everything right away!
By keeping group sizes small and with two pianos in my studio, every child is given the chance to play the piano during lessons. Learning social behaviours such as taking turns, constructive listening and helping each other out are additional benefits of group lessons. Most importantly, you don't need to have an instrument at home with group piano. There's no expectation of practice so this is a more relaxed way of introducing preschoolers to the piano.
We are currently taking requests for group preschool lessons from parents who can form their own private group of 3 or 4 children. Please contact us to discuss lesson time availability to suit your group.
Interested in Preschool Piano?
Piano for Children (Ages 5 and above)
Learning to play the piano has a multitude of benefits and gives children the courage to try new things. It teaches them early on how diligent effort can lead to great outcomes. It also gives them a skill that they can enjoy for years to come.
My goal in teaching is to develop independent, well-rounded musicians who continue to play the piano for leisure even after their formal learning days are behind them.
Piano exams are not an end goal in my studio. They are optional for students who I think will benefit from the exam path.
I introduce a variety of methods and repertoire to keep children engaged and learning. Unlike many music schools that use only one book and method to teach all of their students, I bring together a variety of methods and introduce a range of books and materials to suit the learning style of the student. Moreover, children learn best when they are having fun so we play a lot of games in our lessons to reinforce new concepts and the kid love this!
Piano lessons with me allow children to explore the many facets of music learning, including:
- Rhythm and movement
- Vocal work such as singing
- Improvisation
- Composition
- Pop and chord arrangements
I encourage my students to listen to a wide range of music and am happy to teach them their favourite songs as part of our lessons.
My students are also invited to perform at a year-end concert for family and friends, to showcase all they have learnt during the year. This opportunity to perform in front of others is invaluable for building confidence and for learning how to perfect pieces for the stage. Like all things we do here, we keep things fun and light so they have a safe and nurturing environment to perform in.
Individual one-on-one lessons are either 30, 45 or 60 minutes in length, driven by the age of the student and their level of ability:
- Ages 4 – 6 = 30 minutes
- Ages 7 – 9 = 45 minutes
- Ages 10 and up = 45 or 60 minutes, depending on the level of the student
I will recommend adjustments to the lesson length if needed based on the first few lessons.
Exams
Exams are a great motivator for some and provide an assessment of a student’s progress at a point in time. However, exams are not a requirement of my studio and don’t form the basis of my teaching. I don’t believe in pushing a child to sit two or three exams a year at the risk of sacrificing their enjoyment of learning. Piano doesn’t need to be rushed.
Nonetheless, if I think an exam would be beneficial for your child’s progress (and some respond well to a bit of pressure) and/or if you are keen for them to take exams, I can certainly coach them through the syllabus and prepare them thoroughly.
In Singapore, most students take exams through one of two piano examination boards:
- Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). ABRSM is the UK’s largest music education body and is internationally recognised. Practical piano exams can typically be taken at three different session times a year where students are assessed using a universal marking criteria by examiners from the UK.
- Trinity College London (Trinity). Trinity is a leading international exam board and independent education charity that has been providing assessments around the world since 1877. Practical piano exams are offered twice a year in Singapore and students are assessed by examiners based in Singapore using the Trinity assessment criteria.
More Questions?
Check out the Lesson FAQ’s or contact me for more information!
Ready for your first lesson?
Adult Piano Lessons
Yes I teach adults!
Complete beginners are very welcome and you'll learn a lot in a short span of time.
For those who are returning to the piano, I can give you a different learning experience to the one you might have had as a kid. No exams, no pressure. Let me know what you like to play and what you'd like to learn, and I will tailor lessons to focus on those areas.
If you're not sure if piano lessons are right for you, here are some honest answers that can help you decide.
Will I be able to do it?
I haven't taught anyone who can't. Music can be taught and learnt, it's not something you have to "be born with". I promise you, you can learn to play the piano. Anything that you can't do, you just can't do yet.
Piano is a fun hobby if you have an open mind to learning and are willing to to be coached to get better as time goes on.
Will I have to practice every day?
No.
(Who has the time???)
But you will have to practice at least a little bit if you want to achieve whatever goals you have in mind for piano. Your fingers won't remember what to do otherwise, particularly when you're first starting out. If you can spare 5 to 10 minutes two to three times a week to sit and play, then this will work out just fine.
And we all have those weeks when we really can't find the time to do any playing. Don't worry. I won't make you feel bad or guilty about it!
Will I be able to play songs that I like?
Yes. That is probably the biggest reason for wanting to learn the piano right? To play music that you like to listen to.
The more you can tell me about your musical interests, the more that I can tailor your learning to suit what you want to play. Pop, rock, classical, new age, film - the genres are endless. It might even be that you just want to learn one specific song to play for one specific event. The more you can tell me about your goal(s), the more I can do to help you get there so you can enjoy the rewards of piano faster.
Of course, this doesn't mean I won't be giving you anything else to play or learn. You can't go from zero ability to playing Beethoven / Queen / (insert favourite artist) without learning a few beginner tunes and tricks. But I will try to balance this out so you don't spend all your time playing boring beginner songs. There's a lot of great repertoire out there and I'll find the right ones for you.