Category: Singing teacher

Cloud formations resembling a grand piano and musical notes in the sky over a rural landscape at sunset
beginner tutorial, learning environment, Music Lessons, piano lessons, piano practice, piano teacher, singing lessons, Singing teacher, Uncategorized

What to Expect in Your First Piano Lessons

lizteachespiano

The start of a new school year is a wonderful time to begin something new. Whether you’re enrolling your child or starting lessons yourself, the first few weeks are all about building confidence, developing good habits, and enjoying the process of learning.

Everyone starts somewhere, and there is no “perfect” pace. The goal should not be to play difficult pieces straight away (you are only setting yourself up for disappointment). You want to try and build a foundation that will make learning easier and more enjoyable in the months ahead and beyond! Here is what to expect in your first piano lessons:

Getting Comfortable

Your first lessons are about getting to know the piano, your teacher, and how lessons work. You’ll learn how to sit comfortably, position your hands, and explore the keyboard while playing your first simple notes.

Tips:

  • Come with curiosity rather than expectations.
  • Ask questions whenever you’re unsure.
  • Children learn best when lessons are fun and encouraging, while adults often benefit from trusting the process instead of trying to master everything at once.

Learning the Basics

You’ll begin reading simple music, understand rhythm, and play easy melodies (I’ll try to work with you and find music you are familiar with, or a style you enjoy!) Each new skill builds naturally on the previous one, so there is no rush.

Tips:

  • Focus on playing carefully rather than quickly.
  • Remember that everyone learns differently.
  • It’s normal if some things click immediately while others take a little more time.

Building Good Practice Habits

The biggest secret to making progress isn’t talent- it’s consistency. Short, regular practice sessions are much more effective than practising for a long time only once a week.

For young children, a parent or carer can help establish a regular practice routine. Adult learners often find it helpful to schedule practice just like any other appointment.

Tips:

  • Aim for 10–15 minutes most days to begin with.
  • Choose a regular time that fits your routine.
  • Finish each practice session by playing something you enjoy.

Be Patient with Yourself

Learning the piano is a journey, not a race. Every pianist -child or an adult- learns at their own pace. Some skills will come quickly, while others take time and practice to develop.

It’s easy to want to play your favourite complicated songs straight away, but the strongest musicians are the ones who build their skills step by step. Each lesson, each practice session, and even each mistake helps you grow.

Tips:

  • Focus on progress rather than perfection.
  • Be patient when something feels challenging—it won’t feel difficult forever.
  • Celebrate small milestones, whether it’s learning a new note, playing a piece smoothly, or simply practising consistently.
  • Remember that every accomplished pianist was once a beginner.

Growing in Confidence

As the weeks go by, you’ll notice familiar notes becoming easier to recognise, your fingers moving more naturally, and your confidence growing. You’ll likely be playing several short pieces and feeling much more comfortable at the piano.

Remember, mistakes are not setbacks, they’re an important part of learning. Every pianist, from beginner to professional, learns by trying, listening, and improving.

Tips:

  • Celebrate small improvements.
  • Don’t compare your progress with anyone else’s.
  • Confidence grows through regular practice, not perfection.

What to expect in your first few weeks of piano lessons and Looking Ahead

By the end of your first few weeks, you’ll have developed a solid foundation and a better understanding of how to learn effectively. Most importantly, you’ll have started building a skill that can bring enjoyment for many years.

Learning the piano is a journey, and every lesson is another step forward. No matter your age, the most rewarding progress comes from patience, consistency, and enjoying the music along the journey.

I hope this little guide on what to expect in your first few weeks of piano lessons can help reassure you. I look forward to welcoming new students this autumn and helping children and adults discover the joy of making music, one lesson at a time. Unsure where to begin? Contact me, or book a trial today

Please note, to aid creativity, the header image for this blog was made with AI.

learning environment, Music Lessons, piano lessons, piano practice, piano teacher, singing lessons, Singing teacher, Uncategorized

Is Your Child Ready for Piano Lessons?

lizteachespiano

A question lots of people ask is: “When is the best age to start piano lessons?”

The truth is, there’s no magic age. Some children are ready at six, while others may be ready a little later. What matters most isn’t age-it’s whether your child is developmentally ready to learn.

Here are a few signs that your child might be ready for piano lessons:

They Love Music!

Does your child sing along to songs, dance around the house, or enjoy experimenting on a piano or keyboard? If your child is excited about music, enjoys learning, and is eager to sit down at the piano, that’s often the clearest sign that they’re ready for piano lessons.

A genuine interest in music is one of the best indicators that they’ll enjoy lessons. Children learn best when they’re excited and curious.

They Can Focus for 30 Minutes

Beginning piano lessons involves listening, following instructions, and trying new things. Your child doesn’t need perfect concentration, but they need to be able to stay engaged with an activity for around 30 minutes. Not only to be able to cope with a lesson, but to be able to practice during the week.

If they can sit through a story, complete a puzzle, or work on a simple project by themselves without constantly losing interest, that’s a great sign.

They Can Follow Simple Instructions

Piano lessons are full of small instructions:

  • “Put your hands here.”
  • “Play these three notes.”
  • “Let’s count to four together.”

Children who can listen and follow simple directions tend to have a much smoother start with piano.

Their Hands Are Ready

Playing piano requires finger strength and coordination. Your child doesn’t need perfect technique before they begin, but it helps if they are comfortable doing activities like:

  • Drawing and colouring (also writing and recognising letters and basic math is very useful.)
  • Using scissors
  • Building with small blocks
  • Buttoning clothes

These skills help prepare little hands for the keyboard.

They Enjoy Learning New Things

Although I like to think my lessons are very fun and engaging, they are called piano lessons for a reason- they are a lesson. So they need to enjoy learning.

If your child likes trying new activities, solving problems, and celebrating small achievements, they’ll likely enjoy the process of learning music.

What About Younger Children?

Personally, I do not teach private piano lessons to children under the age of six.

That doesn’t mean younger children aren’t musical or aren’t ready to learn! In fact, many children under six are already developing wonderful musical skills. Some children under six may well be ready for private piano lessons.

However, in my experience, most children in this age group benefit more from play-based music experiences rather than more formal piano or singing lessons. For children age 6-8 I offer workshop style lessons where the emphasis is on fun with music, but this still requires a level of concentration and focus.

Activities such as:

  • Singing
  • Movement and dance
  • Group music classes
  • Musical storytelling

help build the listening, coordination, and attention skills that make piano lessons much more successful later on.

So while a four or five-year-old may be ready for music, they’re often more ready for fun, interactive group music activities than weekly one-to-one piano lessons.

Thinking About Piano Lessons?

Piano and singing lessons should be enjoyable, rewarding, and confidence-building. Starting at the right time helps children develop a lifelong love of music—and that’s far more important than starting as early as possible.

If your child is six or older and showing some of these signs, I’d be happy to help you decide whether they’re ready to begin. Feel free to get in touch with any questions or to arrange an introductory lesson. 🎹✨

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A Typical Day in My Studio

lizteachespiano

People often imagine piano lessons as simply turning up, playing a few pieces, and heading home again. But there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes to make lessons personal, enjoyable, and tailored to each student. Here is what a typical day looks in my studio!

One thing many people don’t realise about music teaching is that it often involves antisocial hours. Most students want lessons after school or work, so evenings tend to be the busiest part of the day. As a morning person, this is honestly one of the most challenging parts of the job for me!

Because of that, I try to plan and prepare as much as possible earlier in the day, so that when lessons begin later on, everything is in place to create a relaxed and successful learning environment.

A typical day: Starting the Day

Most mornings, I’m up around 6:30 before teaching begins. Depending on the time of year, I’ll either head to the gym or spend some time at my allotment before properly starting work. It’s a nice balance to the time I spend indoors!

This was taken last year, but the work is never done!

By around 8:30, I’m back home and getting ready for the day. I like to wear something that reflects my personality while still being comfortable enough to move around easily during lessons — something that’s very important when teaching!

Planning and Preparation

From around 9:30 to 11:30, I’ll usually be planning lessons, replying to emails, and organising the week ahead. At the moment, I’m also preparing for an upcoming performance, so alongside teaching I’ve been finalising advertising and rehearsals too. I’ve recently released some new music as well, so there’s always something creative happening outside the studio.

Around 11:30, I’ll stop for lunch and fit in a few household jobs like laundry or loading the dishwasher. One of the things I appreciate about self-employment is being able to weave some everyday life into the working week.

Depending on the day, I sometimes teach earlier afternoon students or travel to lessons, but this example is what happens in the studio on a typical Tuesday in my studio.

Creative Work and Practice

After lunch, I’ll often spend time researching new teaching ideas, or finding games and activities for younger students. I also keep my lesson database updated so I can track progress and plan future lessons effectively. On top of that, there’s usually blog writing (like this!) and admin to think about too.

And somewhere in amongst all of that, I try — though don’t always succeed — to fit in around 45 minutes of piano practice myself.

By around 3:00pm on a Tuesday, I’ll have a quick snack and a short break before teaching begins for the evening.

An Evening in the Studio

My first student of the day is currently preparing for a piano exam, so we focus on confidence, musicality, and polishing pieces ready for performance day.

After that, I teach a beginner who’s still getting to grips with note reading — but already has excellent taste in music!

On Tuesdays, I usually schedule supper between 5:30pm and 6:30pm because I prefer not to eat too late, and evenings are often the most popular lesson times.

Later on, I teach twins! They have separate lessons, but because they arrive together, we sometimes make the most of having four hands at the piano and play duets together.

After that, I teach an adult student who is working on improving their music reading skills. Together we focus on techniques and exercises that help make reading notation feel more natural and confident over time. It’s incredibly rewarding to see adult learners develop their skills and enjoy the process of learning something new.

Why I Like Teaching Piano

Every student learns differently, which is why I try to make lessons relaxed, encouraging, and tailored to the individual. Some students want to work towards grades and exams, while others simply want to play music they enjoy and build confidence at their own pace.

That’s one of the things that is fun about teaching piano — no two lessons are ever exactly the same.

Whether someone is a complete beginner, returning after a break, or looking to develop their playing further, my main goal is: helping students enjoy music and feel comfortable at the piano.

If you’ve ever thought about trying piano lessons, now is always the best time to start!

learning environment, Music Composition, Music Lessons, piano lessons, piano practice, piano teacher, singing lessons, Singing teacher, Uncategorized

Music Practice and the art of Patience and Self-Discipline

lizteachespiano

Regular music practice is one of the most practical ways to develop patience and self-discipline. This week’s piano and singing lessons offered clear examples of how these skills are built through intentional practice.

In the first video, I’m demonstrating a piece that uses the Phrygian scale, a scale one of my students particularly enjoys. Instead of practicing the scale in isolation, I chose a short piece that shows how the scale functions in real music. Many children and adult learners have thought “Why do I need to learn scales!?” This helps students connect technical material to sound, style, and musical context—an important step in deeper understanding.

‘My Journey leads into the desert’ by Hanz Zimmer-Arrangement by Laurie Theberge.

The first time I played this piece to the student, it wasn’t great! I had to spend time during the week practicing it, refining it, just as a student would. This process reinforced an important learning principle: improvement comes from focused repetition. You wont have patience straight away. Patience develops through practice.

The second video shows me singing a new song and experimenting with it in different styles. This type of practice supports flexibility and musical awareness. Trying multiple approaches encourages active listening and helps develop control, rather than relying on habit or comfort.

Acoustic version of ‘Trees’ written and performed by me.

Both examples highlight how self-discipline in music is less about strict routines and more about consistent, thoughtful engagement. Whether working on a scale through repertoire or exploring style, progress depends on showing up regularly and reflecting on what works.

Music practice provides a clear framework for learning: set a goal, work slowly, evaluate results, and adjust. These habits strengthen patience and self-discipline in a way that naturally transfers to other areas of learning.

For students and teachers alike, staying engaged in this process is essential. Practice is where real learning happens.

Interested in learning the art of patience and Self-Discipline? See if music lessons could work for you today!

beginner tutorial, learning environment, Music Lessons, piano lessons, piano performance, piano practice, piano teacher, singing lessons, Singing teacher, Uncategorized

3 Simple Tips to Encourage Piano Practice for Children and Adults

lizteachespiano

Learning the piano is fun and interesting—but staying motivated can be tricky for both children and adults. Here are 3 Simple Tips to Encourage Piano Practice for Children and Adults.

Children sometimes see practice as a chore, and adults, even though they’ve chosen to learn, often struggle to find time. (Even teachers like me have days when we’d rather not practice!)

The good news? With a few simple strategies, practice can become something enjoyable and rewarding.

1. Create a Predictable Piano Practice Routine

Children (and adults!) thrive when practice becomes part of their daily rhythm—not a surprise or a battle. Short, regular sessions are often more effective than long, occasional ones.

How to do it:

  • Pick a consistent time (after school, before dinner, early morning, etc.)
  • Keep sessions short—10–15 minutes is perfect for beginners
  • Use a visual timer.

Why it works:
Routines reduce resistance. Practice becomes a habit rather than a negotiation.

2. Use Positive Reinforcement and Reward Systems

Rewards can help keep motivation high, especially for younger learners—but adults appreciate them too! Rewards don’t need to be big; they just need to be meaningful.

Ideas for rewards:

  • Sticker charts or progress trackers
  • A favourite meal or coffee at a café
  • A special activity after consistent effort

Tip: Reward effort, not perfection. Consistency is more important than flawless playing.

3. Let Students Choose Some of Their Music

When students enjoy what they play, motivation increases dramatically. Even one favourite piece can make a big difference.

How to apply it:

  • Let students pick a pop song, movie theme, or seasonal piece
  • Ask, “Which piece do you want to start with today?”
  • Balance teacher-chosen music with student-chosen favourites

Why it works: Choice gives students ownership, confidence, and excitement about piano practice.

Final Thoughts

Motivation grows when practice feels predictable, rewarding, and personally meaningful. With a consistent routine, small rewards, and music students enjoy, daily practice can shift from a struggle to a source of pride and accomplishment.

🎹If you are in the Stockholm area and interested in enjoying practice more, or interested in starting to practice, feel free to send me a message!

Please note: picture has been made with AI to aid creativity and add fun!