Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an instrument at home?

Yes. Don’t worry you don’t need to invest in an acoustic piano just yet, a decent digital piano will be perfect for beginners. Digital pianos have 88 full size weighted keys and a sustain pedal. Weighted keys are made to feel like real piano keys, requiring a little more pressure to play the key, so is great for developing finger strength. Keyboards provide a very different experience to playing the piano and unfortunately are not sufficient to enable decent progress. Four recommended brands of digital pianos are Kawai, Yamaha, Korg and Roland. I’m happy to advise if you need help choosing your first instrument.

The initial investment in a good digital piano can seem daunting (around £500 new), but my experience is that students with only a keyboard to practise on at home typically make slower progress and are more likely to quit than those with a digital piano. If cost is an issue, I would recommend saving the money you would have spent on piano lessons in order to buy the instrument, and delay starting piano lessons until you’ve made your purchase.

How long are the lessons?

I do 30 minute lessons as standard. This, in my experience, is the optimal lesson length for maintaining focus (it’s a real brain workout!) without being overwhelming. Occasionally longer lessons of 45 minutes are needed, but these are typically for students studying music theory as well, or for students preparing for the higher grades (6+).

How much do lessons cost?

£77 per month for 30 minute lessons.

£115.50 per month for 45 minute lessons.

Theory marking (anything subsantial, e.g. marking complete workbooks) is charged pro rata at my standard rate of £48.64 per hour. Music theory forms a natural part of most lessons and is not charged for as an extra.

Can I pay for lessons in blocks?

The payment schedule is a fixed fee paid on the 1st day of each month (see lesson costs above). I teach 38 lessons per year (during term time only), so the fees are averaged across the 12 months. This means some months you will have more lessons than others, and in August you won’t have any lessons, but you will still be paying each month. In the event that you give notice to stop lessons, I will always calculate the number of lessons that have been available to you and align this with the amount you have paid, which will result in a final invoice to be paid.

Please note I don’t operate a pay as you go set up.

How do I pay for lessons?

Payments are made by bank transfer and is the simplest for most people. My bank details are included at the bottom of the invoice you’ll receive. Fees are due on the 1st day of each month, so setting up a standing order from your bank account is the easiest route. I cannot accept cash or alternative payment methods.

Where do you teach?

I teach at my home in Bedhampton in a spacious ground floor room with plenty of room to move around and play rhythm and notation games - a favourite with young students!

What is the parking availability?

I have one space available for students (on my driveway) and there are visitor spaces marked with a ‘V’ around the estate, the farthest being only a few minutes’ walk from my house. Parking anywhere except in designated visitor bays is not permitted, so in the event that no visitor spaces are available, students wait for the previous student to vacate the driveway space before parking there.

Do you teach during school holidays?

No. I teach during term time only, with breaks at half terms, Christmas, Easter and Summer. It’s useful, as the student, to have a break to allow all they have learned to sink in, then to be ready for the next term and learning more new skills.

Do you teach beginners?

Yes! In fact most people who come to me are beginners and it’s such a joy to be there to start the musical journey together. Beginner children and beginner adults are all welcome.

Do you teach face to face?

Yes. I returned to face to face teaching on 19th April 2021, after a year of only teaching online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the benefit of all, I decided to maintain some COVID safety measures, including making sanitising hand gel/ hand washing facilities available and sanitising the keys and surfaces.

Do you teach online?

Yes. I started teaching online in April 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, and it turns out it is a really effective method of teaching, allowing for a few drawbacks. To read more, click on the button below:

How often should I practice?

Unlike other weekly clubs/ activities, learning to play the piano requires regular practice throughout the week between lessons. This is essential for progress and daily practice is recommended, even if it’s only 5-10 minutes (for beginners). This may be too much to squeeze into an already busy life, so even 3-4 times per week is still great.

Most importantly, whichever practice schedule you decide on, it must be able to fit into your life and become part of your routine - this way you avoid falling into the situation of forgetting about practice, remembering at the last minute and ‘cramming’ before the lesson, which, unfortunately, never produces the intended effect. I can help you devise a practice strategy that works with your other committments, so that you can get the most out of your piano lessons and see the results you hope for.

Which music exam boards do you use?

I use the ABRSM (Associated Board for the Royal Schools of Music) exam board. It is the gold standard, in my opinion, among the existing boards and provides a highly regarded and robust assessment of core pianistic skills at each grade level.

Can I do music exams?

Yes, I teach using the ABRSM exam board (see above) and prepare students thoroughly for all parts of their exam, including practice exams with me ahead of the exam sessions.

Beginner children tend to need at least a year or two of learning before attempting to prepare for an exam (depending on individual ability and quality or home practice), purely to allow enough of the techniques and learning to become internalised first. There will always be time to prepare for exams comfortably, once you’ve got the hang of the basics. Grade 1 is actually more complex and demanding than most people assume!

One point to note here is that exams are a valuable and fulfilling part of learning to play the piano well, but should not be done in the absence of a wider musical knowledge and experience. For this reason, I encourage my students to try new repertoire between exams, which is a welcome change of pace after working hard and succeeding in their exams.

Do you teach music theory?

Yes! Music theory is a really important part of being a well rounded musician, and provides much of the context and understanding required to get the most out of playing the piano and making music.

Do you offer performance opportunities?

Yes! I hold a Summer Recital every year at Portsmouth High School for my child students. Participation is optional, but I do encourage as many to take part as possible because the benefits of getting performance practice in a supportive environment are invaluable. Many of my adult students are not interested in gaining performance experience, however, if there is enough interest, I can organise small piano afternoons for those keen to perform their pieces to each other.

I also enter students in the Portsmouth Festival for Performing Arts which takes place during the Spring term half term break. Again, participation is optional, but this is an opportunity to perform in both competitive and non-competitive classes, receive valuable adjudicator feedback and the potential to win trophies. The festival is open to both children and adults.

What happens if I/ my child misses a lesson?

Missed lessons for any reason are not refunded and not rescheduled. If you/ your child are unwell (but still capable of having a lesson) or otherwise unable to attend in person, these will be conducted online during the normal lesson slot. My studio is full, so rescheduling lessons isn’t possible, however, if another student cancels later in the week this will be offered as a replacement for your missed lesson if I have enough notice to offer the lesson.

If you have a planned absence, I can offer a video lesson in place of your face to face lesson, but this will require you recording a video of you/ your child playing their current pieces, scales, arpeggios, technique exercises and sending to me the day before your lesson slot. I will then use your lesson slot to review and record feedback as well as covering new material. This allows practice to continue uninterrupted until your next lesson. Please note, video lessons cannot be provided for sequential lessons due to the risk of losing continuity and the need for in person demonstrations.

Please note: students should not attend lessons if they are unwell. The risk of spreading illness to other students and myself can result in the cancellation of many lessons, negatively impacting many students’ progress.

What happens if there is another COVID-19 lockdown with restrictions on face to face lessons?

I will provide online lessons until we are able to return to face to face lessons, so there is no gap in learning and progress is continued.

Do you have studio policies?

Yes, you can download the Code of Conduct, Safeguarding and Privacy Policies from the Studio Policies page.