After learning basic chords, the first scales, some easy songs and being introduced to a good technique and posture, the student is ready for more intermediate piano lessons. For example – getting familiar to read sheet music will allow the piano lesson student to visualize what he or she is hearing more easily and translate it to the piano more effectively. Piano music is represented on two sets of horizontal lines, called staffs.

We will also learn about another effective way of writing down piano music – chord charts, which are also called lead sheets. In normal sheet music, you will see the chord written as individual notes on the staff. A chord chart just has the name of the chord written above the staff. Many popular songs are notated in this way.

Regardless of how the piano music is written down, we will learn more about chords and will build on the major triad chords and their inversions. We will expand our “chordal vocabulary” to include seventh chords and also venture out to minor triads and also minor scales and more difficult major scales, complete with correct fingering. The regular, daily practice of major and minor scales will transform the scales into instinctual patterns that the student will be able to access in solos and improvisations without having to think about it.

The Piano Is A Rhythm Instrument!

We will also spend more time with the metronome in the private piano lessons. Each “click” of the metronome represents on quarter note and many piano pieces and songs are in 4/4 time, which is the most common time signature – it is so common that it is also referred to as common time. Common time (c) and 4/4 time mean that there are four beats in a measure and that each beat is a quarter note. We will also learn and play songs in 3/4 time, which is used in waltzes, for instance.

Getting familiar with notation means also learning the different note values in more detail. As we has spoken about the metronome before, each “click” counts one quarter note,and also two eight notes and four sixteenth notes. If this is starting to sound like math, you are right, but don’t be discouraged if math is not your or your childs strong suit. It will be easy and improve and inform math skills by playing music! In our study of notation we will also get to know rests  – often there are spaces in melodies and accompaniment, and these spaces (rests) make the music more interesting.

Private Piano Lessons

Having private, one-on-one piano lessons becomes even more useful, if the student has, or is perceived to have some “shortcomings” or “issues”. Establishing a comfortable, friendly rapport with the student can take the pressure off and change the dynamics of a lesson. In my view, a “lesson” is not meant to frustrate a student, but to empower him/her, build up confidence and learn about a subject in a way that is exciting, fun and worthwhile. Taking lessons in a school environment, possibly with other students, can be challenging and add unnecessary pressures.