Piano Teaching
Discover a world of great music...
With so many piano composers and styles to choose from, students are encouraged to explore the repertoire as widely but always to select music that interests them. This approach helps sustain each student's musical interest but inspires the development of new skills and techniques along the way leading to great musical accomplishment.
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Working with such a wide range of students at different ages and levels is both rewarding and invaluable: to appreciate how students learn and develop across a much wider plane and the challenges faced at advanced levels provides perspective and understanding, and help shape the learning programmes of those just starting out.
Establishing the basics
Taking your first steps as a beginner may be daunting but with a carefully-selected programme of attractive and enticing pieces, and supportive exercises to develop your technique, you will soon have the basis of a musical foundation on which to build.
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We will start by learning how to sit at the piano and the importance of adopting a good hand position. After a few simple warm-up exercises to get some mobility in the fingers, we will learn our first piece together. This will be shown to you without the music, initially, to help you develop a better aural sense of the music and to make your first piece more accessible.
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You will, of course, still be taught how to read music: a vital skill that gives pupils the confidence to discover new music independently; however, approaching a new piece without the music helps new students actually play something meaningful at their first lesson without being overwhelmed with reading and playing simultaneously.
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To develop rhythmic awareness and listening skills further, a number of duets intended for beginners will be introduced. But, please don't worry about this: many beginners find the playing of duets really enjoyable and are surprised by just how good the ensemble sounds! Having worked with many beginners, rest assured, we will find the one that is right for you.
Piano Accompaniment
Completing the ensemble...
Est. 2000
IMJMusic
piano | theory | accompaniment
Music Exams
Develop your true potential
Music Exams
Develop your true potential
Working towards a piano examination can be an effective way to advance performance skills and improve motivation and confidence. With carefully structured and progressive goals, students can gain recognition for their achievement providing a musical foundation on which to grow.
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Whilst the taking of exams is optional, many students find practising for a music exam really helps keep their learning on track. From introductory exams for beginners, through eight grades to four levels of professional diploma, there really is something to suit all levels and abilities.
Music grades
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​​​Music grades range in difficulty from Grade 1 to 8 and may be taken in a range of music subjects. They are suitable for both adults and children, and are held in the studio three times a year, assessed by an independent visiting examiner.
Most piano candidates choose the traditional grade syllabus that balances the playing of three pieces in different styles with supporting tests, such as scales, sight-reading, and aural tests – a format that has hardly changed since its inception some 150 years ago. For candidates, who prefer to be assessed only on the playing of pieces, the recital grade option is for them - for this exam five pieces are prepared for the examination.
Other options that may be explored include jazz piano, which allows students to develop their improvisatory skills; and leisure play grades which has an emphasis on more contemporary and easy-listening genres.
Diploma exams
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​With a range of diplomas on offer, including an entry-level qualification at DipLCM, several students now decide to continue their studies after grade 8, whether for their own personal satisfaction or as a useful preparation for music at university.
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Options include pathways in performance, teaching or accompaniment at one of three diploma levels (DipLCM, ALCM, or LLCM). For the performance route, the candidate can choose between a recital of pieces of between 30-40 minutes in length, or a shorter recital of pieces and supportive tests, such as sight-reading and discussion.
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The teaching diploma, naturally, places an emphasis on effective teaching skills over performance skills alone. Examiners will be looking to assess the candidate's knowledge of the teaching repertoire and to determine whether they have clear and effective teaching ideas as to how to solve technical and musical issues as they arise in the student they are teaching.
And for the piano student who enjoys making music with others, the piano accompaniment diplomas provide just that: an opportunity to accompany solo instrumentalists and vocalists in an array of musical styles and genres with sensitivity and technical assurance.
London College of Music Exams
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London College of Music (LCM), founded in 1887, is a respected institution for music education in the United Kingdom, and offers a wide range of degree-level courses in music performance, composition, music technology, and the performing arts. LCM is also renowned for its graded music examinations, which are recognised internationally, and assessed at local centres both here in the UK and overseas.
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LCM's grade and diploma qualifications in music are fully accredited and regulated by Ofqual. This means LCM qualifications are equivalent in standard to that of other exam boards such as ABRSM and Trinity and similarly attract UCAS points for higher grades. Many IMJMusic students have used LCM qualifications for college or university music entry.
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Exams are held in the studio throughout the year, allowing students to take LCM grade and diploma qualifications in familiar surroundings.