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
Explore
Discover the possibilities...
Explore
Discover the possibilities...
IMJMusic has been turning musical dreams into reality for countless piano students for nearly twenty-five years. From those just starting to find their musical feet aspiring towards their first grade, to those with advanced piano skills looking towards a diploma qualification, teaching here embraces a wide spectrum of ages, levels, and personalities.
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But what is it about piano lessons here at IMJMusic that students find particularly enjoyable and distinctive? Here's what I discovered when I asked my students that very question...
Quality grand piano
German piano craftmanship at its best
​With its rich and distinct sound, you will soon appreciate the fine materials and German craftsmanship that makes the Wilh. Steinberg IQ99 so good to play, inspiring students to play to their very best.
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So whatever style you like to play, this piano will capture every articulation, nuance and expressive character you can bring to your performance.
Air-conditioned studio
Come rain or shine, always the perfect temperature
Tuition is provided in a 22ft air-conditioned studio which benefits from great acoustics, helping every lesson become something of a performance occasion.
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​This generous performance space is equipped with two large Velux windows which channel plenty of natural light by day, and an array of flexible crisp LED lighting by night. This makes for a comfortable place to learn and play, whatever the time of day.
Twin-piano setup
Efficient and effective piano teaching
A Yamaha N1 Hybrid complements the main grand piano and is ideal for demonstrations and supporting students as they play. Having two pianos significantly enhances the learning experience, making lessons more engaging and productive.
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To elevate the learning process even further, a live video link is available. This setup allows both the student and teacher to see each other's piano keys on separate monitors placed right next to them. This innovative feature has greatly improved teaching, enabling both students and teacher to see in more detail what is going on.
Student workshops
Developing confidence and musicality in performance
​Learning the piano can be quite a solitary activity, so finding opportunities to bring adult students together to meet and hear each other can prove particularly rewarding for pupil and teacher alike.
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A series of informal workshops is arranged throughout the year and hosted in the studio to help adults develop performance skills. Open to all levels, this provides a valued insight into piano playing and the wider repertoire. Many adults find these workshops add a new and enriching dimension to their learning experience.
Studio exams
Assessed by an independent LCM visiting music examiner
Knowing how an instrument will sound and perform really does make all the difference when it comes to piano exams. With so many students here at IMJMusic, regulated and accredited exams can be held in the studio, and assessed by an independent visiting examiner from the London College of Music.
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This allows my pupils to take recognised grade and diploma exams right here in the studio using the same piano as their weekly lessons. Such familiarity can make all the difference on exam day as students feel more at ease and confident knowing how the piano will respond.
With twenty-five years of teaching experience and advanced qualifications in performance, music theory, and piano accompaniment, students can learn with confidence knowing that they are being guided by a professional, friendly, and supportive tutor at every stage.
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IMJMusic proudly offers tuition to a diverse range of students, from beginners taking their first steps to advanced musicians working towards performance and teaching diplomas. Some past students are now practising teachers which is a source of great pride.
Professional and supportive
Encouraging students at every stage of their learning
Exclusive listening area
Explore new piano pieces that have proved popular with students
Discover new pieces that will really help motivate and inspire practising in this exclusive listening area. From elegant Classical compositions to modern tunes, all carefully selected, graded and performed by Ian M J Pickett MA BA LNCM ATCL DipLCM FISM
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This library of over 400 recordings provides students with the opportunity to discover and listen to new pieces from the comfort of their home - way more than is ever possible to demonstrate in a lesson. And with a further 800 pieces listed on the IMJMusic Repertoire List, students will have plenty to explore and enjoy.