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
Realise your potential
Preparing for a music performance examination is a positive experience for many students leading to greater confidence and an improved attention to detail. It is also a great way to develop aural, sight-reading, and technical skills, alongside exploring a range of piano styles. Music theory exams are also offered and encouraged providing further insight and understanding for the aspiring student.
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With a range of options to suit all levels and abilities, an exam is a brilliant way to encourage students to develop their skills and confidence.
Working towards an exam
Music examinations can be an effective way to motivate students to practise as they learn and improve their playing. By working towards carefully structured and progressive syllabus goals, candidates can gain recognition for their achievement, providing a musical foundation for the future.
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Performance examinations have changed much in the last twenty years with qualifications to suit players of all ages and abilities. From introductory assessments for young players, through a series of eight graded examinations, to professional examinations at diploma level for advanced players. They also offer much more flexibility with options than ever before, giving candidates the opportunity to choose a pathway that is right for them.
Graded exams
Graded examinations (or music grades, as they are commonly known) have been offered in the UK for almost 150 years. Grades are suitable for both children and adults and can be sat in piano or music theory; there are also a number of options, particularly in the piano syllabus, allowing students to choose from a huge range of repertoire and supporting tests that work for them.
Most students follow the traditional route of an exam consisting of three pieces, scales, sight-reading, aural tests and a short discussion: a format that has hardly changed since they were first introduced back in 1888. However, for candidates who prefer not to play scales or to sight-read can take a 'recital grade' instead, allowing them to focus on the performance of four pieces instead.
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All examinations offered by London College of Music are recognised and accredited by Ofqual, and can be used for college and university applications.
Diploma exams
With a range of diplomas on offer, including an entry-level qualification at DipLCM, many advanced-level students now decide to continue their studies after grade 8, whether for their own personal satisfaction or as a foundation towards a career in music.
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 an extended recital of 35-40 minutes, or a shorter performance of pieces including sight-reading and/or discussion options. The teaching route places emphasis, naturally, on the candidate's ability to be an effective teacher rather than on performance skills alone. Here, the examiner will be assessing how well the candidate knows the repertoire and whether they have clear and effective teaching ideas as to how to solve technical and musical issues as they arise. 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.
