When students first begin learning piano, a small 61–64 key keyboard can work perfectly fine for beginners. It allows them to explore the basics of rhythm, notes, and coordination without a big investment.
However, as students progress and start working on musical expression, dynamics, and pedal technique, upgrading to a full-size 88-key piano with weighted keys becomes essential for continued growth.
When I first started preparing my piano students for the Certificate of Merit evaluation, I wasn’t sure if it was the right path.
I have always believed piano lessons should be about creativity, expression, and personal growth—not just scores and testing. Students already face enough pressure at school and in other activities. Did they really need another exam?
But after guiding my students through the process, I discovered something surprising.
Before sharing my experience, let me briefly ex...
When Will My Child Be Ready to Play Longer Pieces?
This question I've been asked in recent conversation with a parent whose child is currently in stage 1 piano learning. Conversations like these often reveal a gap in understanding how piano skills are truly built especially with young students.
At recitals, parents see some students perform beautiful, expressive pieces that last five or six minutes. What’s easy to overlook is the journey behind those performances. Many of those students have...
Every day, I teach piano online to student across the country. Students log in from their homes, and together we learn how to play piano, explore music theory, practice technique, and celebrate progress.
But once a year, something truly special happens—I fly from my home in Florida to California to join Oclef for a Week of Piano Summer Camp in person.
Today I would like to showcase one of my Oclef students as we are practicing on “Sword Dance” from the Piano Adventures Method Book 2A. This piece introduces important musical concepts such as allegro tempo, fermata, and expressive dynamics including crescendo and diminuendo. This blog post also highlights the value of listening a full music score to enhance students' ear training, sense of mood, and overall musicality.
Ever feel like music theory is a confusing puzzle that never quite fits the song you're learning? What if the key to mastering your next piece isn't just more practice—but actually understanding the chords behind the notes?
In this post, I’ll show you how starting with one simple theory concept—primary chords in a key (I-IV-V7)—can completely transform the way piano students learn and play music.
Before diving into any new piece, I always make it a point to start with music theory. Why? Be...
