Frequently asked questions about the PianoPronto® books:
Frequently asked questions about piano lessons:
What is PianoPronto®?
PianoPronto® is a series of graded lesson books which spans from beginning to early advanced levels. PianoPronto® books are designed to get students playing real songs from day one! Students learn to read music immediately. The books include music from a wide array of genres including classical, jazz, folk, and pop tunes. A step-by-step approach allows the lesson books to be easily used by piano teachers or parents with some music background interested in teaching their children. The PianoPronto® series is also ideal for homeschoolers looking to incorporate music education into their curriculum.
What does each book contain?
Each book in the PianoPronto® series includes music, explanations about musical concepts and terminology, written music theory exercises, suggestions for practice techniques, and music history lessons.
Why choose the PianoPronto® series?
The PianoPronto® series utilizes interesting and motivating material. Most of the pieces in the PianoPronto® series are recognizable tunes that students are familiar with, making it easier to practice effectively and progress at a faster rate.
Where can I view the PianoPronto® books?
Descriptions of each book in the PianoPronto® series are presented below. You can view sample pages, songs, book covers, and table of contents for each book.
How can I buy the PianoPronto® books?
Use the PayPal interface on the top right portion of this page to purchase the books. All major credit cards are accepted, in addition to payments via PayPal accounts.
Which PianoPronto® level is appropriate?
If you are transferring from another series and are confused about which book to purchase please feel free to email jennifer@pianopronto.com for assistance.
I am a piano teacher, can I
purchase your book and use it for my students?
Absolutely. Please see the buy music link for purchasing
information.
Why should my child take
piano lessons?
Learning an instrument is a truly rewarding experience that
will help your child build motor skills and increase their
self-confidence. A great deal of research has found that playing
the piano helps to develop the part of the brain used for
mathematics, critical thinking, and problem solving.
Many of my students find playing the piano to be a great
stress reliever at the end of a long day, or simply think
it's fun that they can play their favorite song from the radio.
I go to great lengths to keep this process fun and rewarding
so that my students will continue to play throughout their
lives.
What is the right age to start
my child in piano lessons?
Each case is different. Throughout my 17+ years of teaching
I have found that there is not a set answer for this question.
Some children can start at age 5 without a problem, while
others need to wait a bit longer. As a general rule, I tell
parents it is best to wait until their child is in the first
grade. In my opinion, the student needs to have a good handle
on the alphabet and needs to understand very basic math. It
is an added bonus if the student can read.
Is my child too old to start?
Absolutely not! I am often asked if it is "too late"
to get started learning an instrument. I have found that older
students progress very quickly especially because of their
increased motor skills which is something young students tend
to lack. I have had many very successful students who have
started around the age of 12 who have kept the piano as a
hobby throughout high school and even into their college years.
If the interest is there, let them explore the possibilities.
Do you have recitals and must
my child participate?
Yes, we usually have recitals once a year. Participation
is not mandatory, but is highly recommended. Recitals are
a great opportunity for the children to meet each other and
practice playing in front of a group. It is a very motivating
and fun experience, which I encourage all my students to take part in.
How much does my child need
to practice?
Enough. I know this seems vague, but once again every child
is different. I find that with most of my students the parents
don't need to ask them to practice. Most of my students enjoy
the songs they are playing, and actually want to play on their
own without any hassling from the parents. I encourage parents
to take an active interest in their child's learning process,
and to frequently ask for "an evening concert of this
week's songs." I have other students who thrive by showing
their parents how to play; this is a further reinforcement
of the concepts they are currently learning. In a nutshell,
don't place the oven timer on the piano, set it for 45 minutes,
and tell your child to sit there and play. Quite obviously
this can have a very negative effect.
I'm a beginning adult student,
is it too late for me to start?
No! Many of my adult students enjoy music as a hobby. I adjust
my material slightly for adult students to keep things interesting
and age appropriate. The only thing to consider is whether
or not you can find the time in your schedule to practice.
If you can invest enough time learning the instrument (about
30 minutes a day), then you are a great candidate!
I don't have a piano, should
I buy or rent?
If you're not looking to make a huge investment, I suggest
renting a piano. Field's Piano in Santa Ana has great rental
rates and a wide selection of uprights, spinets, and baby
grands. Renting a piano is a great way to test the water before
diving in head first. If you are looking to make a small investment,
check out the used piano listings in your local Pennysaver,
or the Orange County Register. Many of my students have found
great deals buying a used instrument from people who are moving
away, etc.
What if I buy a used piano
and my child ends up quitting, does the piano lose value?
This is good news; buying a piano is not like buying a used
car. Although you put out a bit of money buying an acoustic
piano, if you take care of the instrument it won't generally
lose much value. Thus, you can often turn it around for about
the same price you paid if need be.
We don't have space for a full-size
piano, is it alright to just have a keyboard?
My answer is yes and no on this one. I have found through
my experience that kids are much less motivated when they
start on keyboards and the drop rate for these students is
much higher. The problem with keyboards is that almost all
of them have thin plastic keys and kids tend to feel as if
they are playing with a toy rather than playing an instrument.
In addition, students who start out on keyboards do not develop
the same finger strength, making the transition to a piano
much more difficult later on. As far as space goes, an upright
or spinet piano won't take up much more space than a decent
size digital keyboard. So in the long run, I encourage people
to start out on a real piano, as the pros definitely outweigh
the cons.
How long are the lessons?
Lessons for kids between age 6 and 10 are generally a half
hour. I do however offer 45-minute and hour-long lessons.
For kids over the age of 10 and adult students, I recommend
45-60 minutes. This is a personal choice, which we can discuss.
How often should I get my
piano tuned? Can you recommend a tuner?
You should take care of your investment, and get your piano
tuned at least once a year in the fall or spring when the
weather has changed. Call or email for a referral to a piano
tuner.
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