FAQ
Here are the answers to the questions we received in trial lessons,
such as our system and teaching policy.
01/
If I take a free trial lesson, do I have to be a member?
No, you don't have to be a member.
At our piano school, we believe that the most important thing is that you can meet a suitable "piano teacher" from among the many piano schools and that you can become more interested in music. We hope that you will compare with many other piano schools and have a consultation before applying.
Please take a free trial lesson to see how you and the teacher fit together and how the atmosphere of the school is.
02/
What kind of teaching do you have in mind?
Our goal is to provide gentle teaching rather than strict.
A spontaneous " wanting to do" is born from a gentle feeling of making people happy.
At our piano school, we have prepared a variety of teaching materials to make learning fun.
03/
What kind of students have you taught?
With over 10 years of teaching experience, I have studied with children of all different personalities as well as adults of different backgrounds.
Currently, I teach a wide range of students from 3 years old to adult at our piano school, which opened in September 2019, mainly for students living in Miyamae, Kawasaki City, and I also teach piano to both domestic and international students as a piano teacher at Yamaha Music School and Yamano Music School.
With 10 years of experience in the U.S., I offer lessons in English and also give lessons to those who want to become nursery school teachers or kindergarten teachers.
04/
I want to go to school with my friends at the same time, do you offer group lessons?
No, we basically do not offer group lessons.
Although our regular lessons are "one-on-one" to get closer to the students, we would like you to experience an ensemble performance, so we may take some days of lessons as "4 hands duo lessons" with other students.
At our school, we keep in mind the importance of maintaining motivation and making learning fun because of the private lessons.
05/
Do I have to have a keyboard instrument at home to take the lessons?
No, you can come to the school even if you don't have a keyboard instrument in advance.
Many families purchase a "keyboard instrument" after they start attending piano lessons, and we are happy to help them find the right instrument to purchase.
Of course, the earlier you prepare, the more you can practice at home and the wider the content of your lessons.
If you are considering purchasing a piano, we recommend an acoustic piano as your first choice and an electronic piano with pedals as your second choice.
06/
It is difficult for me to take lessons at a fixed time due to my work or school schedule. What do you recommend?
How about considering a one lesson system?
Our piano school is located a 2-minute walk from Miyazaki-dai Station and a 10-minute walk from Miyamaedaira Station. Lessons are open until 9:00 p.m., so some students come after work or after school.
The One-Time Lesson system allows you to adjust your lesson time as you wish.
07/
Is it mandatory to attend school events?
No, students are always welcome to participate in the events.
The student concert is a big annual event, so we recommend students, especially children, to join in as a "chance to perform in public".We may also provide additional information on other events such as mini-concerts.
08/
Is it possible to have an absolute pitch sense?
There are individual differences, but they need to be trained up to about 7 years old.
In our school, we also provide absolute pitch training during the "Kids' Introduction Course" for children between the ages of 3 to 7(2nd grade). However, since absolute pitch is a learning method in which children are asked to listen to the sound over and over again and learn the sound little by little, it requires the cooperation of their families.
We also offer a "Online Lesson" option for those who do not have the time to train at home.
09/
Is there any possibility to improve the piano as an adult beginner?
You will definitely improve. We have adult students who have longed to play the piano since they were children and started playing as adults. If you start playing the piano as a child, it is easy to get an "absolute pitch" sense, but even adults can improve their performance.
10/
What kind of families' children are more likely to improve?
Families that enjoy music together (playing CDs, going to concerts, etc.) are more likely to make progress.
In addition, I have the impression that students frequently make faster progress when they are able to get a "kick-start" to practice or work on an assignment together with family members.
We hope that music will help you and your family to live a happy life and enjoy sound.
11/
What is a parent or guardian supposed to do when they come to accompany their child to a lesson?
We ask that you and your child work together to identify the assignments that your child needs to make progress and how to practice at home.
In the kid's introduction course, the parents will be informed of the assignments that the child needs to improve and how to practice at home. It is important for the parents to check the progress of the child's practice, because it is difficult to check whether the child has solved the assignments correctly if the practice is left to the child himself/herself.
We will work together with the parents to support their child's progress, so please feel free to ask any questions you may have.
12/
What should I do if my child is not cooperating with the lesson?
Please intervene even during the lesson regarding your child's discipline.
If your child makes a mistake during the lesson, we would like you to warmly watch over him/her, but please cooperate when your child is unable to have the lesson. Please share any know-how you have at home, such as how to make the lesson easier for your child to concentrate.
We would be happy to work together with parents to create an environment where children can enjoy and focus on the lessons.
13/
What is the atmosphere like in households where children practice voluntarily?
In households where children want to showcase their piano skills proudly, they tend to play the piano voluntarily.
When a child showcases their piano skills at home and receives positive reactions from those around them, such as compliments or requests for more performances, it can lead to feelings of pride and joy. As a result, the child may become more motivated to practice and play the piano on their own.
On the other hand, if the child does not receive positive feedback or is constantly criticized for their playing, it can create a stressful environment and cause the child to avoid playing the piano altogether.