The Key Components of a Piano Lesson

Every piano student is unique and special. Each piano lesson for each piano student should also be unique and special. And while every lesson requires something a little bit different, each one should incorporate certain basic topics on a regular basis. Whether the piano student is a brand new beginner or an adanced pianist, the following topics should be incorporated into almost every lesson.

Introduction. The introduction doesn't have to take long, its just a moment for the student to get acclimated and ready to play the lesson. Some students require more than others. It's a great time to ask the student about their week, how practicing went, and tell them what they are going to be doing that day. Some students, especially younger ones, need some help transitioning to the next activity. The time frame for an introduction is just a minute or two.

Warm Ups . Warms are a great way to ease into the lesson. "Dozen A Day" books, by the Willis Music Co. , is a great series for pianists of all ages. Starting usually around book two of regular teaching methods, the Dozen A Day books teach great skills that will eventually be used in regular piano playing. These warm ups will help the student relax and focus at the beginning of the lesson. It will also help them learn fingerings, scales, legato, staccato, and many other piano techniques. This should take about five minutes of a thirty minute lesson.

Review. Ask if the student had any problems in their lesson or practice time. If not, have them play last weeks lesson. Go over any passages that are still difficult. Make any necessary corrections and decide if the student needs to continue the lesson again for another week or if they can move on to the next piece. Make sure to specifically tell them what was good, what could be better, and what you liked about their playing. This should take about five to ten minutes.

Music Theory and Note Reading. This comes right along side learning to play piano. Some teachers will use a separate theory book. This is a great idea and really helps the students learn note reading much faster. This takes about five minutes (optional).

New Lesson Material. This is where you introduce new concepts, new songs, or keep working on old ones. Keep this section to about ten minutes so as not to overwhelm your student with new ideas. Review the material both hands separately and hands together if possible, so the student can get a good grasp on what the music should sound like. Demonstrate as needed, but keep superfluous playing to a minimum so that they student does most of the playing during the lesson. If the student's eyes starts to glaze over or the student seems tired, break it up with something fun and light.

Something Fun. This is my favorite section, and usually takes the last - or even the first - two to five minutes of the lesson time. Its good to let the student show off a song that he or she may have picked up by rote during the week, or let them pick a song that they love and work on it during the lesson. You could also incorporate fun music stories, ideas, or even games, such as flash cards in this section.

Always end the lesson on a positive note. Even if the student is not well prepared for the lesson, you can usually find something positive to say about them and their playing. Encourage them, share your love of music, and help them to enjoy practicing. Their love for music will keep them coming back for more!