Below I’ve listed answers to some of the more common questions that I get asked. If you have a question not answered here please contact me.
There are lots of things to consider here. I normally start pupils on the piano at the age of 6; for woodwind instruments, 8 or 9 years old is probably better, so the child is big enough to cope with the weight of the instrument and also reach the keys.
Practice between lessons is very important and should be encouraged. Without it, progress will be very slow. There is no need to practice excessively, especially at the start. Practice should be enjoyed and not made to feel it is a chore so I would recommend starting with say 10 minutes per day and building up from there as required. Setting the same time aside for practice works well, so it becomes part of the daily routine.
Woodwind instruments are available to hire from some music shops.
A keyboard may be ok to get started on, but owing to the difference in touch, I would recommend a good quality digital piano is purchased eventually. Ideally it will have 88 keys, a sustaining pedal and weighted keys.
I teach mainly classical music although I do put some pupils in for Jazz exams.
I encourage my students to enter the ABRSM graded exams and occasionally other examination boards too. However, I recognise that each student is different and they will never be forced into taking an exam that they have no wish to do. It is entirely up to the individual.
To find out more about my music tuition and the various options available please don’t hesitate to get in touch either via my contact page or by calling me on 01473 717290.