Adult Piano Lessons, Whatever Your Starting Point
Most adults do not come to the piano with a neat plan.
You may have wanted to learn for years and finally decided to begin. You may have found some old music and wondered whether your fingers remember any of it. Perhaps there is one piece you want to play, or you have been teaching yourself and would like to know whether you are heading in the right direction.
At Piano Promise, I teach adults from my studio in Bondi Junction and online across Australia.
Tell me what brought you to the piano, even if the answer is simply, “I have always wanted to do this.” We can begin there.
Where Are You Now?
You do not have to commit to years of lessons before you have played your first note. You also do not need to begin again simply because you have been away from the piano for a long time.
These options give us different ways to start.
The Taster
You have always been curious about piano, but you would like to try it properly before deciding whether it belongs in your life.
Across four lessons, we explore the keyboard, rhythm, notation, basic chords, scales and the movements involved in developing a sound technique. You will not spend four sessions memorising one tune by watching which keys I press. The aim is to understand what learning piano involves and whether you would like to continue.
Four 45-minute lessons: $460.
Includes a copy of Do Re Mi To You.
The Refresher
You played years ago.
You may remember a few pieces, some scales or the firm instruction to curve your fingers, but perhaps not much else.
The Refresher begins by finding out what has stayed with you. Usually, more remains than the student expects, although the fingers may need a little time to get fit again.
Across four lessons, we revisit the parts of your musicianship that need attention and consider what you would like from piano now.
Four 60-minute lessons: $540
Includes a copy of Do Re Mi To You.
Weekly Lessons for Adults
You know that you want piano to become a solid part of your week.
You may be beginning from the first note, preparing for an AMEB examination or performance, returning to advanced repertoire, or learning without an exam or deadline attached. Regular lessons give us time to develop your playing gradually through music chosen for your interests, goals and current ability.
Some students like a formal goal. Others want a standing weekly hour that belongs entirely to the music. Both can lead to very good playing.
45-minute lesson: $105
60-minute lesson: $125
Weekly lessons are intended for adults ready to continue for at least three months.
The Single-Piece Intensive
There is one piece you want to play.
It may be for a wedding or another important occasion. It may be a classical favourite, a film theme or a song you have loved for years. Perhaps you want to get beyond the same difficult passage that has resisted every approach so far.
Across three focused lessons, we work on what your chosen piece requires.
We will also look honestly at whether the music is achievable at your current level and within the available time. A different arrangement may sometimes provide a better way into it.
Three 60-minute lessons: $405
The Progress Check
You have been learning independently, but you are not sure whether you are progressing or what to work on next.
In this focused session, I listen to your playing and help identify the specific issue that may be holding you back. You can bring a question, a difficult passage or a musical idea that has never quite made sense.
You will leave with practical feedback and clearer direction, without needing to commit to ongoing lessons.
One 30-minute session: $80
If you are not sure which option fits, you do not need to solve it alone.
What Do We Work on in a Piano Lesson?
That depends on what I hear.
An adult beginner may need to understand how rhythm, notation and movement fit together before the notes begin to feel manageable. A returning player may know exactly how the music should sound but find that their fingers no longer follow instructions. An experienced student may need one change of fingering, balance or movement to solve a passage that has been difficult for weeks.
Lessons may include:
- comfortable, efficient piano technique;
- reading music and understanding rhythm;
- scales, chords, theory and aural skills;
- choosing and interpreting repertoire;
- AMEB examination, audition or performance preparation;
- more effective practice between lessons.
These are not separate subjects to be collected and ticked off. They meet in the music you are playing.
My job is to hear what is happening, explain it clearly and give you something practical to do next.
Encouragement and Correction Belong Together
Adult students often apologise before they have finished the first bar.
They tell me they played it better at home. Usually, they probably did. Playing while your teacher listens can make familiar notes behave in unfamiliar ways.
You do not need to impress me in a lesson. I need to hear what happens when you play so that we can work with it.
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If the rhythm is wrong, I will tell you. If your fingering is making the passage more difficult, we will change it. If you are rushing into the first note before you have listened, I may ask you to stop, take a breath and begin again.
I will also explain why.
Encouragement helps you keep going. Honest correction helps you improve. A useful lesson needs both.
Practice That Fits an Adult Life
Adults are often motivated and short of time.
Good practice is not measured only by how long you sit at the piano. Ten focused minutes on two uncertain bars can be more useful than playing the whole piece repeatedly and hoping those bars eventually surrender.
At the end of a lesson, you should know what to practise, why you are practising it and what to listen for while you do it.
My book, Do Re Mi To You, gives you a place to revisit many of the ideas we discuss, including technique, theory, practice, ear training, and exam preparation.
Lessons in Bondi Junction and Online
You can learn with me in person at my Bondi Junction studio or online from elsewhere in Australia.
Online lessons are not simply studio lessons viewed through a screen. The camera position, sound and way we demonstrate movement need to be considered. Once the setup is right, I can listen to your playing, observe your technique, discuss the score and give you clear work for the week ahead.
Some adults enjoy learning from their own piano at home. Others prefer being in the studio. If you are unsure which would suit you, we can discuss it before you begin.
What Adult Students Say
Questions Adults Often Ask
Do I need any previous musical experience?
No. The Taster and regular lessons can both begin with the keyboard itself. You do not need to read music before your first lesson.
If you have played before, even a very long time ago, we will begin by finding out what you remember rather than assuming you must start again.
Am I too old to learn piano?
Adults begin and return to piano at many different ages.
Age may affect the way you learn, the time you have available, and what feels comfortable for your hands. It does not remove your ability to understand music or make progress. The lesson should work with the person sitting at the piano now, not an imaginary younger version of you.
How much practice will I need?
There is no useful magic number.
Regular, focused practice matters, but what you do during that time matters just as much. We will decide what is realistic around your work, family and other commitments, then give that time a clear purpose.
Do I need a piano at home?
You will need regular access to an instrument between lessons. An acoustic piano should be properly tuned. If space or noise makes a digital piano more practical, choose one with weighted keys so that you can develop appropriate touch and control.
If you do not yet have an instrument, talk to me before buying one. It may also be possible to arrange some practice time at my Bondi Junction studio.
Can adults prepare for AMEB examinations?
Yes. Adults can prepare for AMEB examinations, auditions, and performances, as long as they have enough time to develop the required repertoire, technique, and supporting skills.
We can also discuss whether an examination is useful for you. It can provide structure and a clear goal, but it is not the only way to take your playing seriously.
Tell Me Where You Are
You may know exactly which lesson option you want. You may only know that you would like piano to be part of your life.
Either is enough for a first conversation.
Lessons are available at my Bondi Junction studio and online across Australia.