You have thought about learning piano, perhaps for years.
You may have wondered whether you are musical, whether your hands will cooperate or whether piano is something you would genuinely enjoy once you move beyond the idea of it.
The Taster gives you four individual lessons in which to find out.
At Piano Promise, I do not teach beginners by asking them to memorise one tune from a sequence of keys. We begin with the instrument and explore how rhythm, notation, sound and movement work together.
You will gain a practical introduction to learning piano and a much clearer sense of whether you would like to continue.
Four 45-minute individual lessons: $460
Includes a copy of my book, Do Re Mi To You.
Lessons are available at my Bondi Junction studio and online across Australia.
The package is designed for adults beginning piano for the first time or returning with very little previous experience.
The four lessons introduce the foundations that help you understand what you are doing at the piano.
Depending on your starting point and how you respond, we may explore:
This is not a rigid four-part course in which every student reaches the same bar at the same time.
Adults arrive with different experiences. Some recognise patterns quickly but feel uncertain about rhythm. Others have a natural ear but find notation completely unfamiliar. I adapt the lessons according to what I observe and what you need explained.
We begin with you.
I will ask why you want to learn, whether you have had any previous musical experience and what you hope piano might add to your life.
Then we go to the instrument.
You will begin exploring the keyboard, producing sound and connecting what you hear with what you see and do. I will introduce ideas at a pace that gives you time to understand them, but I will not avoid proper musical language simply because you are new.
Adults often want to know why something works, not only which key to press. Questions are welcome.
You are also allowed not to know what to ask yet.
You will begin playing from your first lessons, but The Taster is not built around promising that every student will complete the same piece in four sessions.
The purpose is broader.
You are learning how notes, rhythm, movement and listening come together. A simple piece or exercise may help us apply those ideas, but I would rather give you a useful foundation than teach you to reproduce one sequence without understanding it.
Your progress will depend on your starting point, the material we choose and the practice you can do between lessons.
By lesson four, you should have a genuine sense of what learning piano involves and whether you want to take it further.
Many adults arrive carrying an old conclusion about themselves.
Perhaps someone once said you could not sing, you struggled with another instrument at school, or you have watched people play and assumed they possess something you do not.
Musical skills can be developed.
You will need to listen, think, coordinate your hands and repeat unfamiliar movements. Some parts may come easily, and others may require patience. That is not evidence that you should never have started.
The useful question is not whether you can already play.
It is whether you are interested enough to learn.
You will need regular access to a piano so that you can revisit what we cover.
If you are considering a digital piano, weighted keys are important because they allow you to develop more appropriate touch and control. If you have not yet bought an instrument, speak to me first. A less expensive purchase is not necessarily good value if it works against the technique you are trying to develop.
It may be possible to arrange some practice time at my Bondi Junction studio if you do not yet have access to an instrument. The availability and conditions need to be confirmed when you enquire.
You do not need to practise for hours. Short, purposeful sessions can tell us a great deal about what you remember, what needs clarification and whether you enjoy returning to the piano between lessons.
During the fourth lesson, we consider what you have learned and how the experience has felt.
You may decide that you would like to continue with regular lessons. If so, I can recommend a suitable lesson length and starting direction.
You may decide that you enjoyed the experience but do not want to continue now. That is also a useful answer.
The Taster exists to let you explore piano properly before making a longer commitment. There is no obligation to move into regular lessons.
The Taster is available at my Bondi Junction studio and online across Australia.
If you learn online, I need to be able to see your hands and enough of the keyboard to observe your movement. We can discuss the setup before the first lesson.
Is The Taster only for complete beginners?
It is primarily designed for adults beginning piano for the first time, but it may also suit someone with very limited experience.
If you played for several years and are returning after a long break, The Refresher is likely to be a better fit.
Do I need to read music before I start?
No.
Reading music is one of the skills we can begin developing during the package.
Do I need a piano before the first lesson?
You will need access to an appropriate instrument between lessons if you want to practise what you learn.
If you have not bought one yet, talk to me before making a decision. It is possible to commence your lessons without an instrument, and it may also be possible to arrange limited practice time at my studio.
Will I have to sign up for regular lessons afterwards?
No.
At the end of the four lessons, we can discuss your progress and options. The decision to continue is yours.
You do not need to decide today whether piano will become a lifelong pursuit.
You can begin with four lessons, meet the instrument properly and see what happens when curiosity is given somewhere to go.
The Taster is available in Bondi Junction and online across Australia.
