Piano is an ideal instrument for learning music! We play the keys with both
hands so right away we can hear two simultanous pitches and learn to
identify that interval. Later as we learn to play pieces at the appropriate
level for each student, we notice how music is made and some of its
important elements: rhythm, pitch, form, harmony, etc. These are very
simple to learn with beginning music; and the same elements are at play
as music gets more complex (and more interesting!)

After we learn the pattern of keys on the piano, we start reading a few
pitches at a time on a music score. We see the music score; we feel the
keys; and we hear the sound. Those three parts of our brain - seeing,
hearing and our kinetic sense all work together and complement each
other. When we hear and see two simultaneous pitches, we learn to
identify that interval (the distance between two pitches) as we see it
on the score, feel it with our hands, and hear it with our ears. The process
goes on from there and learning this way is wonderful!

Technical work is often derived directly from whatever piece we are working
on - not separated from the musical experience, and immediately useful for
playing the piece at hand. We work together on these various skills, and
each student then starts to work in the same ways at home between lessons.

Most of Anne's students do not become professional musicians, but all of
them learn to hear and love music! Some children later play a band
instrument in school but by that time, they read music and can concentrate
on getting the sounds from their band instrument since they are not begin-
ers in music, just beginners on their new instrument! Many times these
children are at the "head of the class" right away.

More advanced students work at their appropriate level and often we "fill
in" material they don't remember or never learned, so that we're always
studying the music, not simply "playing the piano". A number of Anne's
advanced students have prepared and performed concerts. As we work on a
recital program we stay focussed on hearing and recreating what the
composer wrote. More advanced music theory needs to be included in our
work as well as knowledge of relevant music history. We continue to work
on technical skills from the perspective of serving the music we are
studying. Our instrument becomes a beautiful tool for playing,
comprehending and sharing music.

"We learn to love the music!"