88 Keys; Fun for Everyone!
If you’ve never played an instrument before, piano is always a great place to start since the piano keyboard is designed just like the musical staff, which makes it easier to learn to read music. Our piano lessons start with a traditional foundation in order to learn the basics of the instrument, including rhythms, note names, the musical alphabet, techniques, and dynamic and expression markings. This fundamental basis in our piano lessons prepares the student to either continue musical training in classical piano or any other piano genre that the student might be interested in i.e. Jazz, Pop, Rock, R&B, Blues, Improv, Gospel, Contemporary etc.
We recommend children in the 4 - 7 age year range who exhibit an inclination towards the piano begin lessons in our piano program.
Students studying piano at the Joe Ferrante Music Academy in Monrovia are all trained on grand and vertical pianos. However, you do not need to have a grand or vertical piano at home to begin taking piano lessons. Students can start on a purchased or rented electronic keyboard until a more intermediate level is attained. We sell electronic keyboards, vertical, and grand pianos at the academy; visit our instrument rental/purchase page for more details.
Experienced and advanced students have the opportunity to pursue the piano genre of their choice. The academy offers specialist piano teachers in a variety of genres, such as classical, pop, rock, jazz, improv, and contemporary music as well as piano as an accompanist. Another option for experienced players is composition and songwriting. Students who would like to learn how to write their own music require a certain level of proficiency in sight reading, chord design, and melody creation. Please visit our songwriting and composition page to see more.
At the Joe Ferrante Music Academy, each lesson has three major components. The first segment is devoted to last week’s lesson assignment where the student gets a chance to demonstrate what they’ve worked on. The second component is time spent on technical development and music theory training. Students are taught how to read music, increasingly complex rhythms, note interval recognition, ear training, and chord construction. The third component is introducing the next assignment and teaching the student the important elements of their new song(s). Students are tested for their level of achievement twice a year, we have 10 levels of achievement, and students are given the opportunity to perform in recitals from a beginning level to an advanced level.
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Do you have a piano teacher to suit my child’s personality?
We have a wide variety of piano teachers available. Our front office can help pair your child with a teacher who we think will be a good fit for their personality and needs.
Can I buy a couple of piano lessons just to see if I like it?
We offer a free trial piano lesson to make sure it’s the right fit for you. After that, you can choose to buy one month of piano lessons at a time (4 lessons), or purchase a 3 or 6-month lesson package for a discount.
How quickly will I learn different hand positions on my instrument?
You will learn basic hand positions in your first month of study and then progress to more advanced positions.
How old does my child have to be to take private piano lessons?
We highly recommend that the child be 4 to 4 ½ to begin piano lessons. For younger students age 3+ we offer our wonderful Pre-K Exploration Class.
What are the requirements to take jazz piano lessons?
An understanding of basic piano theory and demonstration of skill on the instrument.
Do you teach adults as well?
Absolutely! We teach students of all ages and offer flexible scheduling to accommodate busy schedules.
