Overview
and History of the Piano
The piano is still one of the most
diverse instruments today. Technically a
percussive instrument, the piano is
incredibly melodic and beautiful in sound.
An all encompassing instrument that has been
a major part of every musical movement since
its invention in 1780, new and veteran
players alike benefit by being able to
accompany themselves in the style of their
choosing.
Age to
Begin Piano Lessons
The Royal Academy offers private piano studies for both the
beginner through highly advanced students beginning ages 4 through
adults.
There are a variety of methods offered including (the most
popular) " traditional " method and " suzuki" methods.
The Royal Academy
faculty uses a variety of methodologies and
customizes each lesson plan depending upon their students practice
habits, level of interest, potential and most of all their
goals. The most commonly used methodologies we use are Faber,
Thompson, Alfred's, Bastien and Fletcher.
Developing
The Necessary Skills
Piano
Lessons for Children
A child
is most prone to developing "bad habits" in music between
the early ages of 4 through 12, that is why we take great care in how we
introduce to our students to music. At the Royal Academy each child will explore music in its
entirety, developing all the skills necessary in being a well
rounded and creative musician. The Royal Academy
ensures that all of its students are taught sight-reading skills, counting and rhythmic skills,
technical skills, basic music theory and most of all, to be
creativity. We do not teach our students to "play by ear"
nor do we subscribe to ridiculous notions that a child can
learn to play an instrument online or in a month from a
"learn it yourself book or CD ". Music is
accumulative and the only way to progress and become a good
little musician is to instill healthy and productive
practice habits. It is equally important the teacher
presents the material in an enjoyable and encouraging
way, carefully listening to your child and understanding how
they register the material along with being attentive
to your child's problems in a particular area is key to
their music development.
Piano Lessons for the Adult Student
The Royal Academy also offers private music studies for the adult student. Whether you
are a beginner, an advanced player, or simply rekindling an old
passion for music, we offer a variety of programs and lesson schedules custom suited for the adult student who
has to often juggle a very demanding work and home schedule.
Lessons are offered at all three convenient locations and
hours range from morning and lunchtime lessons until 9:00 PM
in the evening.
The Adult student can expect to learn all genres of music
ranging from classical, jazz, swing, pop, ragtime, blues and
more. At the Royal Academy the adult student can
expect to learn music all the skills necessary in being a
well rounded and creative musician. The Royal Academy
ensures that all of its students develop strong
sight-reading skills, counting and rhythmic skills,
technical skills, theory and again, to explore their creativity.
There is no question as to the many therapeutic and stress
relieving benefits of music. Not only as a listener
and player
does the sound of beautiful music immediately relax and
soothe a very active and tense mind, but music has the
ability to stir the emotions and to act as a wonderful vehicle for
creative expression.
Finding
an Instrument
If you do not already have a
piano there are several options that you
have. The first and least expensive option
is to purchase an electric piano or
keyboard. We highly recommend that your
electric keyboard have a minimum of 66
keys or states it has "full size" keys, this
will ensure that your keyboards keys are the
same size as a piano's keys, this is very
important because it will make a huge
difference when playing intervals, as well
as affect the whole technical learning
process. Secondly, make sure the piano's
keys are either "weighted" or "touch
sensitive", this will ensure that the
keyboard or digital piano feels more like
the "action" on an acoustic piano. An
alternate and ideal option, is to purchase
an acoustic upright, baby-grand, or full
grand piano. Upright pianos are a great
option for both their value and compact
size, and even renting a piano or digital
piano is an option that is available to
Royal Academy Students by calling the Royal
Academy Waltham School at 781-788-0060.
The
Benefit of Piano Lessons
Piano lessons will give you
the sense of conducting your own "mini"
orchestra. Remember, all of the major
classical composers were also great pianists
and before they became great musicians, they
took piano lessons! Among all the
instruments, The piano is the most universal
and essentially has the most diverse
repertoire.
There is no question that
learning to play piano will improve upon a
student's coordination skills. What is
most notable and nothing short of amazing
are the long-term positive effects music has
on the brain. To elaborate, music can
improve a child's " spatial ability", the
ability to comprehend other related
materials or subjects such as mathematics
and science. It is no coincidence that most
scientists, physicians and immortal genius'
such as "Einstein" were all musicians.
Below is an article we thought our students
might find interesting.
Interesting Article on "Music and the Brain"
Music enters the brain
through the ears. Pitch, melody, and
intensity of notes are processed in several
areas of the brain such as the cerebral
cortex, the brain stem, and the frontal
lobes. Both the right-brain and left-brain
auditory cortex interprets sound. Feza
Sancar (1999) writes that the right-brain
auditory cortex specializes in determining
hierarchies of harmonic relations and rich
overtones and the left-brain auditory cortex
deciphers the sequencing of sound and
perception of rhythm.
Many studies have been performed to examine
the affect of musical instruction on the
brain. For example, researchers at the
University of Munster, Germany, (1998)
reported that music lessons in childhood
actually enlarge the brain. The auditory
cortex is enlarged by 25% in musicians
compared to those who have never played an
instrument. According to the study by
Frances Rauscher of the University of
California, Irvine, (1997) links between
neurons in the brain are strengthened with
music lessons. Dr. Frank Wilson’s study
(1989) involving instrumental music learning
to play an instrument refines the
development of the brain and the entire
neurological system and the brain reveal
that evidence, it is clear that music
instruction is essential to children’s
education because it improves their academic
performance. Curriculum areas that music
instruction affects most include language
development, reading, mathematics, and
science. Music itself is a kind of language
full of patterns that can be used to form
notes, chords, and rhythms. Exposure to
music helps a child analyze the harmonic
vowel sounds of language as well as sequence
words and ideas. Another curriculum area
enhanced by music participation is reading.
A child who participates in music activities
experiences sensory integration, a crucial
factor in reading readiness. Wilson’s study
(1989) reveals that music instruction
enhances a student’s ability to perform
skills necessary for reading including
listening, anticipating, forecasting, memory
training, recall skills, and concentration
techniques. Mathematics is the academic
subject most closely connected with music.
Music helps students count, recognize
geometric shapes, understand ratios and
proportions, and the frameworks of time.
Researcher Gordon Shaw (1993) found that
piano instruction enhances the brain’s
ability for spatial-temporal reasoning, or
the ability to visualize and transform
information.
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WORCESTER,MA 508-755-7373
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