Beginner training plan
Your first lessonIt is important to spend the first lesson becoming acquainted with the piano keyboard, its range and the pattern of white and black keys. It is also important to become familiar with good posture at the piano, proper hand shape and how the fingers of each hand are numbered.
Lesson 2-3At lessons 2-3, we begin learning the basic note values (quarter note, half note, dotted half note, whole note) and how to attack and release each one, and techniques for counting their values. We also begin to play these basic note values in musical examples.
Lesson 4-10From lessons 4-10, we begin to study and learn the grand staff, and likewise the notes of each clef, and general notation. Musical examples will gradually become more challenging, lesson by lesson. It is at this stage, too, that students begin to practice certain exercises such as scales and arpeggios.
Lesson 11+At this stage, one has become pretty familiar with the notes of the grand staff (or how to figure them out if they’re still at the higher or lower extremities). Musical examples and pieces become more challenging in that various time signatures and other notational practices are learned.
Advanced training plan
Your first lessonFor an advanced player, I always ask that he or she play a piece that they know very well for me. I also have them do some sight-reading to assess their reading abilities and to become familiar with how they work. I watch and listen to their scale exercises and arpeggio exercises. I listen to them explain their goals they hope to achieve in studying with me and/or any areas that they feel they want to improve upon or advance on.
