Richard’s method

The key to success in music is NOT technical ability or speed but in complete understanding. Certainly it is necessary to perform exercises in order to limber up the finger muscles so that one can play better – however, the key is in first understanding a) the theory involved and b) the point of the exercise. Once this is achieved, the rest folows naturally, and with a well-rounded practice regime, phenomenal progress may be seen. I frequently teach to young children concepts normally reserved for A-level students with amazing results. I believe that we do not expect enough from our students.

That said, I have a huge issue with the traditional method of teaching piano, which is simply this; why is it seen as necessary to teach musical notation at the same time as you teach someone the basics of piano? Did you learn to read and write at the same time as learning to speak? No, of course not. You learn a basic mastery of the language first, then, when your brain has come to terms with the way in which it works, you can begin to apply the concept of how to interpret the signs and symbols. And so it is with music. We can reach MUCH further if we focus on the right goals.

My method revolves around getting students playing relatively complex pieces fairly quickly. As an example, a 16-year-old student of mine who had been learning for just over 12 months was introduced to the concept of reading music by learning the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. In the first music-reading lesson he got halfway down the first page (both hands together). He completed the piece in 6 weeks and is now happily learning other classical pieces off his own back.

As another example, a 6-year-old who had just started having lessons with me arrived with 2 years of lessons with another teacher under his belt. He was unable to play any pieces completely, and everything he did play involved single finger melodies. By the end of the first 30-minute lesson he was playing chords with the right hand at the same time as a fairly complex bass pattern with the left hand.

I use a selection of resources in my teaching – many backing tracks and score sheets, exercises I have developed and so on. You will need a folder or notebook to work with at your lessons, and it would be useful to have a computer or an MP3 player near your piano/keyboard at home.