Virginia Piano

Reading music is like reading books. Like words on a page, piano music is read from left to right, line by line.

Also, just like learning to read books, reading piano music takes daily practice. I recommend 15 minutes daily, to my piano students at Virginia Piano.

Like books, music reading is by “level”. My hope for each of my piano students is that they will find great enjoyment in playing piano, and achieve at least an intermediate or early-advanced level.

Like learning to read books, reading piano music is best done with the guidance of an expert teacher. I’ve been teaching kids and adults to read piano music since ’96 wow! A weekly 30 minute lesson is the norm.

Like reading books, reading piano music requires a proper learning curve. This means I give my students new material to learn each week, that is specific to their current needs. I give them the tools they need (how to recognize an individual note on the staff, how to recognize the distances between notes, for example), to use at home when needed. This would be similar to teaching a student how to “sound out” a word.

In both piano music reading and book reading, students are able to “sight read” material that is at or below their level. This gives confidence, and is a wonderful balance to the parts that need to be “figured out”. In lessons, a student will demonstrate how they figure out a small section (usually about 2 measures), For young students I will circle the section with a bright color, so the student can more easily focus. I will also refer to this section as a little “puzzle”. I’m encouraging, and turn it into a fun challenge. Always of course, I am mindful of the student’s unique learning abilities and individual learning curve.

There are many crossovers between reading piano music and reading books. It is also no surprise that my piano students that are good at reading books, have also excelled at reading piano music. And the other way around as well! Reading piano music makes kids better readers of books!

Please call or message for your free trial lesson. Ages 4 1/2-adult.