Piano is one of the easier instruments to begin learning. It is recommended that your child should start with piano before moving on to a more complex instrument that would require intonation, like strings or woodwind. However, despite it being one of the easier instruments, daily practice and patience is vital for the student to master this instrument.

Most students over the age of five can learn their first song within a few weeks of lessons. The fundamentals must be in place first: regular practice habits, correct posture, finger placement, and the basics of producing a clear sound.

Students studying at OMS will benefit from our proprietary curriculum and assessment system, OPUS (Octopus Poly-instrumental Units of Study). OPUS comprises ten grade levels, each with an accompanying assessment. Each grade level should take a student, on average, 6-10 months to complete. In order to advance to Grade 6, students must complete both a Theory and Aural Training Workshop as well as a minimum of twelve hours of Ensemble Classes. Our piano curriculum emphasizes key skills that are crucial to students’ proper development. From the beginning, we emphasize sight-reading, aural training, proper posture and curved fingers, rhythm skills, scales, and repertoire development.

Our curriculum features a 10-tiered program of advancement wherein graduation from each level is increasingly difficult. For reference, we expect students on the traditional track to graduate from Level 1 in 3-5 months. In contrast, students in Levels 8-10 who practice regularly are expected to advance in a year, or perhaps even longer, depending on the challenges presented in their studies.

The absolute most important aspect of learning any musical instrument is consistent daily practice. Students should aim to practice each day for the same amount of time they spend in their weekly lessons. If a student is taking a 30-minute lesson, the daily practice goal should be 30 minutes. Of course, that is the goal, and students shouldn’t aim too high in the beginning!

Facilitate success by setting a time each day for practice. At first, it can be just a few minutes, with the goal of increasing as the student progresses. Set a timer and have a “practice space” where the instrument and all of the necessary materials are easily accessible. Practice should be associated with positivity rather than negativity. Instead of an ultimatum (“Practice, or no screen time), try to make it a reward (“Every 20 minutes of practice earns you 20 minutes of screen time”). Talk to your child’s private instructor to form a plan if you have ongoing concerns.

The amount of adult help students need varies by age; very young students may need 15-30 minutes of parents’ daily, hands-on attention. Students should become increasingly independent in their practice over their months and years of study. If your child has trouble making practice part of their daily routine, we recommend starting small and making goals to increase time as your child’s attention span and interest is cultivated.

Encourage your child to listen to music that prominently features the instrument they are learning. This can be done by simply listening to music in the car or at home, or, taking your child to live music events so they can see first-hand where all of the hard work they are putting in can lead.