If you want to play an instrument or join a choir, it's extremely helpful to be able to read music notes. Ultimately, any piece of music can be read and played without help from others, even if you've never heard it before. In music notation, you can read the melody, the accompaniment, the pitch, the rhythm, the dynamics (louder, softer, building, falling), the tempo, and where the accents are.
A computer can be very helpful in learning music notation. We use the program MuseScore for this. You can play it directly and thus hear what's written in the music notation. You can then immediately see which changes have what kind of effect. There is a lot of music available that you can load directly into MuseScore.
The lessons take place on a beautiful, fully restored Bechstein grand piano from 1907. For beginners, it might be very interesting to see exactly how a grand piano works. We'll look at the keys, how to remember them, what each key does (navigation), and how it makes a string sound. Then there's damping by releasing the key. What do the pedals do?
If you're a bit more advanced, you'll also want to learn how to play a piece from sheet music. For this, you'll need knowledge of music notation. You'll start with unison, meaning with one hand. You can then try playing a melody. Suppose you sing in a choir and want to learn your part. I can teach you that.
At some point, you'll also want to be able to play polyphonically, using both hands simultaneously. To get this completely right, you do need to be patient. If you're right-handed, it won't be easy, as your left hand has to work just as hard, and for left-handed people, it's the other way around.
But I can also help students who have had lessons before and want to build up their skills again. I'm good at motivating people and suggesting different pieces of music that they might initially have thought they could never play. Ultimately, anything can be learned, and I can give you pointers on how best to learn difficult passages and add your own interpretation to a piece.
A nice compliment I've sometimes received in this regard is that a student's housemates suddenly start to appreciate the music they play. So the progress is noticed and encouraged!
Many people wonder why we find certain passages in music so beautiful. What's actually happening here? If you analyze a piece of music closely, you'll hear a buildup of tension followed by a climax, questions and answers, happiness and sadness, and all sorts of things that can influence someone's emotions. There's a story, a rhythm or swing, and an admirable interplay of notes, but what creates this? I try to provide clarity here, using music notation and the piano.
I can also tell you a lot about various composers, their backgrounds, and the times in which they lived. So there's plenty to learn, and I think it will be fun and exciting for the motivated student!