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What should you know before your first music lesson?

Life on Long Island is beautiful and harmonious. No matter where you live, there is always a beach at a stone’s throw away, and beside the beach, there is a pub with live music. All over the US, people wait for special festivals like Coachella and Tomorrowland to hear the latest hits, but on Long Island, all you need to do is find the nearest live music festival on Google and drive! That is the beauty and fun part about living here. You are always close to one live music scene or another. You can even decide to hop music festivals during any time of the year. No two premises have the same genre of music unless you are exclusively seeking out places of the same flavor.

Long Island is home to innumerable lighthouses, uncountable white sand beaches, fresh and scrumptious seafood, delicious wine, and rich musical heritage. In fact, there are scores of music stores, piano schools, and live music performances on almost every street on the island. People always seem to be heading from one location to the next, for the upcoming musical experience. While living on Long Island, or nearby, it is impossible to not sway to the tunes of the place. Music is in the air, and there is no way you can deny it.

Due to the long musical history of the place, many seniors, adults, and children enroll in music schools every month. Considering the number of music schools and private teachers there are, there is no chance of not finding a good music school that offers residents of Long Island piano lessons. However, you must remember, like any other school or place of business, the quality of service can vary between two places. Two teachers can employ significantly different methods to teach their student groups. Thus, it is your responsibility to find out all you can about the school of your choice or your potential piano teacher before you complete enrollment.

How should you prepare for your first lesson?

Once you get your piano lesson schedule, it is normal to feel jittery. If you have never played before, you might even find it daunting, especially with so many identical looking keys. We can assure you that there is nothing to worry about. To soothe your nerves further, we will give you a list of things you can do before your first lesson.

Speak to your teacher

We know how difficult this can be – reaching out to your new teacher, trying to not come off as too needy. However, a great teacher always knows how to put a new student at ease. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You are going to play the instrument for the first time, so it is fair to be inquisitive. It only shows how eager you are to learn. Before your first class, you might want to find out the following –

  • What books and equipment will you need?
  • What kind of flexibility does the school offer regarding lessons?
  • What’s the structure of a beginner’s first lesson?

These are very logical questions that should not only give you useful information but also help you stay calm during your first piano class.

Learn about a few exercises 

All piano teachers teach basic exercises and ask their students to follow suit for the rest of the week. You can get a head start, by checking out a few basic finger movements and exercises on YouTube. These do not require keyboards, and they only aim at improving the agility of your fingers. These movement exercises will help with the coordination. So, even if the exercises your YouTube videos teach do not match the ones your teacher shows, do not worry. Their aims are the same, and you will already be ahead of the rest of the class on your first day!

Gathering background knowledge

Many students baffle themselves by going through volumes of history and current updates on piano players and signature pieces. Well, you are a beginner, and it is alright if you do not know your Bach from your Chopin. It is the teacher’s responsibility to inform you, teach you and prepare you. You cannot expect to know everything on your very first day. Some of the best piano players on Long Island once started without any background knowledge of the instrument and the famous composers. You need to ensure that you understand what the teachers are saying and teaching during the lesson. That way you will soon get there!

Irrespective of your age, the excellent piano schools on the island do not expect their new students to know everything about the instrument or music. The teachers are there to help the students explore their musical aptitude, find their aims and learn more.

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Written by Eric Reyes