What did we learn from our first 'Introduction to Piano' course?

Laura and I recently had the absolute joy of running our very first 'Introduction to Piano' course for a group of incredible and very talented children. Here’s what we discovered along the way and what we’re taking into our next courses:

They get stuck in!

The kids were wonderfully enthusiastic and curious. They wanted to press keys, explore sounds and make music right away. And so, we very quickly learnt to…

Talk less, play more

One of our biggest takeaways: don’t over-explain. The kids don’t need long speeches, they need short, clear instructions and then to get cracking.

They can do more than we think

Our students blew us away. Whether it was picking up rhythms, understanding notations, or playing chords, they totally exceeded our expectations. I don’t think we’d planned for them to be playing a two-handed melody by the end of the course!

Time flies!

45 minutes goes quickly. We need to keep an eye on that clock if we want to fit everything in.

More than the music

It was wonderful to engage with the children about their likes and interests and relate them to music. One student was reading The BFG, so we played a snippet of the Mountain King the following week. Another loved bringing a new toy to each class, so Laura suggested performing mini concerts for her teddy bear audience.

AttenTION! (or not)

Sometimes, kids get bored and their focus dips, and that’s fine! We can notice it, check for understanding, shift the activity, and gently guide them back in. We introduced stretches, exercises and mini-games to keep that energy up.

Their musical tastes…whoa!

Massive Attack, Queen, Italian composers…our students listen to an incredible range of music at home. We’re leaning into this by asking questions, playing samples, and using it to inspire lesson content.

It's not always easy

We loved seeing how determined our musicians were to get things right. That will inevitably lead to some frustration when something doesn't click straight away (I know from experience!) More reassurance, more time, and celebrating the small wins gets them through the tricky bits.

They love to siiiiiiing

The vocal warm-ups and our third pillar, Sing and Play, were a massive hit. Singing is such a fun way to build confidence and show that learning an instrument is a multi-faceted practice.

Chords + little hands - not easy!

Although the kids loved Sing and Play, we realised their hands needed more support and practice before attempting chords. We’ll be starting with finger-strengthening games and exercises from now on.

Reflection is key

After each session, we’ve taken time to reflect - what worked, what didn’t land, and how we could explain something more simply next time. Teaching is all about adapting to the room.

Free Play for the w

in

The kids loved exploring the piano on their own terms at the end of class, which meant that ‘Free Play’ naturally emerged as an essential part of the lesson. It also gave space for the children to ask questions and chat to us. A wonderful way to end each session.

What parents have said about our first course...

"Our daughter had a great time learning piano with Viva Piano. The lessons struck a fantastic balance, with a seamless blend between playing popular songs and learning the early fundamentals of piano. The teachers were attentive to every child, remembering their musical interests and progress, which kept them engaged. It was a fantastic way for our daughter to be introduced to playing the piano and has stimulated her interest in music. Thank you."

"A wonderful start to piano! The two teachers were incredibly attentive and sweet with all the children. They really made sure that every child understood the concepts before moving on, which was fantastic. It was clear they cared deeply about each student's progress and well-being. My son was excited about what he would next learn. We recommend it for any parent looking for a gentle and encouraging introduction to piano for their child."

"I can't believe how much was achieved with all the kids! My daughter's enthusiasm and confidence has grown so much over the 6 weeks thanks to Laura and Scarlett's encouragement. We're already looking forward to the next course."