Lorraine Liyanage – Page 43 – SE22 Piano School ~ East Dulwich

Back to School! Lessons start on 3rd September 2018

Hello Pianists – lessons start next Monday 3rd September (my birthday!). The Summer break has been quite full of musical activity despite a break from lessons. I’ve been practising for my upcoming recital at Bell House in Dulwich Village that is now only a few days away. Do come along – me and Alex are performing a short recital on the harpsichord and we’d love to see you there. [Book Tickets]

The timetable has just been emailed out via MailChimp to all subscribers. Nearly all students are signed up to the group newsletter but lots of new students have not yet subscribed. Please sign up so that you can receive the latest information about upcoming events and performance opportunities. [Join Mailing List]

The rest of my Summer has been busy with helping young musicians prepare for the upcoming state secondary Music Scholarships. We’ve had three group Music Aptitude Test workshops and there’s one more in September and October. [September Workshop]

Music Scholarship entrance tests are taking place throughout the Autumn term for UK schools. Don’t forget to let your teacher know if you are entering Year 6 and preparing for the scholarships so that we can spend time each lesson getting you ready for the Round One MAT. If you are thinking about local schools such as Kingsdale, Haberdashers or Prendergast then we can assist with scholarship entry. Many other schools in London Boroughs use the test such as Chelsea Academy, Cardinal Vaughan, Dame Alice Owen, Marylebone, West London Free School and Twyford to name just a few.

If you have any questions about the MAT, feel free to join our Facebook discussion group as it has lots of helpful tips and frequently asked questions.

Upcoming Events

As always, we have loads of great events coming up for musicians of all ages. Take a look at our Eventbrite page to see what’s on this Autumn and Spring [Upcoming Events]

I Wish I Didn’t Quit Music Lessons

Your child starts playing an instrument. Then they grow frustrated, impatient and bored. Then they quit and years later wish they didn’t. Why does this happen to so many people? Bad teaching? Boring music? Is playing the clarinet not cool enough? How can you stop this from happening? What can you do to help?

Nathan Holder will perform on the saxophone and also discuss his new book I Wish I Didn’t Quit: Music Lessons at a book launch in Dulwich Village on Saturday 29 September. His book gives you the tools and ideas to help your child succeed along their musical journey.

He has gathered tips from world class musicians to help you to understand how you can give your children an amazing set of lifelong skills, confidence and experiences.

There will also be short performances from musicians of all ages at this event and a giveaway of the book selected from the list of attendees pre-registered for this free event.

All ages welcome. Free entry.

29 September @ 2pm
St. Barnabas Parish Hall, Dulwich Village

Register online for a free ticket: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-wish-i-didnt-quit-music-lessons-in-conversation-with-nathan-holder-tickets-48307762819

Welcome to the SE22 Piano School!

Welcome to the SE22 Piano School! We are delighted that you are starting your musical journey with us. We are located in East Dulwich. [Map]

Please sign our registration form if you have not already done so. This will enable you to receive our newsletter that is our primary method of communication with students/parents Without signing up to this, you will not find out about latest events and performance opportunities or the timetable. [Registration Form]

Timetable for Lessons (password provided on 27/08 to everyone signed up for our mailing list).

Books to Purchase For Your First Lesson:

Term Dates (check back for 2019 dates)
Autumn Half-Term 1: 03 Sept – 20 Oct ( 7 lessons)
HALF-TERM BREAK (1 week)
Autumn Half-Term 2: 29 Oct – 15 Dec ( 7 lessons)

Here are some frequently asked questions:

Do I need a piano to start piano lessons?
Yes, you will need an acoustic or digital piano that is touch sensitive. A keyboard is not usually fit for purpose. We are happy to advise on a suitable instrument. See here for our recommended starter digital piano packages.

What happens if I can’t attend my lesson?
As we are a private school, we do not refund or reschedule your lesson if you are unable to attend.

I’ve decided to do another activity on the same day as my piano lesson, can I swap to another time?
Unfortunately, no. Putting together the timetable is like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube so your lesson time remains fixed for the academic year. Please do not schedule any activities in this time as we cannot guarantee we can find you a space when required with the same teacher.

I can’t come for my lesson on Monday, can I come on Saturday instead? Unfortunately, no. We have a team of 6 teachers working on set days per week with a tightly packed schedule. Not all of our teachers live in the local area and they are only available on their scheduled lesson to offer you a lesson.

When can I do my Grade 1 exam?
Exams are optional but if you show enthusiasm and can commit to at least 20 minutes practice a day, we will certainly be able to start you on the graded exam process.

How long will it take me to get to Grade 5?
There is no quick answer to this as every student learns differently but it can be around 6+ years from the time of starting piano lessons.

I am a beginner pianist, surely I can’t take part in the student recital?
Yes you can! We encourage all pianists to participate in our events, even if you’ve only had one lesson. There will be one of our teaching team there to support you and sit with you, if required. You will also get to hear pianists of a similar age performing and you’ll get to hear lots of great pieces that you can soon learn. We encourage all pianists to come to the recitals and competitions whether you are playing or not. We have an event soon, do come along! [More Info]

I am hoping to get a Music Scholarship to secondary school. Can you help me with that?
Yes we prepare a lot of students for entry to state and private schools on music scholarships. Do let your teacher know well in advance that you’d like to sit the entrance tests and we’ll come up with a plan of action! Find out more about the Music Aptitude Test that is used by secondary schools.

More Information

Free Event – I Wish I Didn’t Quit: Music Lessons

Looking for some motivation for your child on their musical journey? Join us for a free event with saxophonist and author Nathan Holder in Dulwich Village on 27 September at 2.10pm.

Nate will perform on the saxophone and also discuss his new book I Wish I Didn’t Quit: Music Lessons. This book gives you the tools and ideas to help your child succeed along their musical journey.

He has gathered tips from world class musicians to help you to understand how you can give your children an amazing set of lifelong skills, confidence and experiences.

There will also be short performances from musicians of all ages at this event and a giveaway of the book selected from the list of attendees pre-registered for this free event.

All ages welcome. Free entry. Event organised by the Dulwich Music Festival. We are running a music competition on the same day and adjudicated by Nate. Enter Competition.