Sarah Piano Teacher

I found this article incredibly sad to read today.

A-level Music entries have fallen to their lowest level ever, and there are concerns that some schools may eventually stop offering the subject altogether.

For me, it highlights just how important it is to introduce children to music when they are young. Music shouldn't be reserved for a talented few, those taking exams, or those planning a career in the industry. Music is for everyone.

Every child deserves the chance to experience the joy of making music, whether that's playing a simple tune, singing with friends, creating their own compositions, performing in a group, or simply learning to appreciate and enjoy music throughout their lives.

Some of my proudest moments as a teacher aren't students passing exams – they're seeing a child light up when they play a song they love, watching friendships develop through music-making, or hearing parents tell me their child has chosen to sit at the piano without being asked.

If we want music to have a future, we need to make it accessible, enjoyable, and available to all children from the very beginning.

Music is not a luxury. It is a vital part of childhood, creativity, confidence, and human connection.

🎵 Music is for everyone. 🎵https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/alevel-music-could-disappear-entries-record-low

Many things.

Got my youngest on the piano too preparing for his music assembly song. It was only 5 minutes but at least that's something!😂

A little teacher and mum reflection today... 💜🎹

One of the things that has made me smile the most this week is watching my (almost!) 13-year-old son choose to sit at the piano completely on his own – not because he was told to, but because he genuinely wanted to make music.

When he first started learning, he was in one of my group classes and absolutely loved it. He enjoyed playing with other children, using backing tracks, and simply having fun at the piano.

Then, like many parents, I thought it was time for private lessons. I hoped it would help him become more independent and encourage him to take ownership of his learning. Sadly, it had the opposite effect. The lessons became very traditional, mistakes were met with sighs and tutting, and the word "exam" came up after only the second lesson. He came home upset, lost confidence, and even ended up in tears at the piano. It broke my heart.

So we changed direction.

Instead of telling him what he should play, we let him choose what he wanted to play. Lead sheets, pop songs, music from Minecraft, backing tracks from his old group classes, YouTube tutorials… whatever sparked his interest!

And do you know what? This week he's taken himself to the piano four times without a single reminder from me. He's happily been playing Hey Jude, songs from Minecraft, and even Bohemian Rhapsody.

Years ago I was completely against YouTube tutorials, but I've changed my thinking. If they inspire children to sit down, explore music, and fall in love with playing, then I'm all for it. The joy comes first.

As teachers and parents, sometimes the greatest gift we can give our children is permission to enjoy music in their own way. Technique, reading, and even exams all have their place, but not at the expense of enthusiasm.

I'm just so thankful he didn't quit – especially at an age where so many children drift away from music. Seeing him choose the piano because he wants to is worth far more than any certificate.

And yes… I was secretly delighted that he chose to wear his purple T-shirt too. He blended in with the studio perfectly! 💜😊

Here's to letting our children play, explore, create, and make music they truly love. Sometimes that's exactly what keeps them at the piano for life. 🎶

💜 Welcome to my page! 💜

If you're a parent visiting for the first time, I thought I'd share a little about my teaching philosophy and why I do things a little differently.

I've been teaching piano for over 20 years, and for the first 15 years I taught in the traditional way: one-to-one lessons, method books and the familiar route through music exams. I loved teaching that way at the start but I often found myself wondering if there was a better way to inspire more children and make music something they genuinely loved&teach more creatively.

Then I discovered group piano teaching through the Keynotes approach, and it completely transformed the way I teach.

Today I run 20 small group classes, and I honestly couldn't imagine teaching any other way.

Children learn so much from each other. They play together, perform together, encourage one another and build confidence in a fun, supportive environment. Just as we happily send children to football, swimming, gymnastics or dance classes with other children, I believe music can flourish in a group too.

One of the biggest benefits is that music becomes accessible to everyone. Instead of waiting months or years for a one-to-one lesson, children can start learning, making friends and enjoying music straight away.

I'm passionate about continuing my own learning too. I regularly invest in professional development, explore new research and embrace modern teaching methods that put children at the centre of the learning process. My aim isn't simply to teach notes on a page, it's to create curious, confident, creative musicians who enjoy every step of the journey.

Do I believe one-to-one lessons have a place? Absolutely! In my view, they're often the perfect next step for students who have spent years developing their skills in groups, practise consistently and want to move on to graded exams, GCSE study or more advanced repertoire.

But my biggest goal has never been to produce children who can pass exams.

It's to help children develop a lifelong love of music.

After more than two decades of teaching, I've seen too many students complete exams and then never touch the piano again. I want my pupils to keep playing long after childhood, for fun, for relaxation, for creativity and for the pure joy of making music.

Watching children laugh together, support one another and celebrate each other's achievements every week reminds me why I chose this path. They aren't just learning to play the piano, they're building confidence, friendships and a love of music that I hope stays with them forever.

Thank you for stopping by my page. If you'd like to find out more or book a free taster session, I'd love to hear from you. 🎹✨