Totnes School of Piano

29/11/2025

Recital day - the calm before….

19/11/2025

Today I taught my first Christmas Chords lesson of the season, and my heart is so full. 🎹✨

My student was absolutely lovely — warm, enthusiastic, and ready to dive into a beautifully familiar Christmas classic. We started with a well-loved festive song - in fact a personal favourite for both of us, and listening to her find those first shimmering chords felt like the start of the season itself.

If you’d like to discover which song we’re learning — and even play it yourself in time for Christmas — message me. 🎄🎶

17/11/2025

Ever wondered how Christmas Time Is Here (Vince Guaraldi Trio) sounds so impossibly soft, nostalgic, and dreamy?
It isn’t complicated — but it does use a very specific kind of harmony that creates that warm, winter-evening glow.

This December, we’re learning how to play lush Christmas chords at the piano: simple shapes, beautiful sound, maximum musical mood.

If you’d love your festive piano playing to sound less basic and more cinematic, that’s exactly what we’re exploring inside Christmas Chords this month.

Want to learn the exact harmonic moves?
Let’s get started soon — Christmas will be here before you know it. 🎄

Message me or comment 🎹 and I’ll get you signed up.

On December 9, 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas aired on TV screens across America and instantly captured the hearts and ears of a generation. Bolstering the ...

15/11/2025

Oh my heart.

I have a little one — just five years old — who started piano lessons earlier this year. She enjoys our lessons, but her parents recently told me she was reluctant to play at home. And of course, without playing at home, fingers don’t strengthen, dexterity doesn’t develop… and everything begins to stall. As teachers, we know that’s often the beginning of the end.

Wanting to help her — and wanting to give her parents something simple and encouraging to use — I created a little “Play Every Day” challenge. It’s nothing fancy: just a small weekly journal where she can colour in a box for each day she plays her song of the week, and earn a sticker for four or more days of practice.

Well.

She arrived at her lesson with all seven days coloured in. I praised her warmly but inwardly thought, “Let’s see how this goes.”

What happened next absolutely melted me.

Her playing was strong. Confident. Assured. Even joyful.
She could feel it — the song was hers. She played it with me in duet, beaming, singing the melody as she went. The sticker? That was just extra.

The real prize was this:
✨ Confidence.
✨ Joy.
✨ The spark of I can do this.

Saturday morning: tiny, little, beautiful human revolutions. 💙

13/11/2025

🎄 I’ve had some lovely early interest in the Christmas Chords sessions this week — thank you! It’s been such a joy sketching out some of the festive chord patterns we’ll be using, and they’re already sounding beautiful.

If you or someone you know would love to play a Christmas song at the piano this season, it’s a really magical time of year to begin.

Feel free to send a message if you'd like the details. ❤️ 🤍 💚

10/11/2025

🎹✨ Christmas Chords Offer 🎄

I’ve been wanting to do something a little special before Christmas — a short, festive course where anyone can sit down and play real music using simple chords.

Join me for five festive piano lessons for £110 and learn to play classic Christmas songs — no sheet music required!

You’ll:
🎶 Explore how chords work and how to create your own accompaniments
🎶 Build confident technique and keyboard awareness
🎶 Enjoy a relaxed, creative approach — perfect for the holiday season

Open to children, teens, and adults, with Wednesday morning, Friday morning and afternoon, and Saturday sessions available.

🎄 Only ten spaces available — book soon.

👉 Message me here or visit the link below to reserve your spot!

https://www.totnesschoolofpiano.co.uk/contact

25/03/2025

"The Joy of Practicing leads you to the Celebration of the Creation."

It's like a mantra. Thank you, Cecil Taylor, avant-garde jazz pianist—known for wild, energetic, completely fearless playing—born this day in 1929.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNXvQaBEByg

19/03/2025

🎶 We have one more piano lesson slot open—perfect for kids or adults looking to start or get back into music! Message me if you’re interested!

17/03/2025

🎶 FINAL SPOTS! 🎶
Our fun and engaging Preschool Prodigies music sessions still have space on Wednesdays!

🌟 Perfect for ages 3-5
🎵 Develops rhythm, coordination & confidence
🥁 Hands-on bells, movement & fun activities
📍 Totnes School of Piano
🕘 Wednesday Mornings & Mid-Day

Give your little one a joyful start in music!
Email [email protected] or message me to reserve your spot!

(Limited spaces – enroll today!)

11/02/2025

🎶 A Glimpse Into Preschool Prodigies! 🎶

Curious about what happens in a Preschool Prodigies lesson? Here’s a peek inside this engaging and structured music program for ages 3-5!

🌈 Colorful Bells & Toy Piano – We introduce young learners to pitch and music-making through vibrant, hands-on instruments.
📖 Fun Workbook Activities – From exploring musical concepts to interactive exercises, our lessons keep little ones engaged.
🎼 Sheet Music for Bells – Even at this early stage, children begin learning real music notation in a playful way.
🎨 Creative Coloring Pages – Reinforcing learning through visual and motor skills.
🎹 Connecting Bells to the Piano – Helping young musicians bridge the gap from bells to keyboard.
🎥 Video lessons with Mr. Rob – A structured and engaging way to guide young students through music fundamentals.

Music at this age isn’t just fun—it builds listening skills, confidence, and focus, laying a strong foundation for future learning. Our Wednesday sessions are filling up fast—come join the musical fun!

📣 What Parents Are Saying:
"Our daughter started Preschool Prodigies at three and has loved every minute! Lona creates the perfect blend of music and play to engage curious little minds. It has been a wonderful introduction to music!" – Heather McIntyre

📩 Go to https://www.totnesschoolofpiano.co.uk/preschoolprodigies to learn more or get in touch here - https://www.totnesschoolofpiano.co.uk/contact