Piano lessons in Richardson, TX

PIANO LESSONS IN RICHARDSON FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES

BEGINNER PIANO LESSONS

There is no audition process to enroll in lessons at Nathan Ryland Piano Studio. In our first lesson, I will assess a student’s current level, ask about their goals or musical preferences, and get a read on any prior musical experience the student may have. If a student (whether a child or adult) has never touched a piano or read a note, that’s perfectly fine. I have years of experience helping total beginners learn the keys, develop finger technique, learn to read notes, and become competent pianists. I always proceed at a comfortable learning pace for the student, and I provide instruction on how to practice at home so we can keep the momentum going.

INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED PIANO LESSONS

When a student has prior experience at the piano, I like to hear them play a piece that they’ve been working on. We will then dig into their sight reading capability, understanding of music theory, and technical expertise. This will help me know what kind of piano repertoire to assign. For instance, would they benefit from the challenges of a Prokofiev sonata, or should we scale back to a more accessible Chopin prelude to focus on legato, voicing, and fundamentals? Every student is 100% unique.

Also, I can help advanced pianists prepare for auditions, recitals, and competitions. From recording an in-lesson performance to staging a mock jury, we can dig into your music and “polish” it, thereby bringing it to a professional level.

PIANO LESSONS FOR KIDS IN RICHARDSON

While I’m a strong proponent of Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) materials, I’m also deeply familiar with other methods like Faber, Bastien, and other pedagogy materials. I create unique lesson plans for each young student, and finish each lesson with engaging and educational material for the student to practice at home (along with notes for caretakers). I seek things that help children get excited about music, from their favorite songs to drills and activities that they find enjoyable. While I always provide a strong musical foundation, it all comes down to sparing a lifelong love of music.

PIANO LESSONS FOR ADULTS

I enjoy working with adults at my studio. Some adults have never touched a piano before, while others are ready to dig into things like music theory and composition at a deeper level. I’m happy to work with you on specific goals, from learning to sight read to mastering a particularly challenging piece of music. We can also focus on your favorite composers, from Bach to Mendelsohn and Carl Vine.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

MY PIANO STUDIO LOCATION

My studio is located in Plano, near the corner of 18th and Ridgewood Dr. There is a Whole Foods just a few blocks away, and Luna Grill, Piada Italian Street Food, and Oni Ramen make it easy for families and adult students to grab dinner or get some shopping done around lessons. Many of my students from the southern part of Richardson take 75, as I’m located just off Renner Rd. on Stoneboro Ln. If you have any questions about my location or parking, please let me know.

I NEED A JAZZ, POP, OR ROCK PIANO TEACHER - CAN YOU HELP?

I’m a classically trained pianist, and as such, my lessons are more traditional in nature. That said, the fundamentals that we will cover in lessons will absolutely help you learn to improvise, develop contemporary techniques, understand the form of blues and other genres, and more. If you have a specific musical goal in mind, please let me know.

WHAT EXACTLY WILL I LEARN IN MY PIANO LESSONS?

I can’t cover everything on my website, but you will receive a well rounded music education. We’ll start with posture, hand technique, wrist rotation, and other playing fundamentals, and as you develop, you will learn the art of pedaling as well. We will also start learning to read notes on the bass and treble clef early on, and we’ll develop your sight reading ability. Basic music theory is also entwined with my teaching methodologies. From scale degrees to dominant chords (and eventually modes and more), you will gradually acquire a great deal of music theory knowledge. We will also cover different keys, major and minor scales, accidentals, and other fundamentals.

Rhythm is another important aspect of music making. We will study time signatures (4/4 time, 6/8 time, etc.), and you’ll learn the difference between quarter notes, whole notes, etc. We will also keep your rhythm even and accurate when learning music. There’s so much more to cover, so if you have any questions, please get in touch.

WHAT INSTRUMENT DO YOU NEED AT HOME?

Students will need to have access to an 88 key instrument at home so that they can make progress through practice each day. While a digital keyboard may be sufficient for beginners, intermediate students and beyond will need the nuances of touch and sound that only a piano can provide. I am happy to provide more insight if you are looking for a piano.

CONTACT ME TO START PIANO LESSONS IN RICHARDSON, TX

If you’d like to explore enrolling in weekly lessons, please get in touch. I accept new students year round, and I enjoy helping beginners, aspiring professionals, kids and adults reach their goals. I’d be happy to speak with you at your earliest convenience.