Piano Lessons FAQ
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How old does my child have to be to start piano lessons?
Roughly 5 years old, but more importantly, here is what your child must be able to do before they are ready to start piano lessons:
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Recite the alphabet
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Say "GFEDCBA" and understand that it is the alphabet backwards.
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Count up to 10.
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Count backwards from 10 down to 1.
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Be able to differentiate their fingers using words like "thumb, pointer, middle, ring, and pinky".
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Know their left from their right *almost* every time they are asked.
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Be able to stay on an activity like coloring or a craft for 15 minutes without losing interest or needing to get up and run around.
Use these as your barometer and let us know if they're ready and you're interested in lessons.
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What methods do your teachers use?
We avoid rote methods for beginning students. Rote methods like Suzuki for Pre-K to 8 year olds has it’s place in some cultures that are more competitive and performance-based. We prefer to teach music reading and encourage long-term independence. Bastien and Alfred are great for elementary aged beginners. Faber is a little more challenging - great for kids who *really* put in the extra effort. Piano Pronto is a newer method that we think is excellent. Once students have a few years of method books, we encourage the transition to repertoire - classical, jazz, modern, pop, even video game music - whatever sparks the student’s interests and meets their desire for a challenge.
Do we need a piano in our home?
You will need either a piano or a keyboard in your home.
For the first year, a small keyboard will suffice to see if the child remains interested, but these can be difficult to play and they don’t sound or feel very good, so we discourage them.
By the second year, a student will need a full instrument with a proper pedal and stand. We recommend:
You can also buy instruments of quality from sweetwater.com. You want an 88-key, fully-weighted digital keyboard with pedals. It would need either an X-style music stand or furniture style-casing. Be sure it comes with a place to rest your sheet music.
If you are buying a used digital from someone online, please test every key to make sure they all work. These can fall apart after 10-20 years and there is no easy way to repair them.
How much piano practice is expected?
Aim for their age x 2 in minutes. A 10 year old should practice 20 minutes at a time, a 6 year old should practice 12 minutes. Use an egg timer like your Grandma did - or tell Alexa to set a timer. Best to practice the day after a lesson, once on the weekend, and a day before your lesson. Aim for 3 practices and don’t panic if you have an off week. Learning an instrument takes years. Plan for a 5-10 year investment and don’t imagine they’ll stop in high school - that’s when all that hard work starts to really pay off! We just had a student get a music scholarship (not even planning to be a music major) at college that paid back every penny that her parents spent in lessons and then some!.
For all the times listed above, I'd recommend doubling it the month before a recital.
How to keep practice from becoming a negotiation
Keep a good attitude. It’s like teaching your kids to brush their teeth or do their homework. No need to threaten or negotiate, no need to take away rewards. Remember that once a child is on a screen it’s hard to get them off (boy, true for us as well, right?). Set up practice time to happen when they are already in doing-mode, not play mode. Or encourage it as a bedtime extender - we’ve found this works great. Set up a bedtime that’s 15 minutes earlier than you would normally and then if they want to stay up later, they can do so by practicing. (sneaky genius)
David Van Antwerp
Piano, Guitar, Voice
David has been working as a music educator, choir director, and musician for over 30 years, but his love of music began in his childhood with his studies of the piano, guitar, and voice. As a student, he sang with various honors ensembles in New Jersey from regional, state, and national choruses as well as performing as a guitarist and pianist in various school, church, and community groups.
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David holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Rowan University. David applied his musical experience and training to the community in a variety of ways, including Church Musician / Choir Director (Our Lady Queen of Peace in Pitman), Music Therapist, and Director of Choral Activities at Washington Township High School.
In all of his roles, he has provided one-on-one, small-group, and large- group musical activities, instruction and performance leadership.
Along with his directorial responsibilities, David has also taught guitar class, music theory and composition, and music appreciation.
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Mr Van Antwerp is best for piano and guitar students who are committed to regular practice and who are goal-oriented. He also teaches male singers. His methods are rooted in solid music pedagogy. He accepts students of all ages, but will do best with students who are committed to lifelong music study.
David teaches Tuesday - Friday in Pitman.
Christa Conklin
Piano, Saxophone, Clarinet
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Mrs. Conklin holds a BA from Rutgers University in both Music Performance and Communication and an MALS from Monmouth University. She worked in the education department of the New York Philharmonic and, while at Lincoln Center, played with Juilliard chamber ensembles as a classical saxophonist. This allowed her the joy of performing in Alice Tully Hall.
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In addition to studying woodwinds, and playing them in wind ensembles and big bands, Ms. Conklin played electric bass guitar in jazz ensembles and pit bands. Providing private instrumental and french language instruction to students led her to prefer to teach outside of the classroom and inspired her to homeschool her own children. Ms. Conklin is also a published author.
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Christa is excellent with beginning piano students - particularly K-5th. She has a background in homeschooling and is a YA author, so she has a great rapport with our little ones. She is a very experienced saxophone player and accepts beginners through adults. Additionally, she works with beginning and intermediate clarinetists.
Christa teaches Monday - Thursday in Pitman.
Genise Ivins
Piano
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Mrs. Ivins is a graduate from Rutgers University with a B.A. in Music with a concentration in music education. She holds teaching certificates in grades K-5, music in grades K-12, and a middle school math specialization in grades 6-8.
She started studying piano when she was 9 years old and has shared her love for music through many recitals and performances. She has taught private piano lessons for 11 years and taught in the public school system for 9 years.
Mrs. Ivins is a patient and compassionate educator and enjoys teaching children of all ages and abilities. She is an active performer in her local church at weekly services and special events. She enjoys spending time with her family, especially sharing musical moments with her 3 year old son.
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Genise is a very personable and experienced teacher whose calm demeanor is a perfect fit for nervous students. She is equally adept at working with teens and adults as she is at working with K-8.
Genise teaches Mondays in Pitman and Thursdays in Woodbury
Kobi Davidson
Piano
Pianist Kobi Davidson has maintained a thriving piano studio since 2013. He has taught at the Conservatory of Musical Arts in Audubon, NJ, Menchey Music in Timonium, Maryland and the International School of Music in Bethesda, MD. Kobi was also a teaching artist at for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra OrchKids program, where he taught advanced music theory classes for middle school and high school students. Kobi has experience with beginners, intermediate, and advanced musicians, and children with special needs. He is committed to helping students of all ages, levels and personalities discover the joy of music and to provide them with the tools necessary to perform and play at a high level.
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Kobi works well with students of all ages and abilities. He does particularly well with students who intend to make piano an important part of their lives. He has a laid-back and gentle personality and a holistic approach to music study.
Kobi teaches in Pitman on Wednesdays
Adi Achterberg
Piano, Voice
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Adelaide is a singer, musician, and actor graduating from Rowan University with a degree in Musical Theatre. Her main instruments are voice and piano, as well as oboe, ukulele, saxophone, and bass guitar.
She started playing piano and performing onstage at a very young age and performed with many musical groups and community theatres in her home county of York, PA. Adelaide prides herself on her versatility of vocal styles, though she specializes in musical theatre and jazz. With her strong background in musical theatre, she believes in creating a well-rounded performer with a healthy voice and an equal focus on musicality and emotional expression.
Adi does best with our beginning piano students. Our K-8th graders particularly like her fun energy.
She teaches in Pitman on Thursdays and in Woodbury on Mondays