Hey Friends!

I am so excited to welcome you here to Piano Protégé! I am happy you have joined us and can’t wait for YOU to see your own music-making dreams come true.

First, a quick introduction. I am Shirley – you’ll be seeing a lot of me. I am the owner and founder of Piano Protégé. I have played the piano for more than 30 years and taught for more than 20. I have performed in many countries around the world, competed in and won many competitions, soloed with orchestras, studied with acclaimed teachers and got my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in piano performance. I have also had students compete and win many competitions and go on to study music in college. I love music. I love piano. I love what music does for our minds and souls and homes. That is why I am here and why I can’t wait for you to experience these same benefits.

I want to introduce you to our program here and give you some tips that will you get the most out of your Piano Protégé experience.

Your first priority is to decide what level you will begin in and I’m here to help you do that. You can access our “What level should I begin in?” chart to assess that. Don’t be afraid to start at an earlier level to really get down the great Technique basics that are offered in each level. This will help your progress and the quality of your playing in future levels immensely. You can go through lessons as quickly as you would like, but making sure your foundation is solid, will help every stage of your piano education.

After choosing what level to begin in, you will want to make sure you have the required materials for your level. We are using the second edition of the Faber books, so those are the pages and books that will correspond which each lesson assignment.

To make the most of your experience, I would strongly encourage you to schedule a consistent time to practice every day. Yes, we have seen amazing results from this product and curriculum. We have perfect confidence in it. But, like anything in life, you will get out what you put in. So, schedule a consistent time to practice and make it a prioritized part of your day.

For those who are younger and new at this, a parent will greatly assist your progress. In the earliest, youngest stages, daily practice with a parent will be the most helpful. As you progress, you can allow for some independence and still have great success. I typically practice with my daughter, age 6, the first one or two days after a new assignment is given. After that, she does most of it on her own with little “check-ins” when she needs it. My nine-year-old practices almost exclusively on his own, though he typically needs some help the first day of his new assignment. I will often remind him to practice slowly or use other “smart” practice techniques you are taught here, but I find he and our relationship do the best when give him as much independence as possible. You might find your situation different or similar.

Make your goal to complete the lesson assignment each day instead of a focus on time – this will result in more effective practice and better results. I encourage students to create a practice “MAP” - instead of worrying about doing the entire assignment from the first day, decide how much you can do and then gradually add on that each following day. If you are thinking in terms of “time” you can plan on 30 min. in the earlier levels and 45-60 min in the later levels of daily quality practice for the best results and progress. Doing daily effective practice for this time will result in amazing things! Just wait and see!

Each Level is broken up into two parts with 10 lessons in each part. You will begin at Week 1 of the A portion of your level. After completing Week 10 of the A portion, you will go on to Week 1 of the B portion.

Each Assignment is broken up into three parts: Technique, Reading, and Performance. In the Technique portion, you will be doing exercises that will provide a solid foundation in your piano technique and assist every other aspect of your playing. Technique begins in your position – how you sit at the piano, how your hold your hands and how relaxed you are. It also includes exercises like Five-Finger Patterns, Scales, Arpeggios, and Chords. These build upon each other and each is designed to help you develop technique in your fingers that will enable articulate, deep, even, playing and control over your sound in each finger. Think of Technique like the foundation for your home – you wouldn’t want to build your home on sand, right? We’ve all experienced a sand castle falling. All of the beauty in a home has to be founded on a solid foundation. If the foundation isn’t there, you’ll pay for it later. So, take the time and make the effort to create that solid foundation. You will not regret it.

The next portion of each lesson is the “Reading” portion. This includes Sight Reading and Faber Technique and Performance Books (with Lesson Book assignments as extra). These assignments are meant to be fun and also to help you practice all of the technique and musical principles we are developing. These assignments are also designed to help you become a great sight reader – a common goal we all have that makes your practice and music-making a life-long gift you will love and use.

Finally, our Performance section is designed to give pieces that are slightly more challenging on a technical and musical level that will be practiced for several weeks. These are often pieces you would perform for others and play in recitals. You will be taught and use really effective practice strategies that will help you be able to know how to approach any piece you desire to learn for the best and most beautiful results.

For best results in your practice, make the recorded lessons an important part of each week. I would strongly encourage you to watch them at the beginning of each new assignment you begin, and then practice with the lesson recording 2-3 times more. The more you practice with and use these recordings, following carefully the instruction given, the better the results you will see.

At the end, or during your practice session, make sure to keep a record on your practice chart. Each practice chart is specific to the week making it really easy to see and know and accomplish your assignment, but if you need to adjust anything on it, please do so…if you are reviewing or have adjusted your assignment in any way, make the corresponding adjustment on your practice chart. Having a practice chart keeps us accountable and progressing.

Let’s do this together… You won’t believe the amazing results that await you!