My Approach
It is important to me that my students enjoy the music that they are practising. I regularly seek out new piano repertoire so that I can offer each student something that caters to their personal preferences.
My main genre is classical, but I regularly work on jazz style pieces and pop songs with my students. I am also a firm believer in working on chord-based playing so as to develop a well-rounded understanding of how music is made.
I emphasise healthy posture and technique as these are essential in order to avoid developing repetitive strain injuries. It is important to have a good quality piano and an adjustable bench at home in order to maintain progress.
If a student wishes to prepare for a grade exam, I will gladly help them to do so. I have prepared many students for exams over the years; however, I do not make exams a compulsory requirement for all of my students.
Practise
Without regular practise, no progress can really be made at the piano. It is best to practise at least 5 days a week in order to continue to improve, and to retain what was learned in the last piano lesson.
Also important for good practise is a good quality piano with an adjustable bench. An adjustable bench will accommodate students of varying heights and proportions, and a good piano will respond to how you play so that you are in control of your own sound. I recommend young or short students whose feet don’t reach the floor to use a footrest that will give them some support underfoot and allow them to sit with correct posture.
Niamh Craig Piano 