Sonoma County Children's Music offers several programs that provide superior piano instruction for children. We recommend the Young Child program for children 5-6 year olds. It is designed to introduce children to the piano along with the other instrument families in a format which is more appealing and developmentally appropriate for this age group. Please read the Young Child page before deciding on a curricula for your 5 or 6 year old.

We have chosen the Mayron Cole Piano Method for our Keyboard Kids program for children age 7 and above. It is the leading group piano method in the United States. After thoroughly reviewing and using a variety piano programs on the market we have found this method to be the most developmentally appropriate and easiest way for children to learn to read music while having fun learning piano.

Three steps are essential in learning to play piano:
* The first step is a thorough understanding of playing/counting rhythm. Too often, rhythm is the weakest element of a piano method.
* The second step is exploring and understanding the keyboard. This means being able to find keys without looking at one's hands so that one can later sight-read. (This is why we require all students in the program to have a piano or keyboard with full-size keys to practice on at home)
* The third and most difficult step is staff note reading. Staff note reading involves abstract reasoning and is the reason too-young students cannot read notes and resort to reading fingering numbers in other piano methods. Once a child becomes accustomed to reading finger numbers or letters instead of notes it is harder to transition over to reading actual notes on the staff.

This method offers a comprehensive approach that appeals to all children, regardless of their different learning styles. Keyboard practice, fun sheets (note reading), rhythmic movement, theory games, and ensemble playing are included in each class. Classes are taught in a small group format and children have the camaraderie of learning and playing together while still getting individual attention from the instructor. Parents are included in the end of each class so that children can show them what they have learned each week and review what they will be taking home to work on until the next lesson.

Each class is 45 minutes long and has 3-6 students maximum. We also have a lending library for our piano students with additional books, CD's and videotapes that inspire, instruct, and motivate our students outside of class.

Home materials include a binder with music, fun sheets, home practice assignments, supplementary repertoire books, holiday sheet music, and CD's of accompaniments for our beginner students.(each piece recorded in 3 different speeds).

We also have private and semi-privates lessons that are custom tailored to each child. Private lessons are 30 minutes long and semi-private lessons are 55 minutes long.

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