Piano Lessons in Miami, FL

Instruments: Piano Keyboard

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Engage the child. Help them find what they like best. And most importantly parent encouragement. The best students I had were those whose parents were most active in their learning. For children this applies. For adults: MAKE THE TIME. If you don’t practice you are wasting your time and money and most importantly you’re missing out on a beautiful, enriching experience. They say it takes about 27 days to develop a habit so practice for at least 30min-1hour a day for 27 days and then you’ve got it!

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
Usually school age children who can read and write are preferred. Music not only consists of playing your instrument but of reading sheet music which is difficult or near impossible if the student can’t read. Also in my experience, the younger the child, the shorter the attention span. I once had a 5 year old student who upon first glance, was definitely not prepared for music (he could not sit still or concentrate or control his fingers). However with his mother’s persistence and discipline and much hard work he began on a slow and steady learning path. Not ideal but definitely a personal choice.

When will I start to see results?
This is truly every student (or parent’s) main question. And the answer is simple: it depends on you. I had one student for an entire year who did not even progress past one lesson book because of her lack of practice and her mother’s lack of discipline. Adversely, I also had a student younger than the previous student who excelled through three books in two months because of his motivation and his mother’s strong encouragement. Results are in the hands of the student. Practice often, pay attention at lessons and you will go very far very quick. You might even be playing an entire classical piece at the end of 8 months.

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
I’ve had multiple teachers who were renowned in the state but the one who truly left an impact on me was Mr. Lawrence (the Houston music Theorist). Unlike other music professors, he didn’t only instruct me in the ways of my instrument. He opened my mind to the beauty of music and the aesthetic structure behind it. He made me realize how much more there was to understanding music and truly mastering your instrument. I learned to read into the history and emotions of composers, solve the math behind theory and appreciate the deep beauty hidden in every piece. I hope to share that with each student I take so that they may also be inspired by this.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
There are many difficulties with the piano. Mastering left hand seems to be a typical hurtle for those who are starting. However as long as you practice your left hand more than your right, you can easily overcome this. Also pedaling is very difficult it seems. If you can imagine: you’re already playing two different lines with both hands just to introduce a pedal that must be played at certain times all on its own. And last but not least, posture! You’d never think but yes, almost all my students have trouble sitting correctly and placing their hands correctly.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
The two main book lesson series that I use are Faber and Alfred’s. For beginners who go at a normal or slow pace in learning, Faber has always been my go-to. It has many songs at easy levels to master and gives you time before learning new objectives. Alfred’s however, I tend to use for older/more advanced students, as it is more fast-paced than Faber. I try to start each student on some sort of series however but at the same time giving additional songs and exercises as well as letting them pick their own songs to practice.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Music definitely tends to run in my family, particularly from my father’s side. He started playing classical guitar when he was very young and quickly became a prodigy of his professors (who happened to be a famous musician). He would go to concerts and rich peoples homes to perform, and was his professor’s star pupil. I believe he passed his passion for music to me and my sister who is a violist married to a violinist and together they teach music as well privately and at a school. I remember many nights where I’d play my dad’s favorite song (Moonlight Sonata) to him and then other nights where he would play me beautiful Brazilian lullabies.

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