What is a good age to begin to learn piano? 7-8 years

The age really depends on the child’s development – their attention span,co-ordination skills, fine motor skills.

What are some specific skills to look for in a young child?

- Ability to differentiate between right and left hands
- Knowledge of the first seven letters of the alphabet
- Ability to read simple instructions is helpful

Do students need a piano or is a keyboard satisfactory?

- A piano which is in tune with all the keys working is great, but a keyboard is cheaper to buy. 
- A keyboard is satisfactory for the first couple of years.
- It must have full size keys
- It needs be at least 5 octaves long
- Weighted keys are good, but not often found in the 5 octave keyboards.

Do keyboards and pianos need much maintenance?

- Keyboards are virtually maintenance free.
- Pianos need tuning on a regular basis, annually if possible. AGAPE can recommend a good piano tuner if you need one.

So what is the advantage of a piano then?

The expressive quality of a piano is a thing of great beauty, and is definitely the better option for the classical musician.   For students who are interested in experimenting with different sounds in modern style, then a keyboard as well as , or instead of a piano is a good option.

There are full size digital pianos with weighted keys. Are they suitable for a more advanced student?

Yes. They are suitable for students up to Grade 4 and above that if students are not sitting for practical examinations.

Do tutors at AGAPE teach classical or contemporary style?

All beginner piano students are given solid training in traditional music notation in both treble and bass clef, and are taught good finger technique. They are also given an understanding of chords and key which can then lead to more specialization in contemporary style.