Keyboard Lessons

Sunshine Coast Keyboard Lessons

The definition of a keyboard fits into three basic descriptions:

• A basic keyboard with a large range of sounds, a minimum note range of 61 keys, speakers are usually built into the body of the instrument

• A studio keyboard usually requires a keyboard amplifier, it has many high-quality sounds that can be edited to the player’s needs and has semi/weighted keys and a note range between 61 – 88 keys. This is called a synthesizer.

• A USB controller keyboard that connects to a computer with specific sound software. This is referred to as a virtual synth.

Keyboard lessons are available at three locations:

• My home studio at Rosemount on the Sunshine Coast

• Suncoast Christian College, Woombye (for students enrolled at Suncoast)

• Victory Christian College, Gympie (for students enrolled at Victory)

Individual or Shared Lessons Keyboard Lessons

Most students are enrolled for individual lessons each week, but there is an option for a shared lesson at Suncoast Christian College and Victory Christian College. Shared lessons are for two students of similar age and level of experience. Duration of lessons is usually 30 minutes each week.

The teaching style is driven by the student’s personal goals but can broadly fit into the following categories:

Learning piano using the keyboard

This is a structured lesson with specific goals for technical requirements, pieces, aural, sight-reading and theory skills. Often parents will opt for a keyboard as a starting point rather than make the big investment of a piano from the start. Students learn to read music and develop the same skillset they would if they had a piano to practice on.

Learning solely for enjoyment

This learning style has similarities to the previous teaching style. Choice of repertoire is more flexible as the pieces don’t have to comply with an exam syllabus, but some technical work is still necessary to establish effective fingering habits and good technical control. Students can learn their pieces using the variety of sounds that give pop music authenticity. Many keyboards have drums loops built in so this can add energy to the playing of the piece.

Learning keyboard chord style

This style is popular with teens whose musical interests are strongly in pop and rock music. Students who would like to play in church and youth bands that use a lot of Hillsong and Bethel music often prefer this style of learning also. Playing in a style where the keyboard has a rhythmic part would require a piano style, but a synth part would use other keyboard sounds. The keyboard would be used to replicate other parts in a recording and that could vary from a synth pad to B3 organ to a classical string ensemble or brass part.

Creative Keyboard

Once basic playing skills are developed, some students like to create their own music and use computer software or online software to make music. Usually, a USB controller keyboard is connected to a computer and this keyboard then talks to the computer so that the notes can be recorded in the software. Many regular keyboards have a MIDI capability and can be connected to a computer.

New Sounds

These lessons are suited to a student utilising the abilities of a keyboard synthesizer or a virtual synthesizer software to modify existing sounds and create new original sounds. It can be quite a learning curve to newcomers to the world of synth terminology to find a starting point to access the creative possibilities with this kind of technology. Although there are many options for accessing information and ideas online, sometimes what is needed is someone to work through the challenges and obstacles that are encountered when you work with technology.

More Tuition Options