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Piano lessons in St. Louis, MO. Finding the correct teacher for your child can be a difficult task especially if you are unfamiliar with different methods of piano teaching.
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Paul Hankin was born in England in 1967 and started taking piano lessons at the age of 8. Paul passed the highest "Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music" Piano Examination, (Grade 8), at the age of 14 and spent the next 4 years preparing for Music College entry. During this time Paul studied mainly the Classical Piano Repertoire, taking a one hour piano lesson every week, with the same piano teacher, for 10 years. At the age of 18 Paul was granted a place at the prestigious "Royal College of Music". This was a practical music course as opposed to an academic course and Paul majored in "Performance and Improvisation".
Paul excelled at Music College and was awarded the highly coveted "Classical Piano Prize" at the end of his second year. At the end of his third year Paul was awarded the College "Electronic Music Prize" for his pioneering work on Keyboards and the use of midi and Music Computers.
After graduating, Paul worked for 3 years as a professional musician in England covering just about every area of musical performance.
In 1991 Paul began training as a classroom music teacher and was awarded his teachers certificate in 1993 after a 2 year classroom based "Licensed Teachers Course". Paul then went on to work as "Head of Faculty" at one of the best Private Preparatory Schools in England, teaching Classroom music to 6/13 year olds and individual piano lessons.
Paul has had his own successful, over subscribed, piano teaching studio since 1991, pausing only for the work he has done as a professional musician aboard cruise ships. Paul has enormous experience working with children of all ages and adults up to the age of 85!
Paul worked more recently for 5 years as a professional pianist on some of the finest Cruise Ships in the world. During his travels Paul has visited over 100 countries on all 7 Continents and worked with stars of the Stage and Screen as well as some of the worlds finest Musicians.
Paul Hankin earned Qualified Teacher Status (Q.T.S.). and is a graduate of a prestigeous UK based College of Music. Paul was registered by the prestigious UK based Incorporated Society of Musicians as a "Professional Private Teacher of Piano" in 1997.
Paul has several years experience as a professional musician including 5 years as a Showband Pianist working for Holland America Cruise Line. He visited around 100 countries during this time and completed the most prestigious contract in the cruise business, the Holland America "Grand World Voyage". As a musician Paul has worked with stars of Broadway, the West End and the Silver Screen. Paul has experience working as a full–time teacher of Classroom music at Middle & High School levels including being Head of Music at a private preparatory school in England and began teaching piano over 20 years ago.
Pupils taking lessons will learn to study pieces of music quickly. Each piece of music that we study should be attainable. In the early stages this means that no piece of music should take more than two weeks to learn. If a piece of music takes longer to learn than two weeks then the pupil may become discouraged thinking that the music is "too hard". Advanced pupils may take up to 4 weeks to learn a piece of music.
If your child has suffered from having poor lessons in the past be prepared for the fact that much of the initial time spent with your new teacher may be spent undoing the damage that has been done and getting the pupil out of bad habits that they have been allowed to form. Even if your last teacher did a relatively good job of educating your child there may still be some areas of musicianship that have not been covered in enough detail and there might still be some holes in your child"s musical experience that it will be necessary to fill. This may mean going over some material that has already been covered, in the initial stages to help build a solid foundation on which real progress can be made.
Technique
Pupils are encouraged to use the correct technique when playing the Piano/Keyboard. This involves sitting correctly, holding the arms, wrists, backs of hands and fingers in the correct position. Nothing should seem to be forced as they play and they should be in complete control of what they are doing. I like pupils to develop a good sense of timing and rhythm in the early stages of playing and the use of a computer and background music for each song helps to facilitate this.
Background Music
Background music can be provided during the lesson in the form of General Midi Sequences specially written to accompany each song the student plays. Pupils gain a much greater understanding of musical concepts when listening to and playing along with other musical instruments as part of an ensemble. The pupil also plays with a greatly enhanced sense of "feel" and becomes much more stylistically aware using this method of learning.
Theory, Aural training and Sight reading
Theory is taught as part of the lesson and the pupil should understand and be able to communicate the meanings of written musical signs and symbols using appropriate language. Ear training and aural skills also play an important part during lessons, as does sight reading and playing by memory. When a pupil has managed to play a piece to a high enough standard they are awarded a gold star. Pupils seem to love this as it acts as recognition that their hard work has paid off. The use of a music computer is employed to aid "Ear Training" and each pupils work is saved on disk to help sustain and monitor each pupil"s progress.
Composition and Arranging
Composition and arranging are encouraged for all pupils and are included in lessons as soon as the pupil feels confident enough to try. Again the computer is used to help record, arrange and structure a composition from its early stages to the finished product. Compositions can be printed out and taken home.
Practice
It is recommended that pupils practice for approximately 15 minutes per day when they first start to have lessons. You should not consider giving lessons to your child unless this practice time can be found. I know children are busy these days with after school activities, homework, TV and friends but unless practice time is found your child will not benefit from taking lessons. Practice time is defined as time spent at the instrument doing what your teacher has asked you to do, not just messing around and playing chopsticks. It should be stressed to the pupil that messing around and playing chopsticks should be done after the allotted practice time and not during it.
I believe that learning to play an instrument should be fun, and while no teacher can "make" an unwilling pupil enjoy studying music he should ensure that a child who has a natural enthusiasm for music retains this enthusiasm throughout the course of their lessons. Children can be put off music by a teacher who does not understand how to treat them. When asked why they have given up playing an instrument most children will say "Because I didn"t like the teacher". The pupil–teacher relationship is very important and one that I work very hard personally to cultivate. If I can get pupils through their first few years of musical education and have them as enthusiastic about it at the end as they were at the beginning then I believe that I am doing a good job! It is in this environment that a pupils natural talent will flourish.
I believe that there are many areas of musicianship that need to be developed when studying an instrument. It is not merely enough just to repeat printed notes parrot fashion. The pupil will only truly understand what he is doing if he is taught to be a "rounded musician".
Pupils who for one reason or another have not done very much practice will be encouraged to do more. I will not shout at pupils for failing to practice as I believe that this is counter productive. If a pupil has difficulty in establishing a good routine of practice then I will contact the parents and ask for assistance in monitoring practice.
In conclusion I am sure that you will not find another teacher who offers as much to each individual pupil as I do at a comparable price and I am sure that you will want to book a trial lesson in the not too distant future.
I am sure that you will appreciate the need for me to conduct the business side of my teaching practice in an organized and professional manner. These conditions are subject to occasional review and you will be given one months notice should any changes be necessary.
Mission Statement: It is my goal to prepare students to understand music and to skillfully play the piano so they can enjoy music for the rest of their lives. I want my students to become proficient so they can continue to grow in their musical understanding through adulthood.
Lesson Time: The student should arrive punctually. No lesson will be extended for a student who is not ready on time. Consistent weekly piano lessons ensure a student’s success. Please make sure that your student arrives on time each week to his or her lesson with all materials.
Tuition and Fees: Tuition covers not only the lesson time, but also preparation time, my education, continuing education, years of experience, studio overhead costs, my time, and a spot on my schedule. Weekly lessons must be paid for in advance at the beginning of each calendar month and must include every lesson that falls within that month. There will be a minimum 40 lessons per year. All checks should be made payable to: Paul Hankin. Rates will be increased annually. The teacher will purchase tuition materials for each pupil on their behalf, with your consent of course, and the cost of this will be added to your next invoice.
Music: All music choices and purchases will be made by the teacher. If you have a specific request and it is available at the level of the student, I will order it for you. The cost of this will be added to the next months invoice.
Missed Lessons/Cancellations: If a lesson is missed, tuition will not be reduced. I do not offer make up lessons. In the case of sudden illness, please call as soon as possible to let me know that you will not be attending. Leave a message on my machine if I am not available. I do not answer the telephone when I am teaching. If schools are closed due to inclement weather I will call you to discuss the road conditions and we will make a mutual decision. Parents that have two or more children attending lessons may extend the lesson time of one child when a second child is not available for a lesson. A lesson missed due to a student’s other activities or vacations not shared with the studio will not be made up or refunded. Lessons missed due to emergencies will be decided on a case by case basis; however tuition is not normally reduced in the event of routine illness. Please call my cell phone at 314–368–7873 to inform me if you will not be at your regularly scheduled lesson.
Lessons cancelled by the teacher: A lesson may be cancelled by the teacher at any time but in such an event the teacher shall arrange either to carry the lesson forward to a later date or refund the appropriate fee.
Vacations: Lessons will continue throughout the year. Holiday dates are as follows. I will advise you as to the actual dates of my vacations. Please advise me at least 4 weeks in advance prior to any additional vacation dates you may require. Lessons cancelled with less than 4 weeks notice will be charged for in full.
- 2 Weeks at Christmas
- 2 Weeks at Spring Break
- 2 Weeks during the Summer Vacation
Practice Time: Students are advised to have a regularly–scheduled, non–interrupted, daily, practice time away from distractions (i.e. television, siblings, pets, etc.). Only consistent practice will create expected results as well as increase the enjoyment of playing the piano. Please call me if your child does not know how or what to practice. I always keep a copy of the student’s assignment and can provide you with suggestions. I can also plan to coach the student on good practice techniques at the next lesson. Recommended practice time: Kindergarten and 1st Grade: 2 Hours per Week; 2nd Grade through 4th Grade: 3 Hours per Week; 5th Grade through 8th Grade: 4 Hours per Week; 9th through 12th Grades and Adults: 5 Hours per Week.
Behavior: It is very important that each student come to his/her lesson ready for concentrated effort and learning. Students should not be overly tired or anxious about any activity that has preceded or immediately follows the lesson or class time. The time we will spend together each week is an important time for introducing new concepts and checking on progress made during the week’s practice time.
Visitors: Parents of kindergarten as well as first grade and some second grade students may find it necessary to attend each lesson in order to assist the student at home through the week. I encourage all parents to sit in the lesson whenever possible to observe the student/teacher relationship and to indicate to the student your interest in the process of learning to play the piano. I do not encourage other visitors in the weekly lesson or class. My time with the student is very short and we must both totally concentrate on the lesson. Siblings are not allowed to sit in on lessons unless they are supervised by an adult and can remain quiet.
PARENTS may help in the learning process by:
- Communicating regularly with the teacher in person, via phone, or via email
- Helping the student find a regular practice time, keeping the student accountable to actually practice at that time, and keeping the student free of other responsibilities at that time
- Keeping distractions (siblings, pets, TV, etc.) away from the student during practice
- Providing quality listening opportunities through radio, recordings, and live performances
- Praising and encouraging their children in their musical accomplishments!
Termination of Lessons: You may terminate your course of lessons at any time. Unused lesson fees will be refunded in full.
Phone Calls: Please feel free to call me about any of your concerns. I ask that you try to call between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm Monday through Friday. I do not answer the phone when I am teaching. Please leave a voicemail and I will return your call as soon as possible.
Teacher’s Commitment: Given your commitment to these policies, I will take responsibility for the guidance in the musical education of this student. I will provide a complete program that includes many styles of music, plus theory, music history, and technique. My goal is to provide a friendly yet structured environment where the student will learn to enjoy music and learn to perform piano music at his/her attained level.
Whilst the teacher will make every reasonable effort to improve the knowledge and ability of the student, the student cannot expect to improve unless he fully co–operates with the teacher and in particular adheres to the practice sessions advised by the teacher.
Parent’s Commitment: I have read and understood these Studio Policies. I commit to upholding these policies and I will explain these policies to my child. I will assist my child in scheduling daily practice times and I will supervise practice time. I will ensure that my child follows up on all assignments and then sign the practice record. I will provide an encouraging environment for my child in his/her study of music. I will arrange the family calendar to fit the lesson schedule.