Introducing
Piano/Keyboard for Children
A Group Course for
Beginners Aged 6-8
Next course starts 20 April 2024.
‘A great introduction to the piano for children. [My daughter] loved the class and came home each week eager to demonstrate all she had learned.’
– G. Flynn
‘Excellent course. [My son] looked forward to it every week and has made great progress over the past year.’
– D. McGloughlin
Course Description
Taking place in Waltons New School of Music’s Digital Piano Lab and designed for absolute beginners, Introducing Piano/Keyboard for Children is a lively and enjoyable course in which children aged 6-8 explore many of the basic elements of music and the piano. While learning about the instrument, both individually and together, they also:
- Develop their understanding of pulse and rhythm through clapping and singing exercises.
- Do memory aural work (playing short melodies by ear).
- Learn how to follow their musical intuition and improvise short pieces.
- Learn how to compose their own songs to tell stories.
- Learn about the concept of transposition through games.
- Learn to read treble and bass clefs.
Group learning has long been recognised as one of the most effective ways to teach children about music and instil positive lifetime attitudes towards both music and learning. A group environment provides children with the opportunity to make music together with friends and classmates, sharing common goals and skills. The interaction between students also encourages and promotes understanding, and children learn to assess their peers positively.
Questions about the course?
or call us on (01) 478 1884.
Course Requirements
Children entering this course must have access to an acoustic piano, digital piano or electronic keyboard to practice with at home. An acoustic or digital piano is recommended, as both have ‘weighted’ keys. (See the Recommended Instruments tab for a list of recommended digital pianos, two of which are available from Waltons Music at discounts for enrolled students.)
Children should also have the following materials for the first class:
- Theory Made Easy for Little Children, Level 1 by Linda Ng
- An A5 copybook
- A pencil
- A box of multicoloured crayons
Child Safety & COVID-19
The health and safety of children attending lessons and courses at the New School is of the utmost importance to us.
First, the New School has a comprehensive Child Protection Policy in place, and all teachers are Garda vetted.
And second, we have made a number of changes to our equipment and policies to make the New School as safe as possible during the time of COVID-19. These include:
- Perspex screens in every classroom.
- Installation of HEPA air filtration/purification units where necessary.
- Antiseptic dispensers available throughout the school.
- Cleaning and disinfection of both classroom instruments and furniture between lessons and classes.
- Regular cleaning of public spaces.
See our COVID-19 Safety Policy page for more information on what we have done, as well as the protocols we expect all in-school students and visitors to follow.
Introducing Piano/Keyboard for Children is one of the New School’s group courses. We also offer private piano lessons for students of all ages and skill levels. See Piano • Keyboard Tuition for more information.
Mikaela McDonnell
Mikaela McDonnell is from Maynooth Co. Kildare and grew up in a musical household. She began playing piano as a young child and started taking lessons at the age of seven. Her love of the instrument grew quickly, and there was seldom an evening when she wasn’t sitting at the piano pretending to perform! At the age of sixteen, she began studying with renowned Irish pianist Hugh Tinney at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and she continued with him for six years, completing her ARIAM diploma. She also graduated from Maynooth University with a BA in Music and Irish. During Mikaela’s time in college, she co-founded the Common Grounds Collective, an arts collective that works to bring the original artwork of those in Maynooth and surrounding areas to light. Her time after college saw her travelling to California, where she co-founded and directed ‘Féile Parkfield’, an Irish-American cultural festival that celebrates the connections between Irish traditional music and American old-time music. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mikaela developed her own method of online piano teaching that takes an integrated, holistic approach to teaching and learning that aims to provide students not only with a solid foundation in piano but in music in general. Her approach emphasises freedom of expression and creativity through improvisation, while also providing a solid grounding in music theory. Mikaela loves teaching both children and adults and aims to ‘bridge the gap’ between those taught solely ‘classical’ piano and self-taught musicians who wish to know more about music theory. She has taught students of all skill levels.
‘Playing an instrument can provide a creative outlet like nothing else; it can support you throughout your life and allow you to express emotion or switch off from the outside world. I teach the piano to pass on the knowledge I have and to bring others into the magical world of music! I am passionate about teaching in a holistic, integrative way, providing my students with the opportunity to improvise and make music their own, while at the same time building their piano technique, aural skills, chord knowledge and understanding of music theory. My aim is not just to teach students piano but to help them become well-rounded musicians.’
Reviews • Testimonials
‘A fantastic introduction to the piano. We aren’t a musical family, and I really wanted to give my daughter the opportunity to learn an instrument that I didn’t have as a child. I’m so glad I did, as she’s hugely enjoying this course and has learned so much.’
– A. Behan
‘A fantastic course and a gifted, caring teacher. My daughter really enjoyed learning piano with other children, and the teacher was so encouraging that no child felt left behind. This course and approach is worlds away from the way I learned piano, and I’m so happy that my daughter wants to continue!’
– K. Black
‘A lovely teacher with lots of patience. The kids are always happy going to their lessons and pick it up very quickly.’
– A. Lainn
‘I am writing just to let you know how good an experience we had with the Waltons New School of Music last year. Our then six-year-old son did the course last year, and his progress throughout the year was way beyond any expectation we had. I have recommended the school to a number of people and will continue to do so. I believe my son’s experience with the school may well have given him something that will enhance his entire life. Thanks and well done to you all.’
– P. Woodfull
Have you taken – or are you taking – this course? We would appreciate it if you could take a few moments to give us your feedback in a brief online questionnaire about it.
2023-2024 Third Term
Course Schedule & Fee
10 weeks, 20 April – 22 June 2024
Saturdays 10.45 – 11.45 am
Course Type: In-School
Tuition Fee: €210
Enrolment
Enrolment for this course requires a completed Enrolment Form and full payment of the course fee. Places are limited to eight and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date of enrolment. Many of our group courses fill in advance of their start dates, and early enrolment is recommended.
Purchasing this course as a gift?
Please complete a Gift Certificate Booking Form.
Questions about the course?
or call us on (01) 478 1884.
Recommended Instruments
If students don’t already have instruments to practice with at home, the following reasonably-priced ‘starter’ digital pianos – all available from Waltons Music – are recommended for this course:
- Nux Digital Piano Bundle:
Piano + Economy Keyboard Bench + Headphones • €699 - Nux Digital Piano Bundle:
Piano + Piano Stool + Headphones • €735 - Yamaha P45 Digital Piano Basic Bundle:
Piano + Stand • €478.99 - Yamaha P125 Digital Piano Basic Bundle:
Piano + Stand • €654.99 - Yamaha P125 Digital Piano Bundle:
Piano + Yamaha Wooden Stand + Pedal Board + Bench • €864
The Nux Digital Pianos can be purchased from Waltons Music at 5% discounts for students enrolled in the course. If you would like to obtain a discount, please contact Waltons with your instrument choice, as well as the product number, and include a scan or photo of your course payment receipt.
What happens after the course?
Two weeks before the end of each Introducing course, parents will be given options for continuing their children’s tuition with the New School if they would like to do so. Although an ‘improvers’ or continuation course cannot be scheduled on the same day/time as the Introducing course, one can be arranged if enough students would like to continue and the teacher has timetable availability or there is timetable availability with another teacher. Students can also continue their tuition with private (one-to-one) lessons or ‘partner’ lessons with another class member. (See Tuition Options – Private • Partner • Small Group Lessons.) We are happy to discuss these options with you.
