Information about piano lessons at High Ongar Primary School

Please contact the school office to enquire about starting piano lessons.

Teacher: Ms Juliet Orchard G.Mus M.Mus PGCE

Lesson content:
To make lessons enjoyable, a range of specially selected pieces will be offered. There are many pieces of well-known music from a variety of styles that are now available in simplified form to allow pupils to play music they recognise as well as the new pieces and styles they will encounter in exam lists. Technical work is there to support the ability of the pupil to play pieces comfortably and easily. Sightreading is an essential part of the lesson as it helps pupils pick up new pieces readily and allows them to download extra music that they might want to play. Listening games help with recognising and memorising musical shapes and features. The aim is always to make the lessons rewarding and fun, whilst also being challenging and stimulating.
Practice:
If pupils are to enjoy lessons, they need to feel a sense of progress, and in order to make satisfactory progress it is important that pupils play the piano at least 3 times per week between lessons. In each practice, they should play each item specified in their lesson notes 3 times. This will comprise pieces, technical work such as scales and arpeggios and sight reading. This is the minimum requirement. Obviously if pupils practise more, they will progress more quickly.
Books:
Pupils will need an exercise book for communications. In each lesson, information about what to practise and how to practise it will be written. Pupils/parents can write down any feedback for the week which might include pieces they particularly enjoy, or areas they are finding more difficult.
Links to sheet music required will be sent via WhatsApp.
Terms and Conditions: - Piano lessons are 20 minutes long for beginners and this can be extended to 30 minutes as and when appropriate. - Fees are charged at the Musicians Union teaching rate. There are usually 6 lessons of 20 minutes in each half term so the fee would normally be £84 per half term due by the first lesson of the half term. - Lessons are taught on a rotating timetable so that pupils miss different lessons/playtime each week. - Lessons are either on the piano in the hall, or if the hall is being used, we use my keyboard in the library or a classroom instead. Whether I am teaching on piano or keyboard, I always teach piano technique so that pupils can play either instrument. Lessons on the keyboard can incorporate the use of the different functions on the keyboard, so that pupils can use them if they have a keyboard at home, or to give repetition of pieces or exercises more variety. - Missed lessons: if there is a school trip or sports fixture, please give me one week's notice so that I can rearrange my day to accommodate a replacement lesson. If you forget to tell me then do please still text me the day before or on the day - sometimes I can still sort it out. It’s more likely to be possible with more notice. The school do not tell me about trips or fixtures so you will have to! Lessons missed due to pupil illness: I will try to replace these in the following weeks but cannot guarantee that it will be possible. Lessons missed due to holidays in term time will not be replaced.
If I miss a lesson, I will replace it or if I cannot do that, then I will refund the fee for that lesson. Notice The first term is a trial period, so no notice is required if you want to stop the lessons. After that, 4 lessons notice is required. Exams - Pupils can work towards exams when they are ready - usually after about a year of lessons, but there is no need for them to take exams if they do not want to. The emphasis in the lessons is to have fun whilst learning the technical, reading and musical skills to play the piano. Starting age - Pupils usually start at about the age of 7. They can start earlier but I would normally give them a taster lesson to see if they are ready to begin. Instrument - Pupils will need an instrument to play at home. A keyboard will be fine to start with so long as it has full sized piano keys and is touch-sensitive ie it sounds louder when you strike the keys harder. Further information: Lessons to prepare pupils for Music Aptitude tests and scholarships for secondary school places are also available. Every year one or more of my pupils are offered music places at secondary schools based on aptitude test/audition results. Ms Juliet Orchard – CV summary Qualifications Graduate Diploma in music: Instruments studied – Piano, Voice and Percussion. Specialisms composition and conducting. PGCE from University of London, Institute of Education. Subjects: music and drama. MMus (Master’s degree) in composition and 20th Century music from University of London, Royal Holloway. Experience 20 years in secondary music teaching in comprehensive and grammar schools around Essex, including Chelmsford County High School. 14 years in Primary music education in state and private schools in Essex, including Head of Music post at Elm Green Preparatory School. Alongside school teaching, I have continuously given individual lessons at my home and as a peripatetic teacher in local schools. My private work has included teaching piano, recorders, theory of music and GCSE and A level tutoring. I also prepare pupils for the Music Aural Perception test which is used for selection for some secondary schools.
Please contact the school office to enquire about starting piano lessons or for further information.