If you’ve watched the ABC’s heartfelt series The Piano, you’ve likely been delighted to see everyday Australians share their passion for piano.
Based on the popular British series, the show invites amateur pianists to perform street piano at bustling metro spaces in Sydney and Melbourne. Unbeknownst to them, the pianists are observed by renowned concert pianist Andrea Lam and musical legend Harry Connick, Jr. who are tasked with mentoring standout performers for a show of a lifetime at Sydney’s City Recital Hall.
We caught up with our piano teacher Ysolde Nichols to discuss how her classes could help you find your passion for piano.
Learning piano as an adult
With its eclectic cast who represented a range of classical and modern piano styles, The Piano was a reminder of how universal and diverse music can be. The show’s most inspiring message was that it’s never too late to start learning to play piano.
Ysolde has taught the instrument for over 27 years to students as young as six and as old as 90.
If you feel like your time to learn piano has passed, Ysolde says to think again.
She has found that adults have advantages over younger students – they can bring more patience, focus and life experience to the table, which can go a long way to learning the piano.
The Music Logic method
If you’re eager to be as good as the stars of The Piano, the Music Logic method might be your ticket to developing your proficiency faster.
Traditional teaching techniques rely on the linear part of your brain to learn mnemonics. When you read music, you’re actually using the creative part of your brain.
“This method teaches you to use the part of your brain that reads music… and the landscape [of music].”
According to Ysolde, Music Logic has helped students learn to read sheet music 10 times as quickly as traditional techniques.
Ysolde learned piano at age seven using the conventional method of reading music. When she discovered the Music Logic approach, it was a game changer.
“It was a revolution to me. The way music is written is perfect, but not too many people learn the perfection and the simplicity.”
The importance of human connection
One of the most touching aspects of The Piano is the emotional connection between the performer, the music and the audience – both in-person and as viewers of the show. Connection is at the heart of music, which is why Ysolde believes there is no replacement for learning in-person.
“In my opinion, [learning] face-to-face is about 99.99% more effective [than online learning]. We learn and retain more in the three-dimensional space. Maybe because we’re three-dimensional?”
As a teacher, she can use physical, verbal and emotional cues to help students with their learning.
“My job as a teacher is to notice when you don’t understand something and to find the key to unlock that, and bring you to understanding.
Did The Piano strike a chord with you? It might be time to learn piano or keyboard with Ysolde’s expert guidance.