Alice Stories Piano Studio

Learn to read music, study music theory, and play the piano.

Are you interested in learning to play the piano?  Did you play as a child, and want to pick it up again?  Do you need some help to learn to read music or improve your music theory?

My name is Alice Letts and I teach the piano to beginners, both children (with parent’s present during lessons), and adults.  I hold a full CRB check that is available for inspection.  I received the Queens Award (Girls Brigade International) in 1995, and volunteered as an Assistant leader at Girls Brigade.  I have Music Theory Grade 7 (TCL) and Music Theory Grade 5 (ABRSM).  I have Piano Grade 7 (ABRSM).

I started learning the piano when I was four years old in a group music class run by Yamaha at our local music store.  I did not take to the group method.  When I was five years old I started private tuition.  My piano and music theory teachers have included Mrs Middlemiss, Mrs Trail, Ms Fletcher, Mrs Taylor, Mr Lanfear, and Mr Willett.

In college, I performed as a pianist with the school band at assemblies and special events.  I was awarded the Trophy ‘E. M. Thomson Cup’ in 1990 by the Rotorua Competitions Society.  I also won first place for the restricted solo in my class. In the community, I perform at concerts and corporate functions.

When I was 13 years old I began to learn the pipe organ.  I play the pipe organ at church services as well as at funerals and weddings.  My pipe organ teachers have included Mr Green and Ms Fletcher.  More details are on my blog here.

Students choose whether they want to study for exams (ABRSM and/or TCL).  Alternatively they may learn simply for the fun of it.  Music is a fabulous thing to get involved with. Playing the piano can be great for your health, as it helps relieve stress as well as being a source of accomplishment.  Students are encouraged to explore their interests in music, whether it be classical, jazz, soul, blues, or pop.

Over the last couple of decades I have performed in various concerts and events.  In 2010/11 I received the PTTLS teaching qualification.  I continue to develop my own piano performance, and am currently studying with a piano teacher for the Grade 8 (ABRSM) and diploma pieces (ATCL).

I have two studios, one based in Allestree near Derby, and the other in Rotorua.  I also teach worldwide over skype.  I teach using an electronic piano, the Casio Privia (Allestree) and an upright iron frame piano (Rotorua).

For the last few years that I have been teaching the piano, I found that it was unproductive to expect pupils to attend on a weekly basis.  For that reason, I now conduct lessons on a casual basis.  If students have not had the opportunity to practice then there is no reason for them to attend a lesson until they have first found the time.  Lessons are therefore booked one lesson at a time, and can be arranged either at the end of a lesson, or by phone or text message.  There is no contract to sign and no cancellation fee if students miss a lesson due to illness.  However if the student lacks interest or fails to find the time to practice then they should not be offended when I refuse to teach them and/or recommend they find another teacher.

Children who are interested in learning the piano will need to know a few basic things first.  Such as their hand and identifying their fingers.  How many fingers?  Identifying their thumb, their little finger, their second finger, their middle finger, their fourth finger.

Then they will also need to know their letters, at least the seven letters, from A to G.  And numbers.  Some understanding of fractions will be useful, but this can be taught during class.  On this blog you will find some exercises on music theory.  Including writing your own stave and drawing the treble clef.  Also, writing your own notes and learning the letter names of the notes.

Alice Stories Piano Studio

Free Consultation

Individual Tuition:  Piano and Music Theory

Fee:  £10 GBP / $20 NZD / $15 USD (30 minute lesson)

Location:  Allestree near Derby (England) / Rotorua (New Zealand / Skype (Worldwide)

To book your free consultation, email info@alicestories.com with “Piano Lessons” in the subject line.  In your email please include the following information:

• Your  name
• Your address and phone number
• If piano lessons are for you or your child
• The day of week and time you are available for lessons