Piano lessons • Michael Hegarty
How my own piano studies informed my teaching
I first began to play piano at around 8 years of age. From the very beginning, I was fortunate to have a series of excellent piano teachers who knew their trade and were knowledgeable musicians in their own right. Indeed, they taught me more than the mere mechanics of piano playing; in addition to the fundamental techniques and skills I needed, they taught me to understand and interpret the music I played, something I pass on to my students. During my studies, I also entered and won local piano competitions and participated in many concerts.
After completing my musical education to grade 8 and A-level respectively, I went on to study other subjects at University level, though I never lost my love and passion for music and its features. This is why I applied for and won the organ scholarship at my alma mater. There, I received additional tuition in the organ from a graduate teacher of the Royal Welsh College of Music. This also included education in accompanying singers, whether in a choir or a congregation.
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When I first moved to Dundee, to undertake a PhD, I also decided to begin teaching the piano again so that I could pass on the skills I had been given by the good fortune of having good teachers. And so, in addition to teaching work for third party organizations, I set up the trading name MH Piano Lessons to offer piano lessons in Dundee. These Dundee piano lessons offer students an opportunity to benefit from the tried and tested traditional methods of instruction from which I gained so much.
MH Piano Lessons, available to anyone in Dundee, Angus, and Fife
I began teaching under the name of MH Piano Lessons to offer piano lessons to people of any age and ability in Dundee, Angus, or Fife. I hope, thereby, to pass on the knowledge I was lucky enough to gain. From my own regular and excellent teachers to tutors at the Chetham's summer school and my studies in the organ at University, I have a great deal of experience and real value to offer to students who are willing to learn. More recently, I have registered for the Level 4 Professional Diploma in Teaching and a music degree. I am also a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM).
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I use tried and tested methods of instruction in my piano lessons. This means that, while the music we play is led by the interests and motivations of the student, there are certain key elements my lessons contain. First of all, there is note-reading. The ability to read music is absolutely fundamental in playing a musical instrument. I aim in all my lessons to ensure that the note-names, their location on the keyboard, and their representations on the stave are learned by heart. To this end, I tend to avoid writing the notes in, and instead, help students to work out the notes for themselves when they are unsure. This seems harder at first, but produces far better results in the long-term, with piano students able to learn much more music independently.
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Second, as soon as the fundamentals are mastered, I introduce practical studies in music theory and harmony. This allows the student, eventually, to achieve a degree of 'musical fluency' that will greatly aid them in interpreting piano repertoire.
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Finally, from the very beginning of their studies, all my piano students learn scales and finger exercises to develop the muscle memory, strength, and finger dexterity necessary for mastery of the piano. All of this may sound 'tough' when stated all at once in this way, but I always tailor the level of my lessons to the individual student. I only push my students to do things that I know they can do and which will benefit them.
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Come along for a free trial lesson to find out if piano lessons are for you. If you live in and around Dundee, you can attend in person at my home studio. Anyone living farther aways is welcome to try online lessons. I also offer separate hour-long music theory lessons for those who want to supplement their study of another instrument or simply want to understand music better.
Celebrating the successes of my piano students
I have entered many of my piano students into exams (ABRSM and MTB) with great success. All my students have passed, including grade 8 and diplomas, many with merits and distinctions.
Not all of my pupils attend their lessons in-person in Dundee, some are online. To take just one example, my online adult student, Victoria, was recently entered for her grade 1 exam. She passed with a very high distinction, achieving one-hundred per cent in one of her pieces and nearly full marks on her technical exercises and scales.
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Contact
Feel free to contact me for more information or to book a trial piano lesson. Let's connect.
07958491614