Our Approach to Piano Lessons
At Brill Music Academy, we welcome all music learners, from absolute beginners to advanced students preparing for university or conservatory study. We understand that for those who are new to music lessons or piano lessons, getting started can seem a little daunting. Here’s what to expect if you’re new to piano lessons.
Piano Lessons Should Be Fun!
We know that an interest in piano may be what first brings you into our school – but having fun is what keeps you coming back! Here at Brill Music Academy, our goal is for every student to LOVE their music lessons as they embark on a rewarding journey of progress and discovery. We put the “fun” in fundamentals!
Our knowledgeable staff blends a high standard of music education with a creative, student-focused approach that gives students space to discover and nurture their passion for music and the piano. Whether it’s your first time at the keys or you’re a seasoned pianist, our teachers are ready to help you progress quickly toward your goals – while having fun along the way.
We Emphasize Healthy Technique
Healthy technique is critical to lifelong enjoyment of the piano. Our first priority is teaching strong fundamentals, including hand, wrist and arm technique, bench position, and pedaling. We believe that full-body instruction is essential to musicianship and safeguards students from injury.
Once the fundamentals are in place, you and your teacher can craft the story you want your music to tell. Our qualified teachers will assist you in developing musicianship and exploring nuance through dynamics, pausing, phrasing, and varying tempos. Learn with us as we infuse elements of music theory and music history into our well-rounded approach to fostering musical excellence.
We Care About Your Musical Interests & Goals
There is no one-size-fits-all method of piano instruction. Regardless of ability or prior experience, our teachers take an individualized approach to each of our students – underpinned by detailed individual assessments, a personalized learning plan, and one-on-one guidance throughout your musical journey.
While fundamentals and technique are essential, our ultimate goal is to equip students to begin exploring their own personal musical style and interests. Your teacher will work with you to understand where you want to go, and craft a unique plan to get you there. Whether your style is classical or pop (or anything in between), Brill Music Academy helps students excel in their craft while encouraging the occasional step outside the comfort zone to try something new.
Brill Music Academy is proud to offer piano lessons to people of all ages and skill levels in the Las Vegas area. Our piano instructors pride themselves in customizing piano lessons to each student, providing well-rounded instructions for students of any age and skill level.
Our Piano Teachers
Many of the piano instructors at Brill Music Academy love working with beginners, whether those beginners are children or adults. Others focus more on developing the skills unique to intermediate or advanced students.
Some of our teachers prefer working with highly motivated advanced students who are working towards advanced piano study at the university or conservatory level. Of course, many teachers prefer most of all working with a student all the way through their piano journey, from absolute beginner all the way to advanced amateur or even college and performance prep.
Debbie Green
Piano & Voice
Graduating in 1973 with a B.S. (Education), Debbie taught music for four years in the Council Bluffs (Iowa) Public Schools. She was the chairman of the Council Bluffs Central Area Music Festival
Herbert Thames
Piano & Voice
Singer/songwriter/composer Herbert Thames was born and raised in Las Vegas. He graduated from Northern Arizona University with a B.A. in Music and has been involved in music from childhood. He has sung
Jennifer Kittinger Loss
Piano & Voice
Jennifer Kittinger Loss has been teaching voice and piano for over two decades. She received her Master of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of
Marie Leatham-Davis
Piano & Voice
Marie is a vocalist, pianist, cellist, published songwriter and music lover who holds arts degrees in Music Composition (2014) and French (2017) from the College of Southern Nevada. She has been playing
Pam Posey
Piano & Voice
Pam Posey is a skilled vocal instructor and pianist. Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, her love for music catapulted due to the strong presence of music in her household. As a
What’s a Good Age to Begin Piano Lessons?
One of the biggest questions we get from parents who don’t have musical training is about when to start. At Brill Music Academy, we generally don’t start piano students before age 5. However, that doesn’t mean that every 5-year-old who shows interest in piano is ready to start taking piano lessons.
To know if your child is ready, take a look at your child’s development. To be ready for piano lessons, your child should be on par with peers in physical strength and dexterity. Similarly, as reading music is a big part of learning piano, your child should be at or above the kindergarten level when it comes to reading, phonics, pattern recognition and related skills.
It’s OK if your child is too short to reach the pedals. Beginning level instruction doesn’t require the use of them.
Lastly, your child needs an adequate attention span and ability to stay focused for 20 or 30 minutes at a time.
What Styles of Music Instruction Are Available?
Some students begin piano lessons with a specific goal in mind, such as to become a jazz pianist or a singer-songwriter. We support endeavors like these, of course! However, all students begin by learning fundamental technique and fundamental music literacy. Technique includes posture, hand position and proper playing technique. Music literacy includes reading and writing skills, music theory, and a little music history as well. Students also learn fundamental literature, both in and outside of methods books.
Of course, once a student has learned the fundamentals, we are happy for them to branch out, and we have the skilled staff needed to train them. Once they reach the proper level of mastery of the basics, students can learn piano-related genres and skills like jazz, musical theater, accompanying, songwriting, and more.
So, What Are You Waiting For?
One of the most overwhelming feelings as a parent is when your own child expresses interest in something you don’t understand or know that well yourself. This is the feeling many parents who haven’t studied music face when their children start showing interest in music.
We understand how this can feel overwhelming, and we’re here to help.