Piano Lessons in Sioux Falls
Your child can learn piano in a safe, focused, and friendly environment. Our instructors will guide them step by step to build their skills and knowledge.
Up Tempo piano students have the most fun because each lesson is a dynamic blend of activities designed to build comprehensive musicianship.
Piano Lesson Program
Just like we think in words, musicians think in music. This ability is called audiation, a term coined by renowned music educator Dr. Edwin E. Gordon. It means comprehending music in your mind, much like understanding a language. Our goal is to teach your child to audiate, so they truly understand the music they hear, play, create, read, and write.
Learning music is very similar to learning a language. Think about how children learn to speak: first, they listen and absorb sounds, then they begin to babble and imitate, and eventually, they speak fluently, long before they learn to read or write words. Our Music Learning Theory-based piano lessons follow this natural learning process. We focus on developing your child's inner musical ear and understanding before introducing complex notation or theory.
Piano Lesson Structure
Each lesson is a combination of activities aimed at developing a well-rounded musicianship.
Active Listening & Movement: We start with engaging songs, chants, and body movements to establish musical context (like feeling the 'big' and 'little' beats in music) and develop their aural skills.
Singing & Chanting: Students learn to sing and chant rhythm and tonal patterns, building a core musical vocabulary without relying on written notes. This is their 'speaking' stage in music.
Keyboard Exploration & Games: Students get hands-on experience at the piano, playing short pieces, exploring the keys, and developing proper physical technique through fun, game-like activities. We encourage large-motor arm movement and balanced hand positions to prevent tension.
Creativity & Improvisation: From the very beginning, your child will be encouraged to create and improvise their own music, fostering independent musical thinking.
Whole-Part-Whole Learning: We introduce new musical ideas in a "whole-part-whole" sequence: first experiencing the complete musical context (the "whole"), then focusing on specific musical patterns (the "parts"), and finally applying these parts back into the whole musical piece with a deeper understanding.
