Piano Lessons
30 mins, 45mins or 1hr piano lessons offered both in-person or online. Piano lessons will cover a wide range of topics to help develop a well-rounded musician:
1. Technical Skills
Finger Exercises & Technique (Hanon, Czerny, scales, arpeggios)
Hand Coordination & Independence (separate and hands-together exercises)
Posture & Hand Positioning (proper ergonomics to avoid strain)
Articulation & Touch (staccato, legato, accents, dynamics)
Pedal Techniques (sustain, soft, and sostenuto pedals)
2. Music Theory
Reading Sheet Music (treble & bass clefs, note values, rhythms)
Key Signatures & Scales (major, minor, chromatic, whole-tone, modes)
Chord Progressions (I-IV-V-I, ii-V-I, seventh chords, diminished, augmented)
Harmonic Analysis (understanding cadences, modulations, counterpoint)
Rhythm & Time Signatures (simple, compound, and complex meters)
3. Sight-Reading
Instant Recognition of Notes & Chords
Rhythmic Accuracy & Counting
Hand-Eye Coordination
Playing Without Looking at the Keyboard
Pattern Recognition (scales, arpeggios, common motifs)
4. Ear Training & Aural Skills
Interval Recognition (major, minor, perfect, augmented, diminished)
Chord Identification (major, minor, seventh, diminished)
Melodic Dictation (hearing and notating melodies)
Rhythmic Dictation
Playing by Ear & Improvisation
5. Repertoire & Music History - students will learn music from different historical periods including:
Baroque (1600–1750) (Bach, Handel, Scarlatti)
Ornamentation, counterpoint, harpsichord techniques, fugues
Classical (1750–1820) (Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn)
Clear phrasing, sonata form, structured harmony, Alberti bass
Romantic (1820–1900) (Chopin, Liszt, Schumann)
Expressive phrasing, rubato, expanded harmonies, dramatic dynamics
Impressionism (Late 19th - Early 20th Century) (Debussy, Ravel)
Floating harmonies, whole-tone scales, modal influences
Jazz & Blues (20th Century) (Gershwin, Scott Joplin, Oscar Peterson)
Swing rhythms, blues scales, improvisation
Contemporary & Modern Music (20th–21st Century)
Experimental techniques, minimalism (Philip Glass), film scores
6. Improvisation & Composition
Basic Improvisation Techniques (chord-based, melody embellishment)
Jazz Improvisation (blues scales, modes, chord substitutions)
Composing Simple Pieces (writing melodies, basic harmonization)
Harmonic Progressions & Modulation
Lead Sheet Reading & Chord Symbols
7. Performance Skills
Stage Presence & Confidence
Memorization Techniques
Playing with an Ensemble or Accompanist
Interpreting Emotion & Expression
Overcoming Performance Anxiety
8. Accompaniment & Collaboration
Playing with Singers & Other Instruments
Chordal Accompaniment Techniques (block chords, arpeggios, stride piano)
Orchestral Reduction & Score Reading
Beginner Classes
Students of all ages and all skill levels are welcome learn piano with Ms. Mimi!
Advanced Training
Ms. Mimi has 30+ years of experience training students at the college and professional level. She has prepared over 10 students for music conservatory and university admissions.
Piano Lessons with Ms. Mimi
Piano lessons for all ages in Sacramento.
CONTACT ME
© 2025. All rights reserved.