About me
Welcome to my piano teaching website! My name is Sarah MacAlpine and I offer private piano lessons at both Ashburton Primary School and at my home in Ashburton for older students and adults.
I have received comprehensive and holistic training on the Piano Teacher’s Course (PTC) from some of the country's best concert pianists and music educators and have been awarded distinctions for two piano teaching diplomas: the dipPTC and dipABRSM.
Before teaching the piano, I was a primary school teacher and music specialist coordinating the music provision in several primary schools.
Lessons available:
1:1 piano tuition for all levels of ability, children and adults.
Group Piano Lessons available at Ashburton Primary School for year 1
Theory lessons are available for those studying for the grade 5 theory exam, a prerequisite for the grade 6 practical exam.
Lessons for children
What is my approach and what will my pupil’s learn?
I use a multi-sensory approach which incorporates all of the following into my lessons to develop rounded musicians:
Listening, singing, moving, learning by rote, reading notation, sight-reading skills, playing by ear, improvisation, theory, composition, memorisation skills, and performance skills.
Lessons for adults
Whether you are returning to the piano after a break or a complete beginner, I will work with you to help you play the music you love. You might choose a special focus such as playing by ear, learning how to be a better sight reader, learning how to improvise, gaining a greater understanding of music theory, composing your own music, improving your memorisation skills, overcoming performance anxiety or maybe just a bit of everything! All lessons will be tailor made to teach you what you want to learn.
My pupils will become confident with keyboard geography and learn about finger numbers and the musical alphabet. They will learn about pulse, meter and rhythm, become familiar with musical terms and symbols and learn how to read musical notation.
Healthy technique is taught right from the beginning and incorporated into every lesson. My pupils are given opportunities to study repertoire from a broad range of musical styles and periods.
From the very first lessons, the whole range of the keyboard is explored and the pedal introduced. It is important that my pupils have the use of an acoustic or full sized digital piano to practise on during the week in between lessons. I can help advise you on something suitable if you need some guidance.
Will my child have opportunities to perform?
Absolutely! Most children love performing and find a deadline for a concert or exam very motivating. Each year I organise an afternoon concert for my pupils to perform to family and friends. This is held in St. Lawrence’s chapel, Ashburton. This is also the venue for the ABRSM examinations so my pupils benefit from familiarising themselves with the grand piano there in the chapel. Prospective pupils are most welcome to come along to see what happens at these events.
It is always a lovely, informal concert celebrating their progress throughout the year and all pupils receive a certificate for participating.
For those pupils receiving lessons at Ashburton Primary School, there are other opportunities to perform which include ‘mini’ concerts to small groups of friends, school assemblies and Christmas carol concerts.
Preparation for exams
As they progress, pupils may be interested in being entered for piano examinations. I prepare pupils for either the performance or face to face examinations with the ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music). Examinations take place at St. Lawrence’s chapel in Ashburton.