Welcome to Brad Rusnak's Piano Studio

Students in Thunder Bay young and old enjoy piano lessons in a modernly equipped studio with both upright and grand pianos, electronic keyboards and a music computer. A well balanced piano/keyboard lesson program encourages and inspires for a lifetime of music appreciation.

Thunder Bay Lakehead Music Festival Piano Results

Music Resources

Best age to start piano lessons

I frequently get asked this question. From my experience age 6 or 7 is usually best, but this can vary with each individual. Knowing your alphabet from A to G forward and in reverse order, as well as simple math counting skills are essential. A half hour lesson may seem like a long time to some, so maturity level and attention span are important factors. Also some children have a natural musical ability, allowing them to sing in pitch and feel music more rhythmically. If someone is contemplating music lessons for toddlers or preschoolers I would recommend enrolling them in the local Thunder Bay Kindermusik program. I have found that graduated Kindermusik students have a greater sense of rhythm and pitch and also demonstrate a stronger appreciation of music. Children at this age require parents to be involved in the lesson as well as providing some help with practice at home.

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Piano lesson books for children

Teaching piano to children is a privilege and joy. Keeping the lessons fun and enjoyable is important to maintaining interest and developing a passion for music. Today there are many piano teaching methods available. I like the Faber's Piano Adventures Lesson books, their "My First Piano Adventures" course is specifically designed for young beginners ages 5 and 6. The course takes into consideration small hand sizes and in a short amount of time students are playing easier piano songs like "Ode To Joy." The Performance Books provide supplementary pieces reinforcing newly learned concepts. Faber Piano Adventures Publishing offer a huge selection of supplementary method books for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. Other piano instruction books include the Bastien Piano Method which uses a multi-key approach and the Hal Leonard method that begins by introducing finger numbers, the white and black keys and simple rhythm patterns.

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Piano Lessons Online

These days you can even learn to play the piano online and some websites even offer free piano lessons. Sites like the OnlinePianist offers an animated piano tutorial to fully control the learning experience, on your own time and progress. The lesson approach varies from each site and some even have a live online instructor for realtime interaction. Some sites have visual flash animations that allow learners to view and hear songs as well as play along with the animations on their own keyboard. There’s also forums that allow you to be part of a community of people learning how to play piano together. For this application you would need a computer by the piano and an internet connection. You will find music theory classes online as well as multiple educational websites. It is important to keep in mind that there is no “learn piano fast” method. Learning how to play the piano will always require lots of practice and perseverance.

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Computer Piano Lessons

Computer music software is another way to supplement your musical learning experience. Programs like the Piano Wizard Academy are based on interactive video games where the student will start out playing simple songs. Although designed for kids, adults may find it entertaining and productive as well. Another program Learn and Master Piano scores high points for music learning software. It starts with emphasis on the chord approach and then advances to learning the basics of notation and reading music. All the top programs cover the basics of learning to play the piano, such as using proper fingering, intervals, music reading, notation, rhythms, chords and technique. Many feature Play-along tracks, video tutorials and host online forums. In most cases you require a midi keyboard to connect to the computer and I would recommend a real piano as well. I only recommend “learn to play piano software” as a supplement to regular private lessons. It could be great fun for kids to check out.

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Piano Lesson Videos

The Homespun Tapes web site is a popular online company featuring music lessons on DVDs. I think piano players at all levels could pick up some riffs and useful information watching these videos. It’s not easy however, I think just relying on our visual senses by watching someone’s hands on a keyboard is not enough to plant the sounds in our minds. For many music was an aural tradition and passed down to other’s just by listening to someone else play. So remember if you’re watching these instruction videos try to get the audio on you music player and listen to it over and over until it becomes a part of your inner hearing. Another great resource on the internet is YouTube. With YouTube you will find people all over the world giving it their best and sharing with others how to play the piano.

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How to learn to play the piano

A search on google will reveal many approaches and methods, some of which we’ve already discussed. Learning to play the piano is a lifetime achievement and you really never reach a point that you have learned all there is to know. I’ve been playing for 35 years and still have a passion to listen to one of my favourite artists and try to replicate their sound. If you do this enough you will develop a style of your own.

My teaching method depends on each individual student. Their age goals and expectations are important. As a young beginner, the first few years of piano lessons will involve learning the key names, basic note reading, developing strong hand and finger positions and learning good practice habits. Perhaps you’re a teenager or adult and already know how to play but would like to broaden your musical horizons to include boogie woogie, jazz or popular styles of music.

Learning to play the piano by chord is a popular approach for late beginners and adults. Students can accompany their favourite melodies with left hand chords in a relatively short amount of time. They would still need to build their technique with scales and triads. Some music theory instruction would help in the understanding of chord construction and function. You can find plenty of jazz and popular fakebook music notated, using only a single melody line with chord symbols. This is a creative approach to playing because you’re the one composing the arrangement and deciding what voicings sound best.

Playing the piano by ear is the ultimate skill. Many self- taught musicians never learned to read music or had the opportunity to study music theory. Some people have a strong relative pitch or even perfect pitch which greatly helps them hear exactly what others are playing on the piano. For the rest of us that don’t have this gift we can still strengthen our inner ear with listening and singing exercises. As I always tell my students if you can sing it you can play it. That includes learning to sing both the melody and bass progression of a tune. If you have taken Suzuki piano lessons in Thunder Bay as a child you would have developed a lot of these skills naturally. This method is taught by listening to the music repeatedly and then imitating the sounds on the keyboard. Parental involvement at the lessons and at home practice is an absolute requirement. First the student learns by a rote method and later learns to read music notation.

Learning to read music is how most of us learn to play piano. Recognizing notes on a staff, positioning your fingers, interpreting the rhythms are skills you develop over time with practice and perseverance. Try clapping the rhythm and if you’re unsure of the notes, say them aloud while playing. Collect piano sheet music and books in styles that interest you. Remember to practice slowly, try to look a bar ahead and keep your eyes on the music. Relax and enjoy.

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Classical Piano Lessons

For a young beginner the first few years of private instruction are important to establish a strong foundation of good practice habits and technique. To continue improving and building on this knowledge, students need to study the classical repertoire. Keyboard music dates back more than 300 years so there’s much to be learned from musical greats like Mozart, Beethoven and Bach. In my studio you have the choice of following the Royal Conservatory or Conservatory Canada programs. I received my Associate Piano Performer and Teacher’s Diplomas with the Western Ontario Conservatory in 1986. A few things have changed. The Conservatory Canada program has introduced the Contemporary Idioms program, which includes a more current and contemporary repertoire. They even have eExams where you can perform your practical exam online.

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Jazz Piano Lessons

You may want to broaden you musical horizons even more. Jazz, blues and boogie woogie piano styles can be just what is needed to spark a new interest and renew your desire to continue playing. When I studied at McGill University, majoring in jazz piano performance, emphasis was on improvisation. So I learned the process of how to train your ear and play without music. With modern computer software this can be accomplished with programs that can slow the speed or change the pitch of a recording allowing you to transcribe your favourite solos. Ideally, a good understanding in music theory and harmony will help you accomplish this.

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Buying a piano

A parent will often ask me if their small Casio keyboard is adequate for piano practice. I inform them that usually only in the very short term. Most likely, the students interest will quickly wane. I’ve noticed many free or inexpensive pianos on the Thunder Bay Kijiji website. I know from my own experience a person feels more inspired by the tone and feel of a quality instrument. There are also more expensive quality electric keyboards from Yamaha and Roland that sound and feel like a real piano. The added bonus with these is they allow you to connect to a computer via midi or USB so tech savvy kids can enjoy music notation, recording and auto accompaniment programs.

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How to find a private piano teacher

Finding the best piano teacher for you depends on your needs and having an idea of your basic goals. Some prefer teaching adults and others like young beginners. Do students participate in recitals, festivals and practical exams? Are you interested in learning classical, popular or jazz styles? Ensure the teacher's studio is a comfortable environment, conducive to making learning fun and enjoyable. Look for a qualified professional that you can connect with, and build a rapport. Patience and a positive attitude are also very important attributes in a teacher. You will find this and more at Brad Rusnak’s Piano Studio. Please take the opportunity to call and arrange a time to tour the studio and learn more about the programs. Have a great Day!

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