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Piano Lessons in Etobicoke

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Overview

one of our amazing piano students during his lesson

Piano is the most popular instrument in the world - and for many reasons. It's very visual, expressive, and, unlike many other instruments, allows us to play a large number of notes simultaneously. It's sort of like having a whole orchestra at your fingertips! But as a wise man once said: "It's easy to play the piano, but it's hard to play it well".

At DCAM, we believe technique can make or break your piano playing, which is why we do our best to make sure our students learn correct technique from the very beginning - before it becomes a habit.

We also realize that our students come in many different "shapes and sizes", which is why our teachers do their best to tailor lessons to each student's individual skill level and musical taste.

What is a good age to start piano lessons?

Five is the age at which most children have enough mental focus, self-awareness, and finger strength to start piano lessons. At this age, 30-minute lessons are the recommended option.

If your child is younger than 5 and you think they are ready to start lessons - sign them up for a free trial lesson and we will be happy to give you our recommendation!

Lesson Format

Private lessons: these are one-on-one lessons with student and teacher. Private lessons are a great option for students looking for highly-focused and individualized music instruction. The teacher is able to give their full attention to one student and students normally progress faster in this environment.

Semi-private lessons: these lessons consist of two students per teacher. Semi-private lessons can be a budget-friendly option for parents with two children or two friends wanting to learn the same instrument together. The one obvious drawback is that students don't receive as much focused and individualized attention from the teacher as they do with private lessons.

Lesson Duration

At DCAM, students can choose between 30-minute, 45-minute, or 1-hour lessons. The right lesson length depends on your age, experience level, and learning goals.

30-minute lessons are ideal for young children (ages 6-8) who are just starting out. This duration matches their natural attention span and allows them to stay focused and engaged throughout the entire lesson. These shorter sessions help build positive associations with learning music.

45-minute lessons work well for older children (ages 9-12) and are our minimum recommendation for teenagers and adults. This extra time allows for more comprehensive technique work, theory instruction, and the opportunity to work on multiple songs or skills in a single lesson.

60-minute lessons are perfect for serious students, advanced players, or those preparing for performances or exams. The full hour provides time for warm-up exercises, technique development, repertoire building, music theory, and performance practice all in one session.

As students progress and their attention span increases, many naturally transition to longer lesson durations with their teacher's recommendation. This gradual progression ensures students are always challenged appropriately without becoming overwhelmed.

Materials

piano method books for beginners

For complete beginners, we like to use "The ABC of Piano Playing" series by Boris Berlin, which contains Books 1, 2, and 3. These books are a great introduction to the keyboard and music notation and contain many simple and catchy tunes. After finishing all three of these books, students have several options. Those following the Royal Conservatory path will be able to start either the "Preparatory A Piano Repertoire" or jump straight into the "Level 1 Piano Repertoire". For students who do not wish to do the Royal Conservatory exams, books will be chosen based on their individual musical preferences.

Instruments

At DCAM, students learn using upright acoustic pianos. While we don't expect all our students to have an acoustic piano at home, we do recommend getting at least a weighted keyboard. Weighted simply means that the keys have a slight resistance, similar to that of a real piano.

Interested in getting a piano? Talk to us or check out Long & McQuade. They offer a variety of pianos for both sale and rent.

Styles

Students can choose to learn any musical style they want on the piano, such as pop, jazz, classical, etc. Those wishing to go the Royal Conservatory route should expect a heavy focus on classical music.

Teachers

piano and voice teacher Taisiya

Taisiya

voice, piano

Taisiya is in her final year of the Jazz Vocal Performance program at the University of Toronto. She grew up in a musical family and first started singing as a member of her family's vocal ensemble. Prior to her studies at U of T, Taisiya studied jazz at the Jazz Academy in Moscow and got to perform in numerous jazz vocal ensembles, sing in a band, and perform with an orchestra. She graduated from Earl Haig Secondary School in 2021, where she majored in piano through the Claude Watson Music Program. There she started learning about composition and modern music. Taisiya also has experience in musical theatre and has been a part of the Mainstage Theatre crew until recently. She has extensive experience working with children and knows how to make classes both professional and fun!

piano and voice teacher Sandra

Sandra

voice, piano

Sandra holds an Honours Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Western University, and Level 10 Royal Conservatory piano certification. She specializes in pop, musical theatre, and classical music instruction in both voice and piano, as well as music theory and history. Over many years of dedicated teaching, Sandra has successfully prepared numerous students for Royal Conservatory examinations, arts high school programs, and musical and play auditions. In addition to her teaching career, Sandra has acted in various television, film, and stage productions, and continues to be an active performer in the local arts community. She is passionate about inspiring confidence and creativity in each of her students.

voice and piano teacher Anna

Anna

voice, piano

Anna Wojcik is a classically trained soprano and voice teacher with over 12 years of performance experience. She holds a Master of Music in Opera from the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Poland and a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the Glenn Gould School in Toronto. Anna has performed in opera productions and recitals across Canada and Europe and appeared as a soloist with several orchestras. As a teacher, she believes that everyone has a unique voice waiting to be unlocked and is passionate about helping students build a strong technical foundation in a supportive and encouraging environment. Her teaching focuses on healthy, efficient vocal technique, freedom and ease in singing, and developing confidence as an artist. Anna teaches classical and musical theatre voice and offers audition, performance, and exam preparation.

piano,

Joseph

piano, drums, guitar, trumpet

Joe is a multi-instrumentalist currently in his third year studying Jazz Piano Performance at the University of Toronto. He started taking trumpet lessons when he was still missing his two front teeth, and began studying guitar only a couple of years later. Having been extremely lucky to study with teachers who prioritized building a personal relationship with music, Joe has spent the last decade learning new instruments, writing and recording original music, and geeking out over music theory. Today he dedicates time between his classes to performing in local venues and teaching a variety of musical instruments. His dream is to be able to help his students build the same joyous, curiosity-driven relationship to music that his teachers fostered in him.

piano teacher Sara

Sara

piano

Sara Ilkhani is a classically trained pianist with over 10 years of teaching experience. She began studying piano at a young age, trained under world-class professors, and has performed in more than 50 solo and ensemble recitals. Sara holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and has taught over 300 students, preparing many for advanced programs and university admissions. She has also worked as a collaborative pianist for choir performances and volunteered teaching music to children with special needs. Sara's teaching philosophy emphasizes building strong technical foundations while nurturing each student's unique musical voice and creativity. Her classical arrangements of popular music have earned millions of views online.

piano and flute teacher Laurie

Laurie

piano, flute

Laurie is a York University graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Honours in Music. She began studying piano at a young age and has experience performing in a wide range of genres, including classical, R&B, theatre, and pop. During her high school years, she discovered a passion for music by composing on the piano, developing original pieces naturally rather than relying on software-based notation or production tools. This creative exploration inspired her to pursue a career in music. In addition to piano, Laurie has played the flute since high school and continues to enjoy it whenever possible, such as in community wind ensembles. She has also gained foundational skills in several other instruments, including guitar, drums, and various percussion instruments.

Our teachers are all qualified professionals and passionate musicians. We do our best to match a student with a teacher that we think would best fit their musical goals as well as their personalities. We understand that while some students prefer a relaxed teaching approach, there are always those for whom a more strict approach is more effective. Students also have the option to request to change their teacher if they wish to do so. Learn more about our teachers on our Teachers Section.

Just fill out our quick trial lesson form and wait to hear from us within 1-2 business days. If you like your trial lesson, you can sign up for regular lessons with us! Our lessons are available online (Zoom or Skype) as well as in-person if you live close to our location. Start learning your favorite instrument with one of our amazing teachers today!