Intermezzo Aylmer is an in-home piano studio located in the Jardins-Lavigne neighbourhood in Aylmer Quebec. It has a separate entrance and small area where parents can sit during their child’s lesson. Because it is a small space, it is recommended that only one family member at a time attend lessons.
**Due to current Covid-19 restrictions, lessons are available exclusively online. A return to studio will be considered once Covid is under control locally and solely at my own discretion.**
The studio takes children as young as 3 under the “Wunderkeys Music and Math” program. Children must be fully potty-independent and able to follow two-part directions (ex. “Find your blue block and give it to me”). They should also have an interest in music, and should know the name of most of parts of their body. The Wunderkeys program is designed to be flexible and dynamic, so children are never required to focus on an activity for more than five minutes.
Older children can be introduced to a more typical program of musical instruction starting around age 6. Where they start depends on their age and developmental level, as the speed of teaching is adjusted to meet their needs. The youngest of this group will often cover concepts already familiar to their older peers (such as simple addition and symbol-sound correspondence i.e. pre-reading), while older students can jump in to reading on the Grand Staff.
Adult beginners are most welcome in the studio as well, and are a special group to me. Often these are people who have wanted to play their whole lives, but who have not been able to afford lessons, or feel they have no time, or are embarrassed to be “X age and unable to play.” Yet music is a gift open to all ages, and it is never too late to follow your dreams. Adult learners can expect to play recognizable pieces, hands together, in less than a year.
Although I am fluently bilingual, I choose to teach in English only. Musical terminology is vastly different from one language to another, and even from country to country, potentially leading to confusion. As well, there are far more pedagogical tools available to teachers in English as compared to any other language, and that is sadly unlikely to change any time soon. However, I am more than happy to explain concepts in French if needed, or answer questions posed in French.