Taking Action is the First Step To Success!
Take advantage of this very special offer for first-timers: A 100% FREE trial remote-lesson and consultation with jazz-pop pianist/keyboardist Thomas Gunther. No strings attached! Let's Do This!
Click to play
PopJazzKeys Piano Lessons with Thomas Gunther
Not sure yet?
Check out what some of my students say about me.
Below are two of my piano video tutorials where I teach some cool stuff. Check it out! It might help you get a better idea about what and how I teach. Of course this is without a student, so it is a little different from teaching a private lesson.
How taking private lessons beats YouTube
There are a million ways how we can get free information today. So why would you spend money on a teacher, you ask yourself probably.
Truth being told, I too use YouTube and other internet resources to get answers sometimes. But from my experience, nothing beats lessons with a great instructor!
Taking lessons with an experienced instructor gives you amazing benefits
I remember my own frustration with trying to improve my piano playing. Especially when it comes to contemporary and creative music styles like blues, jazz, soul, latin, and other popular music genres.
I was constantly searching for more efficient learning methods so that I could improve faster.
Here is my conclusion
Nothing helps more than an experienced piano teacher who can quickly figure out what you need to practice and how so that you can become a better player fast. Someone who inspires you to practice and shows you how to do this most efficiently .
My biggest frustration with practicing
My biggest frustration with practicing pop-jazz piano can be summed up in one simple question: WHERE TO BEGIN?
I bought a lot of books and videos on improvisation, piano licks for blues, scales, transcriptions, technique exercises, voicings, and what not. When YouTube came along and I watched a lot of videos on different topics.
Unfortunately, having all these great resources made my decision about what to practice and how not much easier.
Every time i would sit down to practice i wondered what I should practice? Scales, learning songs, piano technique, voicings, something else. But even after I decided what I wanted to practice, I still was unsure about how to practice it efficiently.
Do you know this feeling?
So what can we do about it?
My answer is clear.
TAKING lessons with a great teacher who quickly gets us on the right path IS ALWAYS THE BEST SOLUTION.
What defines a great teacher?
For me a great teacher is someone who has the ability to instantly see what your strengths and deficiencies are. Based on those findings, he/she devises a practice method and directs you to resources that are perfectly tailored towards your personal needs, so that you can get better fast. The ability to do this takes years of experience derived from teaching many students with all kinds of backgrounds.
Characteristics of a great instructor
There are of course many characteristics a great instructor possesses. Here are some:
Why I Am This Kind Of Teacher
I can honestly say, that after teaching contemporary piano/keyboard classes and private lessons to all kinds of students of all ages and backgrounds, I have gained exactly the kind of experience that makes an effective piano teacher!
Finding the practice method that's right for you
It's a fact that every person learns differently. This means that a practice method that works great for one person, might be a waste of time for someone else.
An experienced teacher can quickly find out how you learn most efficiently so you don't waste time practicing in a way that is wrong for you.
Instant Feedback
One other important advantage of taking lessons with a real person as opposed to e.g. watching a YouTube video is that you get instant feedback.
For example, whenever you play for your instructor, there is a chance a new deficiency comes to the surface that needs to be addressed. Without an instructor you may have never noticed it.
A great instructor will motivate you
A great instructor motivates you to work harder. Receiving praise by a person you respect can go a long way. A great instructor has a way of letting you know when you are not doing so well in such a way that makes you wanna overcome your deficiencies, rather then becoming discouraged. Again, it takes an experienced instructor to find the right balance, since every student is different.
When to schedule lessons Regularly versus On Demand
Regular lessons
From my experience, less experienced piano players benefit greatly from taking lessons on a regular basis. Here is why.
Above all, when taking lessons on a weekly bases under the guidance of a great instructor you will learn how to practice methodically and develop an efficient practice routine, which is the ticket for improving fast!
After you took lessons on a regular bases for a few months, you might expand the time between lessons from once a week to once every two weeks, and so on.
Lessons On Demand
Should you be an advanced players, you might prefer taking lessons on demand. For example, you may take a lesson to address one specific problem, and won't come back until you have another one that needs solved.