Irene Bennett’s Music Studio is as convenient as it gets because you get all the services of a one-on-one piano teacher wherever you may be located.
Unlike other online lessons that offers pre-recorded videos of teachers, Irene’s lessons are live and interactive, catering to the present, immediate, and individual needs of her students.
Irene believes that every child has the ability to play the piano. It is this philosophy that drives every piano lesson she gives. Every step of the way is geared towards helping the child to learn music the best and most natural way possible.
Children at IBMS learn to use their ears to the best of their abilities
Music is a performing art and is appreciated not by how it looks but by how it sounds. Hence, the first few months of lessons are geared towards producing a beautiful sound on the piano. The child is taught how to distinguish different tones — bright, harsh, warm, deep, shallow — and is taught how to consistently play with a good sound.
These formative lessons really help the child to develop a keen and sensitive ear. They then are able to pick up tunes and melodies just like how they pick up words and phrases when learning to speak. Music becomes a language they gradually learn to speak fluently.
Because less time is spent on reading in these initial lessons, the child is able to focus on playing with the proper technique. Irene’s students stand out in many recitals, although many of them are very young, because of how they carry themselves and how they perform with maturity, skill, and professionalism.
Children at IBMS have an amazing memory
Students at IBMS show an amazing knack at applying their memory, listening skills, and musicianship. At the end of level 1, while many students from the more traditional methods memorise 1 or 2 pieces, Irene’s students can play 19 pieces of music from memory!
These children learn to speak music with fluency like how they would speak their mother tongue. And this is how music should be performed — with mastery, accuracy, confidence that can communicate to listeners.
But this is just the beginning.
Children at IBMS read music like pros
As the students increase their musicianship — they also learn to read with ease. Many students taught in the traditional method struggle to read. This is manifested when the eyes need to keep looking alternately at the score and at their hands on the keyboard. As a result, the music being performed does not flow.
With Irene’s method of teaching, her students’ eyes are able to focus on the score. The hands readily follow the dictates of the eye and the inner ear without having to halt or hesitate every at 3 or 4 measures.
Children at IBMS have a strong support system
IBMS also believes in the importance of starting early. Hence, children as young as 3 years old are accepted into the program. At such a young age, important musical skills become ingrained more firmly than with an older beginner.
That being said, active parental involvement is the real the secret sauce of success in Irene’s studio. The parents act as home teachers for the children, and are also given mini lessons so they can successfully tutor their kids at home. Piano lessons then become a bonding session for the child and parents instead of being just another activity that the child has to do on their own.
Children at IBMS are a part of an international family of young musicians
While all these lessons are taught online, the students have many opportunities to bond with other children. Irene holds a monthly group lesson that includes children from different parts of the world. This is one of the most awaited piano activities for the kids because they get to meet someone from another country. Aside from the annual online recitals, children are also encouraged to participate in local and international music events such as music camps, institutes, recitals, masterclasses and conferences.
Finally this is just a taste of what Irene Bennett’s Music Studio has to offer. Contact me today for more information or to set-up a no-cost introductory lesson.