Information on Piano Lessons
Information on Piano Lessons
Joseph is not accepting any more students. If you would like to be on a waiting list, please email him at celbridgepiano@gmail.com
Joseph only teaches on Saturdays and possibly early evenings on Sunday.
One-to-one classes
30 minutes lessons for 1 student - €250
45 minutes lessons for 1 student - €375
60 minutes lessons for 1 student - €500
Group classes
Parents/students are responsible for finding the other student(s) to form a group class. Depending on the group makeup, a parent/adult may be required to sit next to a child who is less than 10 years old.
30 minutes group lessons for 2 students - €300 (€150 per student)
45 minutes group lessons for 2-3 students - €450 (€150 - €225 per student)
60 minutes group lesson for 2-4 students - €600 (€150 - €300 per student)
Prices above exclude the cost of learning material and cost of exams, if applicable.
For students who join during a term, the fee is prorated based on the number of lessons remaining.
There is no makeup for a lesson missed by the student for any reason. However, solely at the discretion, goodwill and availability of Joseph, he might provide one lesson per term for lesson(s) missed by the student - he will inform the parent/student towards the end of the term if applicable.
Fees for the term are payable in advance. There is no refund of fees.
In cases where the tutor is unavailable for a lesson, a date/time will be arranged with the student.
Students must have access to a 1) tuned acoustic piano; 2) digital piano, or 3) keyboard with weighted keys and proper sustaining pedal for their practice. See here for recommendations if you are looking for a digital piano or keyboard.
There are four terms per year. Each term starts in September, January, April and July. There are typically 10 or 12 lessons in each term. Please contact Joseph if you wish to check or confirm term dates.
1. Most students
For most students, Joseph teaches the Music Teachers' Board ("MTB") piano syllabus and Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music ("ABRSM") Practical Musicianship using his creative teaching methods.
For the MTB piano grade that the student is studying (check with Joseph):
Purchase the digital handbook for the piano grade OR purchase/find yourself at least any 3 pieces from the list that you would like to learn
Print the entire MTB piano syllabus for the piano grade OR just these pages: Technical Exercises, Scales & arpeggios from memory (or copy them into a notebook), Reading skills, and Duet selection
Option 1 - Exams
Exams tracks the progress of a student's learning journey and provides feedback on it. It also provides motivation and a goal for student to work towards.
Unless a parent/student opts out: a student goes for a MTB graded piano exam once every two years. The student goes for ABRSM practical musicianship exam in the year where they are not going for MTB graded piano exam. The actual grade attempted depends on the amount of practice and ability of a student.
As an example,
2026: MTB grade 1 piano exam
2027: ABRSM practical musicianship grade 2
2028: MTB grade 3 piano exam
2029: ABRSM practical musicianship grade 4
Option 2 - exams alternatives
Instead of MTB piano exam, students record the entire exam syllabus of their piano grade/level in one sitting, complete a detailed self-assessment of the recording, and perform pieces and duet of their piano grade/level in public. This gives students a goal to work towards.
Instead of ABRSM practical musicianship exam, students perform three songs in solfege in public, and complete a project in very limited time with a passing mark.
Option 3 - Combination of exams and exam alternatives
2. Junior/Leaving Certificate
The focus will be on piano pieces.
For the MTB piano grade that the student is studying (check with Joseph), please print Technical Exercises, Scales & arpeggios from memory (or copy them into a notebook), and Reading skills.
For every term, students record their piece(s) in one sitting, complete a detailed self-assessment of the recording, and perform their pieces in public. This gives students a goal to work towards.
For very anxious and/or nervous students, they could choose to perform for their family and friends.
3. Sing and Strum
This course is for those who would like to sing and play the piano at the same time or accompany singers, and songwriters. We focus on chords and note reading is kept to a minimum.
For every term, students record their song(s) in one sitting, complete a detailed self-assessment of the recording, and perform their song(s) in public. This gives students a goal to work towards.
For very anxious and/or nervous students, they could choose to perform for their family and friends.
4. Own choice
A student decides what they want to learn with guidance and mentoring from Joseph.
For every term, students record their piece(s) in one sitting, complete a detailed self-assessment of the recording, and perform their pieces in public. This gives students a goal to work towards.
For very anxious and/or nervous students, they could choose to perform for their family and friends.