MJ Piano Lessons
Piano Lessons Inner West Sydney
MJ Piano Lessons teacher Justin McKee has been delivering piano lessons to children and adults for over 20 years.
It's Justin's mission to offer enjoyable, effective piano coaching in a
professional, friendly and supportive environment.
Justin welcomes people of all ages and abilities, including those who are neurodivergent.
Justin teaches weekly lessons, 4 x 10 week terms per year on average.
Justin's approach is simple: "I want you to be learning pieces and playing styles that you enjoy so that the process of developing your skills and practising is as enjoyable as it is rewarding."
Discover from this page:
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What is on offer?
Justin offers weekly, one-on-one piano lessons from his home studio in Summer Hill, NSW. Students play an active role in selecting the style of music that they study. New students are welcome all throughout the year.
Students are taught at the same time, once per week, for the full term. There are four terms per year, and each is 10 weeks long on average. Term dates closely follow the NSW School Term dates published by the NSW Department of Education, a key difference being that Justin teaches on an additional day, Saturday.
Who do you teach?
Justin McKee teaches students of all ages and from beginner level through to tertiary level. He has the experience and ability to teach children and adults.
Justin welcomes the opportunity to teach neurodivergent students. He is currently teaching children and adults who are autistic, dyslexic and have ADHD and Down's syndrome.
What happens during a lesson?
Whether you're studying piano to play for fun, a special event or to take AMEB grade exams, every student at MJ Piano Lessons receive comprehensive training from an expert in a professional and supportive environment.
The majority of the class is spent playing piano pieces that students have selected and developing the skills to master them. The more skilled the student becomes from practising, the more choice and flexibility they have!
A typical structure for a 30 minute lesson would be: ​
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5 mins technical work.
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20 mins playing pieces, which will include aural and sight-reading skill development.
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5 mins of music theory, sight reading or aural training (as and when required).
Can I pick the style of music that I learn?
Yes! There are a range of piano styles to choose from that are pedagogically programmed to ensure that progress is frequent and goals are achievable. Students also have the option to learn a selection of their favourite pieces.
Students can choose to focus their lessons around:
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Playing for fun
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Piano basics for beginners
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P-Plate Piano
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Classical piano
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Jazz piano
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Piano for Leisure (AMEB syllabus)
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Rockschool Piano
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AMEB grade exams
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Learning pieces they have always wanted to master
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When do you teach piano lessons?
Private piano lessons are delivered 6 days per week, 4 terms per year (40 weeks in total).
Monday - Friday from 11:00am to 7:30pm.
Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
There are four terms per year. The Term dates closely follow the NSW School Term dates published by the NSW Department of Education. Click here to see the terms dates for the year.
To check availability, send Justin a short message online or phone direct on 0404 824 020.
Where do lessons take place?
Piano lessons are taught face-to-face at the home studio of Justin McKee in Summer Hill, NSW 2130. This is in the heart of the Inner West of Sydney.
The studio is located a short walk from the local train and light rail stations, local bus stops and there is free on-street parking. More about the location can be found by clicking here.
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Online piano classes are an option for anyone. They were originally offered as an option to all students during COVID-19 lockdown periods and they proved to be a great success. They are a good alternative if you need to isolate temporarily. ​
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How much does it cost?
Lessons start at $45 per 30 minute lesson per term for students who book weekly lessons for the term.
Read the dedicate 'Fees' page to learn more about fees, including policies about refunds, rescheduling and cancelling lessons. MJ Piano Lessons does not provide refunds for change of mind.
How long are lessons?
The minimum lesson time for piano lessons delivered at MJ Piano Lessons, Inner West Sydney are: ​
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30mins for Beginner to Grade 2 level children.
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45mins for Grade 3 - Grade 5 level children.
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45 mins for secondary students in Year 11 or Year 12.
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45 mins for all Adults who are beginner to Grade 5 level.
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60 mins for Grade 6 and upwards for everyone.
How much do I need to practice?
As a guide, children can start developing the skills they need to play the piano well with as little as ten minutes per day, 3-5 times per week in the beginning. Adults should be dedicating at least 90 minutes per week if they are beginners. The key to succeeding in piano is regular, effective practice.
Do I need a piano or is a keyboard OK?
A common question that gets asked is, "Do I need a piano to take piano lessons or an electronic keyboard OK?". The answer is, an electronic keyboard is OK thanks to advances in technology.
It is also highly recommended that parents don't invest huge amounts of money in a piano of any sort until their child is keen on continuing past the six-month mark.
There are plenty of good quality, beginner keyboards on the market for between $480 and $800. An electronic that is appropriate for learning piano on should have these features:
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88 keys
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The keys should be weighted and ideally have 'weighted action' or 'hammer action', avoid 'light action'.
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The keys should be touch sensitive, that is, a different volume is achieved from the key depending on how hard or lightly you touch it.
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A pedal can be plugged into it.
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Come from a well-known brand in the market such as Korg, Roland or Yamaha. Why? If you need draw on the warranty, you need the company to still exist and for the process to be easily accessible in Australia. The non-brands and unknown brands can go out of business and at that point, your warranty is effectively redundant.
Justin teaches using a superb electronic Roland piano that has the rich touch and sound of a grand piano and achieves outstanding results teaching all of his students with it. Justin has no affiliation with any of the brands mentioned on this website.
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