Piano Lessons in Sachse, TX
All Ages and Skill Levels | Pianist and Educator Nathan Ryland
As one of the Sachse area’s leading private piano instructors, I help beginners, intermediate pianists, and advanced musicians reach their goals at the keyboard. I have years of experience helping kids and adults, and whether you want to learn a set of your favorite songs on the piano or dig into advanced classical repertoire, I’m here to help. Please get in touch to schedule a trial lesson at your earliest convenience; there is no audition required to join my studio, and our first lesson will be spent assessing your current level, your goals, and identifying piano literature and materials that will help you progress as quickly as possible.
About Nathan Ryland: A Teacher and Professional Pianist
I earned my master’s degree in piano from North Texas University, where I learned from highly esteemed professional pianists, worked as a collaborative pianist with world-class instruments, and mastered challenging works by Liszt, Prokofiev, Schubert, Brahms, Paganini, and more. Outside of the academic spectrum, I earned first prize at the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, Jan and Beattie Wood Concerto Competition, and the BMC Piano Competition. I have also performed professionally as a soloist with the Central Texas Philharmonic and the Mid-Texas Symphony.
I enjoy putting my experience and perspective to work for my students. I can look back at my experience with different methods and teaching materials to help beginners understand challenging concepts (every pianist has different roadblocks along the way), I can help intermediate pianists identify music that will push their technical boundaries while remaining accessible, and I can help advanced pianists learn to memorize, interpret, and perform competition-level music.
If you have any questions about my background or experience, please feel free to send me a note.
Piano Lessons in Sachse, TX For All Ages and Skill Levels
Piano Lessons For Children
I teach private 1-on-1 piano lessons, not group lessons in a lab. The group setting works for some students, but I believe focused attention from an experienced teacher is the best way to help a child succeed at the piano. I make lessons fun for kids, and we play musical games and do “off-the-bench” musical learning activities from time to time. I do maintain a rigorous musical structure in lessons, and I prioritize technique, note reading, and rhythm right from the beginning. I will also send your child home with instructions on how to practice that week, along with notes for the caretaker on how to help.
Piano Lessons For Teens and Adults
I’ve helped many high schoolers and adults on the piano. Teens often join my studio with previous musical experience (either from a band program, theater program, or another piano teacher). I will quickly assess what students know and don’t know and structure my teaching accordingly. Regarding adults, I have helped numerous beginners. Each adult brings a different goal: some want to sight read, some want to practice for two hours per day and reach an advanced level in 2-3 years, while others want to participate in worship or a local band. I will help you reach your specific goals.
What Will You Learn in My Piano Lessons?
As a classically trained pianist, I always prioritize technique. Your hand position, breathing, amount of tension, posture and more will greatly influence what you are able to accomplish at the piano.
Reading is another priority. We will learn notes on the staff, learn the keys, and practice reading with both hands together. Eventually, you’ll be able to pick up a piece of brand new music and “sight read” through it – this unlocks the ability to work as a collaborative pianist (or “accompanist”) if you so choose.
Rhythm is another key factor in musicianship. We’ll learn time signatures, note values (whole notes, quarter notes etc.), ties, and other rhythmic features in music, and we will always work on maintaining a steady beat, regardless of the genre. Things like ritardando and rubato matter, but a steady rhythm is even more important.
Music theory will also come into play. I’m an experienced composer, arranger, and orchestrater, and I can help my students learn key signatures, musical structure and form, scale degrees, transposition, and so much more.
This is far from an exhaustive list of things you can learn – please reach out if you have any specific questions.
My Studio Location
My studio is just a 14 minute drive from Sachse, TX. Students often travel west to my Richardson studio via S State Highway 78, then up the President George Bush Trpk. Some students take E Campbell Road and follow it along Firewheel Golf Park. For the after-school crowd, I’m located near Abbett Elementary, Stinson Elementary, Luna Elementary, and Lister Elementary School, among others.
For piano lessons in Plano or piano lessons in Richardson and the entire surrounding area, please get in touch! I’d love to work with your family and help you reach an advanced level at the piano.