Piano lessons at Hampstead-Hampstead pianos vs North London Music

[newMomLondon]

Hi all

I was looking for some piano lessons for my DS who is 5 years old. He is a beginner and has not had any lessons yet. We stay at NW6 near Queen's Park.
We have come across a couple of schools like Hampstead pianos and North London Music. Does anybody have any suggestions regarding which one may be better?
If anyone has any other suggestions that's also welcome!

Thanks

For a 5 year old, honestly any professional teacher will be OK. It will be slow going. So it's more about one he feels comfortable with and likes. Unless you have been taking him to musicianship classes he will have to work on rhythm, pitch, reading notes and hand co-ordination. That is a lot for a 5 year old to cope with.

At this age I'd be looking at musicianship classes rather than worrying about instrumental lessons. I'm a Kodaly fan and the voice is the first instrument! Rhythm and pitch developed first and makes picking up an instrument - especially piano - really easy. He will quickly catch up and overtake peers who started earlier.

Do either of these places offer that?

I'm sure North London had somewhere called something like Cadenza or Coda that the in-laws used but was 10 years ago and may not be around anymore.

You can try North London Conservatoire - they use Colourstrings method. They offer kindergarten (below yr2) musicianship classes throughout North London and then piano probably from yr2. We did the full colour strings kindergarten programme in Kingston (18 months - yr1) and it was an excellent foundation.

I can highly recommend the London Youth Conservatoire in Fulham (1 min from Parsons Green tube or easy on street paid parking). They do a 'first steps' programme and then onto an instrument (including piano) the following year.