For our preschool students, we recommend starting with our group piano, Keyboard Kaleidoscope class. Here, children are introduced to the building blocks of music: rhythm, pitch, note reading, and technique through playing fun musical games.  As students progress, they perform simple melodies on the piano. The class serves as a great preparation for private lessons. 

Here at ISM, we have adult students of all levels, from those picking up a new hobby and starting from scratch, to those who played when they were young and are looking to get back into the swing of things, to advanced students who want to hone their skills even further! A lifelong love of music is a wonderful thing, and something our piano teachers are ready to help students of all ages engage with at their own speed.

Many beginning music students start with the piano, and beginning piano students are in especially good hands at the International School of Music! Not only will a beginner learn the basics of music theory (including how to read sheet music, musical signs and symbols, scales and chords, and more) and piano technique (proper posture, hand position, and fingering), they’ll also start playing songs and pieces right from the beginning!

Once you have the fundamentals down, the fun really begins! More advanced playing techniques, like legato, staccato, glissando, using the pedals, and bumping up the tempo, are up next. Better playing also means more versatility in terms of genre and complexity of song, so now is a great time to start working on your favorite pop, jazz, blues, rock, or classical tunes with one of our wonderful teachers. Students develop technical, aural, and rhythmic skills and are encouraged to analyze, interpret, compose, and sight-read.

For older and more advanced students, ISM focuses on musical clarity and power, technical facility, refinement of their musical palette, and an understanding of musical structure. With advanced students’ command of technical abilities also comes the ability to find their own voice. A grasp of the wide varieties of piano techniques gives students access to deeper levels of expression and musicality, providing a chance to bring your unique perspective and artistic choices to each piece and performance.

Here at the International School of Music, we have the most highly qualified piano teachers in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area! Many hold masters and doctorate degrees from the most acclaimed and respected music conservatories and are dedicated and passionate about their art and teaching. They bring warmth, energy, enthusiasm and patience in working with children as well as adults. 

Our piano instructors tailor music lessons to your interests by learning about your personal musical goals and helping you achieve them! With a large piano faculty with a wide variety of expertise and interests, we are also able to match your interests with the best teacher for you. 

We partner with the Musical Ladder System to help track students’ progress with a tiered system of rewards that inspire regular music practice! This innovative system provides a choice of colorful wristbands and trophies at set intervals. Once the student meets the goal set by their teacher, they pass the next level and earn their reward, making practicing so much more fun! For students who are more competitive, they get to participate in Piano Guild Auditions, sponsored by American College of Musicians, MTNA competitions and ABRSM exams, which are internationally recognized.

One of the most important parts about music is sharing it with our community, which is why we love seeing our students perform. We have two major recital seasons each year, in the winter and the spring, which we encourage all of our students to participate in! These recitals are held at local university recital halls, providing our students the chance to play on a full-size grand piano. Our recitals are organized and run by our professional administrative staff, providing all our students a wonderful yet casual environment to share the joy of music with their friends and family!

As being part of a large ISM community, our piano students have many opportunities to participate in ISM’s ensembles! From piano duets to piano trios and more, our students get to learn how to play with other musicians, coached by one of our amazing faculty. Participation in piano ensembles is an enriching part of musical development and helps refine musicianship, awareness of blending, balancing, communication, all while experiencing the joy of making music together.

Our piano lessons go month-to-month without long-term commitment! Due to a large piano faculty, we are able to schedule multiple family members simultaneously, saving parents numerous hours driving to different providers. And finally, our flexible make-up program includes virtual lessons, recorded lessons, and small group classes, in form of a studio class which help students expand on their musical skills and offer well rounded education in addition to scheduling flexibility.

At the International School of Music, our teachers have years of experience providing high-quality online piano lessons in addition to in-person instruction. With Zoom, Facetime, Skype, Google Meet, or other platforms, our online lessons are just as effective as in-person lessons at one of our two locations in Bethesda and Potomac, Maryland.  These lessons are a perfectly designed for distance learning, or can serve as an occasional online instruction for students’ convenience.