Piano Lessons Singapore Guide: 10 Most Popular Studios [2022]

The piano is a stylish classical instrument that appeals to many – regardless of age. Whether you’re a parent interested in piano lessons for your child, or you’re seeking to learn piano as an adult, it’s never too late to start and reap the benefits.

Playing the piano is proven to help with reducing anxiety levels, alleviating stress, and keeping the brain sharp. Interestingly, mastering this instrument can also make you smarter.

Studies show that practicing the piano exercises the same part of the brain that’s involved in mathematics, spatial intelligence, and boosting IQ.

So if you’re excited to get started, you’re in luck. Singapore is not lacking in piano teachers – with dozens of studios and probably hundreds of private tutors at your service.

You can choose to go to a piano school, a small studio, or get private tuition to learn piano from the comfort of your own home. With recent restrictions, you even have the option of taking piano lessons online.

We’ll dive into all this and more. In this article, we’re answering the most burning questions regarding piano lessons and giving you insight into the most popular piano studios to fit every taste and budget.

What’s the best age to start taking piano lessons?

Typically, piano lessons in Singapore start at the mean age of 4.5 years, but you can find many studios that offer piano lessons to 3-year olds. Keep in mind, however, that the best age to start with a more rigorous musical training is 6 years old.

Starting very young has its benefits – like getting your child accustomed to the instrument, but expectations need to be adjusted to fit the attention span and physical capabilities of a toddler.

A 3-year-old’s hands are still small and growing at a rapid pace, and not all children have the same dexterity, so a good rule of thumb is to start piano lessons when your child is able to tie his or her own shoelaces.

Also, your child must be interested in piano lessons and enjoy fun-based musical activities. You can’t turn your little ones into piano prodigies against their will, as the piano is learned best by creativity and curiosity, and not harsh discipline.

Can I take piano lessons as an adult?

If you’re seeking piano lessons for yourself, as an adult, good for you! It’s always admirable to learn a new instrument and it’s never too late to get started. 

In fact, you will be a much better student than a child, since you’re already internally motivated, goal-driven, and seeking creative expression. Some instructors would rather teach adults because they’re more focused and better at following instructions.

As an adult, you may only want to learn piano for leisure, in which case you have many options. Check the final section of this article for fun piano studios where they teach pop, jazz, and rock classes.

Studios like Play by Ear School focus mostly on adults and teens, so if you’re looking to find like-minded piano students, a studio like that is a great place to start. 

How much do piano lessons cost? (+ extra expenses to consider)

Piano may be an expensive instrument to learn, and the amount you spend on lessons really depends on your proficiency level. It does get more costly the more advanced you become, but if you’re serious about your passion, you won’t mind investing in it. 

So how much exactly should a piano lesson cost you in Singapore? Let’s break it down by category:

• Beginner: 30 SGD to 55 SGD
• Intermediate: 45 SGD to 70 SGD
• Advanced: 60 SGD to 100 SGD

You may be taking graded piano lessons, where classes are divided into pre-grade, Grade 1-8, and Diploma, in preparation for the ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) exam.

Prices for graded piano lessons are similar to the ones displayed above, but sometimes you may be charged separately for music theory, especially in higher grade classes.

Piano lessons usually take 45 minutes for beginners and 60 minutes for intermediate and advanced levels, and classes are taught weekly. Many studios and teachers charge on a monthly basis, so expect to pay anything from 100 to 400 SGD per month.

Extra Expenses

Piano lessons aren’t the only expense that makes this instrument costly. There are a few other things to keep in mind. 

If you’re serious about learning piano, or want to progress rapidly, it would be best if you had a piano at home. If you’re taking weekly classes at a piano school, you’ll have access to a piano once a week, which is often not enough. However, if you’re thinking about a private tutor coming to your home, then having your own piano is a must.

A new piano in Singapore will cost you about 7000 SGD, with used options at about 3000 SGD. If you can’t afford a piano, you have the option of long-term piano rentals – a minimum of 6 months or more. 

They transport and install the piano for you, but you’ll have to pay a hefty two-way delivery fee of 240 SGD. Depending on what kind of piano you’d like, you’ll end up paying anything from 70 SGD to 180 SGD per month.

If you’re a beginner student or unable to afford your own piano, this is a good option to start with.

Another fee to consider is that of piano practical exams. Piano lessons in Singapore are mostly taught following the ABRSM syllabus, and, as you progress through the grades, you’ll have the option of taking ABRSM’s practical exams.

As of 2022, ABRSM’s official fees for the practical exam are the ones below:

ABRSM’s music theory fees are charged separately, here are the updated ones:

Lastly, you’ll want to consider other minor expenses like books, course materials, music sheets, or yearly piano maintenance. Your piano teacher or tutor will walk you through everything you need so you can plan accordingly.

So yes, it’s safe to say that piano lessons can get pretty expensive, but no price is too big if you love this stylish, timeless instrument.

Should you take piano lessons at home or in a studio?

The obvious answer would be – it all depends on whether you have a piano at home or not.

You might want to look into playing this instrument on a trial basis, to see if you like it, before actually purchasing a piano, in which case taking a piano lesson in a music studio is the best option.

Piano teachers usually work by appointment only, and they may hold their lessons at their home, go to the student’s home, or own/be employed by a piano studio. Location doesn’t influence piano lesson prices as much, so choose what suits you best.

Piano lessons can also be held individually, 1-to-1, or in a small group setting of 3 to 6 students. Individual lessons are recommended in most cases, especially for beginners, and group lessons are reserved for more advanced students and adults.

The recent pandemic has made 1-to-1 piano classes challenging. As a result, many teachers and music studios now offer virtual lessons on Zoom and online pre-recorded classes. While this is an excellent and convenient option, it’s not a good idea for absolute beginners. 

When first starting out, it’s good to have a teacher or tutor right next to you to observe your moves and techniques and help you in the places you struggle.

How to find the right piano tutor

If you’re considering getting a piano tutor for yourself or your child, you’re probably going to start with asking for recommendations or doing an internet search. This is the obvious first step, but there are still plenty of other things to keep in mind.

You need to make sure that:

• Your tutor has appropriate credentials (e.g. ABRSM Grade 8 and above, MOE teacher, etc), or, if you’re only learning for leisure, check the tutor’s reviews;
• Your tutor has an appropriate teaching style (patience and gentleness are underrated);
• Your tutor has enough free time to take other students (popular tutors are often overbooked);
• Your child actually likes your tutor (parents often overlook this, or your child is afraid to speak up);
• Your tutor is flexible in teaching styles and goals and keeps your child’s favorite songs in mind.

Tutoring is a two-way street, and you not only need to have expectations from your tutor – you need to make sure that you or your child is fully committed to practicing long term before getting started with piano lessons.

Also, parents often don’t pay enough attention to the tutor-student matching process. It may not be a good fit from the start, in which case keep looking! 

SmileTutor’s matching services are free, and we successfully match students and tutors for all subjects, piano included. Tutors can come in the comfort of your own home, or you can have your lessons online. If your piano teacher is not a good match, you can choose from a rich database of piano tutors, and only pay for the lessons taught.

Top 10 Most Popular Piano Studios In Singapore

Now that we’ve presented you with all the options regarding piano lessons, it’s time to delve deep into Singapore’s numerous piano studios and music schools.

Piano studios range anywhere from intimate studios with 1-2 teachers to huge schools with dozens of teachers, and multiple locations.

We did our best to sort the top 10 most popular piano studios according to ratings, student and parent satisfaction, and teacher credentials. We’re confident you’ll find something you like, and if you don’t, we have some “out of the box” options for you at the very end.

1) Melodious Piano Studio

Melodious Piano Studio is quickly becoming one of the most popular piano lesson options for parents in Singapore. 

This leading studio stands out through its unique teaching method – Active Learning Piano Mind. Students are encouraged to master musical theory in a playful and incentivized way. Later on, they are encouraged to practice independently, in various settings, and unleash their creativity.

At Melodious Piano Studio, the carefully selected teachers nurture the students’ motivation during weekly classes, which makes at-home practice much easier and worry-free for parents and children alike.

Melodious Piano Studio offers classes from Beginner to Diploma and teaches piano to children as well as Adult Pop & Leisure.

If raving reviews aren’t convincing enough, you can experience a class for yourself and book a trial to see if the studio is a good fit.

2) Adeline Piano Studio

With over 20 years of experience, Adeline Yeo teaches piano in her cozy private studio, Adeline Piano Studio, but also offers at-home tutoring and online piano lessons.

No age group or skill level is excluded, as Adeline teaches students age 3.5 to 65+ years old, from beginner to grade 8 or Diploma. She is experienced in teaching children with special needs, ADHD and Autism, and other unique learning capabilities.

Adeline is also passionate about teaching retirees, as playing the piano is known to improve motor skills and reduce cognitive decline.

If you’re wondering what you’re going to be learning at Adeline’s Piano Studio, here are a few examples:

• Repertoires
• Scales and Arpeggios
• Sight Reading
• Rhythm
• Aural Training
• Theory of Music
• Solfege
• Finger Dexterity
• Improvisation and Keyboard Harmony

The many testimonials and happy customers make Adeline a trustworthy and sought-after piano teacher.

3) 2pianoteachers

Laurence Yu and Midorie Tjiawi, husband and wife, are the founders of 2pianoteachers piano studio. Both of them are well-rounded artists and piano players with decades of experience between them.

Laurence and Midorie keep their students engaged and interested, even the 5-year old ones, and their piano lessons are fun and well-structured. Most of their students do very well, with their early batch of students now excelling in most industries.

Be sure to check their Instagram page to get a glimpse of their daily practice and lives.

4) Avocado Piano Studio

Avocado Piano Studio’s founder and instructor Amy Ng is a young and talented piano instructor. She believes in patience and gentleness, and her personal approach is to make piano lessons enjoyable and pressure-free.

Amy Ng mastered piano at Girton College, which is one of Cambridge’s most famous colleges for music and art. But aside from her accomplishments, students love her best for her nurturing attitude, as Amy understands that a solid student-teacher relationship is essential for learning and developing skills.

Amy Ng offers lessons for different levels:

• Beginner Fundamentals Class
• Intermediate Technique Workshop
• Advanced Music Theory Class

Learn more about Avocado Piano Studio on their Instagram and see plenty of examples of students performing their best.

5) Sylvia Ng Piano Studio

Sylvia Ng graduated summa cum laude from the University of Redlands, School of Music, United States of America, and she’s been an acclaimed pianist ever since. Her extensive teaching experience spans over three decades and her students regularly achieve distinctions in the most advanced piano examinations.

This piano studio is home to the Louansyl Piano Method, an approach invented by Sylvia Ng to help children and adults alike master piano techniques in the fastest, most enjoyable way.

Sylvia Ng teaches individual and small group classes, with the youngest students being just over 3 years old. Her practice is mostly focused on formal piano education, Beginner to Diploma, and she regularly hosts performance classes and student recitals.

6) Aureus Academy

Aureus Academy is one of the leading music studios in Singapore. Their trained teachers work with students of all ages, as young as 4 years old. Before getting started, all students receive an evaluation of their skills and are presented with a personalized curriculum to focus on their weaknesses.

Aureus Academy is a popular choice, with 16 locations all over Singapore – all of them with state-of-the-art facilities. Due to recent Covid-19 restrictions, virtual classes are also available.

Visible, quick results are guaranteed, and children are encouraged to showcase their piano skills on platforms for an early on-stage experience.

After mastering the foundation of piano techniques, students are encouraged to experiment with a variety of styles – from pop to jazz and blues.

Aureus Academy’s teachers inspire confidence and a hunger for learning, and you can be confident that this studio will be a great option for your child.

7) LVL Music Academy

While LVL Music Academy is mainly known for providing violin lessons, its piano lessons are rapidly gaining in popularity. Their hand-picked teachers, lead by teacher Janice, are experienced in teaching beginner to advanced piano lessons at competitive rates.

The student-teacher match is made based on the student’s particular skills and learning style. LVL Music Academy accommodates all age groups, from age 4 to adults, and offers at-home, in-studio and online classes. Online classes, however, aren’t recommended for absolute beginners.

Beginners will benefit from 1-to-1 classes, while more advanced players will be encouraged to participate in group classes. 

LVL Music Academy also allows you to choose from a variety of piano styles: classical, pop, jazz, or blues.

8) Joywaltz Academy

Joywaltz Academy is a fantastic option for nurturing your little one’s passion for music. Their popular Little Piano Prodigy program teaches a carefully designed curriculum to make piano lessons fun and highly engaging for children as young as 3 years old.

Joywaltz Academy’s teachers are all qualified in a minimum ABRSM Grade 8 and above, and many of them have conducted courses in Singapore’s top international schools.

Their studios have individual, group as well as community lessons like the Little Pianissimo Course featuring their revolutionary roll-up pianos.

Joywaltz Academy features 3 classes:

• Little Pianist Prodigy – for ages 3 to 7, class size 3 to 6;
• I’m a Pianist Prodigy – for ages 7 and above, class size 3 to 6;
• ABRSM Grade 1-8 – 7 years and above, individual exam preparation.

9) Cristofori Music School

Cristofori’s Classical Music system has been around for over 40 years and helped train 200000 students. As a result, Cristofori’s piano lessons remain the top choice for thousands of Singaporean parents.

Whether you’re interested in a classical or contemporary approach, Cristofori has it all. You can choose from ABRSM and Rockschool Diploma training, Children and Adult piano lessons.

Graded piano courses are developed by renowned pedagogist specialist, Dr. Randall Faber, based in Michigan USA – a series of books geared towards beginners to help them with physical coordination, eye-tracking, and aural perception. 

Students also receive online practice guides to complement their books. 

Their contemporary method books are just as intentional and closely follow Accredited Examination Boards London standards. All Rockschool teachers are MOE Certified and have a rich performing experience.

Overall, you can trust Cristofori to offer top-quality, effective piano lessons for any age group.

10) Edvox Music School

Edvox is an international music school based in Singapore and Malaysia that teaches a wide variety of instruments. Their piano lessons start young – the Funtime DoReMe program features piano and violin and is meant as music enrichment for children age 3 to 5 years old.

Regular piano lessons are available for all age groups, children and adults, beginners, advanced, and everything in between.

Edvox’s ensembles and piano soloists are their pride and joy, as well as their many students who score stellar results and receive High Distinctions in the ABRSM piano exam.

BONUS: Top 3 Most FUN Piano Schools – Pop, Jazz, Impro, And More

If you’re not into classical music, or your child has expressed his or her passion for more contemporary vibes, no need to worry. You can still learn piano or excel in your favorite music by enrolling in the schools below.

Whether you love snappy pop songs, elevated jazz, and lounge music or think improvisation is fun and fresh, these options have you covered.

1) Play By Ear Music School

Play By Ear School is pretty explanatory in terms of what it wants to accomplish. By the end of P.B.E.S. courses, you’ll be able to take a pop or jazz song, improvise it and play it in your own unique way – because there are endless ways to play a song.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a classical pianist, a closet singer, or an absolute beginner, and you shouldn’t mind your age either. Play By Ear school welcomes you with open arms at one of their 1-to-1 studio or online courses:

• Pop Piano Improvisation (adults & teens)
• Jazz Piano Improvisation (adults & teens)
• Pop Piano Junior (5 to 12 year-olds)
• Keyboard (adults & teens)

Don’t know where to start? Take their online P.B.E.S. self-assessment to determine your level and go through Level 1 to Level 4 using their unique teaching method.

2) Alternate Tone

Alternate Tone is another fun school that offers pop and jazz piano lessons in Singapore. They don’t believe in the old, rigid way of teaching piano, so they’ve come up with their highly individualized way of practice.

For pop piano lessons, expect to become familiar with different genres of pop, rock, Bossa Nova, Shuffle, and R&B. You’ll learn to enter the right frame of mind and body to have what it takes for playing pop piano.

Jazz piano is a whole language in itself that you have to master, and that’s what Alternate Tone’s lessons are for. Even though you need to be spontaneous and creative, teachers at Alternate Tone believe improvisation in jazz piano can absolutely be taught.

Learn at your own pace and receive personalized lessons from professional teachers in one of the most enjoyable and fun studios in Singapore.

3) Rocktone Music Academy

Rocktone Music Academy is the most popular and biggest music school in Bukit Timah Plaza. They work best at reproducing rehearsal studios, with 7 spacious and acoustic studios at your disposal.

You will be coached by highly dedicated musicians, whether you’d like to play piano for leisure and professionally. Rocktone’s music theory curriculum will prepare you for the ABRSM piano exam, as well as the ROCKSCHOOL UK’s Certificate Qualification, which they’ve partnered up with.

Learn to play by ear, write your own songs, and master the foundations of piano playing in this fantastic environment, and don’t forget to take advantage of their free trial piano classes.

Affordable Community Centre Options: Lowrey Music School

Piano classes at community centres are generally more affordable, so if you live next to one, piano lessons on their premises might be a great option for you.

Lowrey Music School was established in 1980 when it began as a piano and organ seller. Since 1985, it has partnered up with 28 Community Clubs (CCs) and Resident Committee Centres (RCCs) throughout Singapore to provide quality piano lessons.

Lowrey Music School’s teachers conduct the lessons at the CCs and RCCs premises, and the piano lessons are structured in terms of 10 sessions.

The majority of piano lessons will be 1-to-1, and your child will have to attend lessons with the same teacher, on the same day, but there are some group options available. For more information on locations and schedules, visit their community section on their website.

Can you learn piano without professional coaching?

The piano is an intuitive instrument that’s not that hard to learn. It may require a lot of practice to master proficiently, but for playing it as a pastime activity, it doesn’t take long at all.

Many adult students confess to learning this instrument in less than 2-3 years at a semi-professional level – so much that they’re able to play pop songs in cafes or in a group setting.

The piano is an instrument that’s great for beginners because it offers instant gratification. You hit a key and a beautiful sound comes out, regardless of your skills, and that can be very motivating. By contrast, learning an instrument like the guitar is more challenging because it’s harder for a beginner to hold chords that don’t squeak and buzz at first.

This is where the piano elegantly shines – it allows you to enjoy notes without much effort.

You may want to learn piano by yourself, and that’s okay. If you’re an adult, there are plenty of beginner resources and books online, not to mention a myriad of video tutorials on YouTube. There’s really no excuse to stop you from learning if you have the discipline to practice by yourself.

Adults are more goal-driven than children, so if you have a goal in mind – e.g. learn a specific song – you’ll be far more motivated to do it right.

For children, however, I suggest getting a teacher or a private piano tutor if they enjoy playing this instrument. Your child might want to pursue music as a career or play classical piano at a proficient level, so getting a tutor to teach the foundations of the piano the right way is highly recommended.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article has sparked your interest in taking piano lessons and opened up a world of musical opportunities for you. It doesn’t matter if you’re attracted to classical piano, pop, jazz, lounge, or just improvising and doing your own thing – there’s a place for everyone.

If you haven’t settled on a studio or teacher yet for yourself or your child, keep in mind that, more than the location itself, what matters most is the student-teacher relationship.

Learning piano is a long-term endeavor, and you’ll be bonding with your teacher for years to come, so make sure you’re a good match.

We’re here to help you find the best piano tutor for you or your child. Smile Tutor’s matching services are free and easy to use if you want to explore your private tutoring options.