Simon OKeeffe

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Profile photo of Simon, Piano tutor at Wiingy
Profile photo of Simon, Piano tutor at Wiingy
Profile photo of Simon, Piano tutor at Wiingy
Profile photo of Simon, Piano tutor at Wiingy

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Simon OKeeffe

Masters degree

/ 55 min

Simon - Your piano teacher

With over 15 years of experience in teaching piano, I am Simon O'Keeffe, a dedicated tutor with a Masters degree in music. Specializing in various aspects of piano playing, I offer a wide range of subjects including Grand Piano, Jazz Piano, and more. My specialties include Chord Theory, Ear Training, and Performance Skills, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience. From beginners to advanced levels, I cater to all, including kids and adults. I focus on Finger Placement, Improvisation, and Music Theory to enhance skills. Additionally, I emphasize Pedaling Techniques and Sight Reading for a well-rounded approach to playing the piano. Let's embark on a musical journey together!

Your piano teacher skills

Improvisation icon

Improvisation

Music theory icon

Music theory

Scales and Arpeggios icon

Scales and Arpeggios

Finger Placement & Hand Position icon

Finger Placement & Hand Position

Sight Reading icon

Sight Reading

Performance Skills icon

Performance Skills

Pedaling Techniques icon

Pedaling Techniques

Ear training icon

Ear training

Ear training icon

Ear training

Improvisation icon

Improvisation

Rhythm and Timing icon

Rhythm and Timing

CoTutorCoTutor

AI modules

Summary

Podcast

Quiz

Learnings

Flashcard

Spotlight

Zero Risk Guaranteed

15-days refund

Free tutor swap

No cancel fee

1-yr validity

24/7 support

Types of learners for piano lessons

Piano for adults icon

Piano for adults

Piano for kids icon

Piano for kids

Piano for beginners icon

Piano for beginners

Piano for advanced icon

Piano for advanced

Piano for intermediate icon

Piano for intermediate

Piano lessons at a glance

As a Piano and Keyboard tutor, I specialize in teaching students of all levels, from kids to adults. My teaching style blends expressive musicality with empathetic guidance, focusing on technique and performance coaching. I use a curriculum tailored to beginners, intermediates, and advanced players, covering various piano styles from jazz to classical. I integrate tech tools like DAWs, metronome apps, and virtual piano software to enhance learning. With a vast repertoire of subjects including Grand Piano and Electric Keyboard, I offer personalized lessons to over 200 students. My approach emphasizes creativity, encouraging students to explore music with confidence and skill.

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92% students praise the teaching style

Student appreciate the way lessons are conducted by the teacher

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Piano classes tailored to individual learners

Parents appreciate how lessons are adjusted to each student’s style

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Step-by-step piano lessons structure

Lessons break down complex pieces into manageable parts

Different types of piano lessons

Piano

Piano

Grand Piano

Grand Piano

Player Piano

Player Piano

Digital Piano

Digital Piano

Jazz Piano

Jazz Piano

Electric Keyboard

Electric Keyboard

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Piano concepts taught by Simon

Student learned 3 days ago

Student and Tutor covered slide guitar techniques, including hand positioning, muting, intonation, and vibrato. They practiced various slide licks, explored bluegrass concepts like the minor-major third interplay, and briefly reviewed the CAGED system for fretboard navigation. The next session will delve deeper into bluegrass licks, integrating slide techniques, and follow-up material will be sent for practice.

CAGED System: A

E

D Shapes for Fretboard Mapping

Minor to Major Third Interchange (Bluegrass/Blues)

Slide Triads & Riff Building

Linear Pentatonic Scale on One String

Slide Guitar Fundamentals

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Student learned 6 days ago

Student and Tutor discussed guitar technique, including right and left-hand positioning and posture, for classical guitar. They practiced the C major and G major scales, with a focus on integrating the thumb rest stroke for bass note projection. The session also introduced harmonic concepts like the Cycle of Fifths and chord numbering while beginning work on "Ode to Joy," with a plan to continue practice. The next session will be extended to compensate for connection issues.

Guitar Posture and Relaxation

C Major Scale Extension & Position Shifting

Introduction to the Cycle of Fifths and G Major Scale

Classical Chord Voicings and Numbering System

Classical Guitar Hand Techniques

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Student learned 19 days ago

The Student and Tutor commenced an introductory electric guitar lesson, focusing on instrument setup, proper holding, and connecting the amplifier. They then moved on to manual guitar tuning by ear, practiced basic plerum techniques including downstrokes and upstrokes, and began learning to read guitar tablature by identifying strings, frets, and open notes. The session concluded with the student successfully playing a simple riff from tablature, with a strong recommendation to obtain an electronic tuner for future practice.

Electric Guitar & Amplifier Setup

Basic Guitar Tuning

Holding the Plectrum & Basic Picking Strokes

Introduction to Guitar Tablature (TAB)

Fretting Notes & Pitch Changes

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Student learned 20 days ago

Student and Tutor worked on foundational guitar techniques, including chromatic warm-up exercises and an extended C major scale. They also practiced reading and playing several musical pieces from a book, incorporating dynamics like soft, loud, crescendo, and diminuendo. For homework, Student was advised to practice warm-up exercises, the C major scale, and specific pieces from pages 28, 29, and 30 of their book.

Chromatic Left-Hand Warm-up

Advanced Dexterity Pattern

Double Octave C Major Scale with Position Shift

String Muting Techniques

Proper Left Hand Posture

Musical Dynamics: Expressing Softness to Loudness

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Student learned 20 days ago

The Student and Tutor reviewed guitar practice from the previous week, warming up with A minor pentatonic and hexatonic scales for improvisation. They meticulously practiced reading tablature and playing "Creep" by Radiohead, focusing on bar chord techniques and transitions. The session also initiated an in-depth introduction to the CAGED system for fretboard navigation and mapping root notes. Homework includes refining the Radiohead song, practicing the expanded scales, and memorizing specific CAGED bar chord shapes.

Pentatonic Scale Expansion & Blue Notes

Tablature Interpretation & Barre Chord Application

CAGED System: Fretboard Mapping with Octave Shapes

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Student learned 25 days ago

The Student and Tutor engaged in a guitar lesson focused on practical playing techniques. They covered alternative chord voicings like F major 7 and C add 9, enhanced strumming techniques using finger-based downstrokes and thumb-based upstrokes, and explored rhythmic variations with quarter, eighth, and 16th notes, including muted strums and hammer-ons. The discussion also addressed the Student's goals of playing simple songs for family.

Introducing Hammer-ons in Strumming

The C add 9 Chord as a Smoother Alternative

Muted Strums for Percussive Flavor

Alternative F Chord Voicings & Fmaj7

Optimizing Finger Strumming for Efficiency

Rhythmic Strumming Patterns: Quarter

Eighth

& Sixteenth Notes

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Approach & tools used in piano classes

Chord & Scale Reference Apps image

Chord & Scale Reference Apps

Ear Training Software image

Ear Training Software

PDF Sheet Music Libraries image

PDF Sheet Music Libraries

Looping Software image

Looping Software

Piano Tuner Apps image

Piano Tuner Apps

Looping Software image

Looping Software

DAWs image

DAWs

Backing Track Libraries image

Backing Track Libraries

DAWs image

DAWs

Ear Training Software image

Ear Training Software

PDF Sheet Music Libraries image

PDF Sheet Music Libraries

Interactive piano lessons

Open Q&A icon

Open Q&A

Note taking icon

Note taking

Parent feedback icon

Parent feedback

Record lessons icon

Record lessons

Mobile joining icon

Mobile joining

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Reviews and Ratings for Simon

Jorge Villegas

Trinity Park, Durham

about 1 year ago

Simon has a way of making piano lessons both fun and focused. My teen, who had lost interest, is now genuinely enjoying playing again. It’s refreshing to see his excited about lessons once more.

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Evelin Hodge

West Side, El Paso

about 1 year ago

Finding the ideal fit for my teenage son was a concern of mine after moving to the West Side. Simon utilises a hybrid digital piano to educate him, emphasising artistic components such as pedal use and phrasing. Now, he makes his own covers.

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Marisa Wade

Athens, Georgia

over 1 year ago

My recital pieces benefited greatly from Simon lessons of how to time my pieces and understand my dynamics. he really helped me grasp the methods for the cresendos and decrescendos as I practiced on my upright piano. I can honestly say that he has taught me a lot!

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Mollie Santana

South Bend, IN

almost 2 years ago

With each of his piano lesson, my daughter’s confidence in performing has grown. It’s been amazing to watch his steady progress with Simon and he now plays with a sense of ease and assurance.

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Karissa Russell

New Territory, Sugar Land

almost 2 years ago

I was living in New Territory when I came across Simon piano lessons. His encouragement and attainable objectives made it simpler for me to balance my obligations to my family and job with my musical studies.

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Jabari Ballard

Biltmore Area, Phoenix

about 2 years ago

In the Biltmore Area, I found exactly the right fit for piano instruction. Simon blends strong classical training with a creative spark, turning every lesson into a meaningful and enjoyable experience.

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Piano teachers on Wiingy are vetted for quality

Every tutor is interviewed and selected for subject expertise and teaching skill.