What Comes Before Piano Express?
At Eric’s Piano School, most students begin formal piano lessons around age 5 with the Piano Express program.
But before children are ready for structured piano study, they need to develop a foundation of early musical skills through active play, movement, and listening.
That’s where our Early Childhood Music Program comes in.
Designed for children from birth through age 5 and their caregivers, this program offers a joyful introduction to music during the most important years of brain development.
It serves as the perfect preparation for success in Piano Express and beyond.
But before children are ready for structured piano study, they need to develop a foundation of early musical skills through active play, movement, and listening.
That’s where our Early Childhood Music Program comes in.
Designed for children from birth through age 5 and their caregivers, this program offers a joyful introduction to music during the most important years of brain development.
It serves as the perfect preparation for success in Piano Express and beyond.
Why This Program Matters
Some children under age 5 simply aren’t developmentally ready for Piano Express yet—and that’s completely normal.
In order to thrive in a group piano setting, children need certain basic musical competencies:
Our early childhood music classes are designed to help children naturally acquire these skills in a playful, low-pressure environment. With developmentally appropriate activities that involve singing, movement, and instrument exploration, children grow musically without even realizing they’re learning.
When they’re ready—either by age or by musical readiness—they can confidently transition into Piano Express with a strong foundation already in place.
In order to thrive in a group piano setting, children need certain basic musical competencies:
- Keeping a steady beat
- Singing in tune
- Listening and responding to musical cues
- Moving rhythmically
- Engaging in musical play with others.
Our early childhood music classes are designed to help children naturally acquire these skills in a playful, low-pressure environment. With developmentally appropriate activities that involve singing, movement, and instrument exploration, children grow musically without even realizing they’re learning.
When they’re ready—either by age or by musical readiness—they can confidently transition into Piano Express with a strong foundation already in place.
Our Solution: A Developmentally-Informed Musical Journey
This program creates a pathway into lifelong musical learning by:
- Building Core Music Skills: Through active music-making, students develop pitch accuracy, rhythmic ability, and musical confidence.
- Nurturing the Whole Child: Musical play supports not just musical growth, but also language development, motor skills, socialization, and emotional bonding.
- Empowering Parents: Parents and caregivers are active participants in class, learning how to create a musical home environment that encourages learning between sessions.
- Creating Continuity: Because this program is part of Eric’s Piano School, we ensure a smooth and seamless transition from early childhood music into our Piano Express classes when students are ready.
The Long-Term Impact
By introducing children to music during the earliest stages of life, we’re laying the foundation for everything that comes next. Students who begin with our early childhood program are more likely to enter Piano Express with confidence, coordination, and a love for music already in place.
And because we value the full arc of musical development, our school makes it easy for families to grow with us—from toddler music classes, to beginning piano, to advanced private study through the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Music learning doesn’t have to begin with formal lessons. It begins with joyful noise, shared rhythm, and meaningful connection—and that’s exactly what our early childhood program provides.
And because we value the full arc of musical development, our school makes it easy for families to grow with us—from toddler music classes, to beginning piano, to advanced private study through the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Music learning doesn’t have to begin with formal lessons. It begins with joyful noise, shared rhythm, and meaningful connection—and that’s exactly what our early childhood program provides.
