Caroline Eaton

Hi, my name is Caroline Eaton. I have taught the piano, cello and music theory for 25 years, which includes both in-person and online lessons. I am from Derbyshire in the UK, but for the past twenty years I have been working as a piano and cello teacher on the island of Bermuda, where I moved in 2006. Many of my students have obtained ABRSM exams at various levels in piano, cello, and music theory. Although I do teach some cello, I am currently just offering piano and music theory lessons online. I have vast experience with beginners of all ages, and currently I am teaching students from ages 6 upwards, with my eldest student being 80. I also have experience teaching both children and adults with special needs and tailoring the lessons to their specific requirements.

Teaching Style

My teaching style with beginners is to start with the musical alphabet, using the letters A to G. I use rhythm games and fun activities to help students begin to grasp note lengths and basic note reading on the staff. I also focus on tunes in the Primer level books that introduce pressing the black keys, even though they will only learn to read those notes a little later in their studies. I believe it is important for students to become comfortable with a variety of piano keys right from the introductory lesson, and not just with the notes they are learning to read. I also quickly like to introduce moving the hands into different places on the piano, so that students don't become too accustomed to the same hand positions.

Curriculum

I usually use the Piano Adventures tutor books starting with the primer level, along with various note-reading tutor books at the beginner level. For example, Pauline Hall's Ten Fingers Level 1 and 2. Once students reach the Level 2B books in the Piano Adventures series, I like to give them the option to begin working toward taking the Grade 1 ABRSM exam either online or in person if available. I also have students work through the various levels of music theory in the Piano Adventures series, and then move on to ABRSM graded levels of theory.

Credentials & Affiliations

I have had twenty years of teaching experience at the Bermuda School of Music and perform regularly in concerts on the cello. I have always accompanied my own cello students and also teach piano at the Bermuda high school.