What makes piano different here
The piano is the only instrument at the school that stands on its own. In guitar, bass or drums the repertoire is studied with a band behind you; here a good part of the pieces are written to be played whole, with both hands and nobody else. That changes how you train: the left hand is not accompanying another instrument, it is the rhythm section — and that is the skill built level by level.
It is not the same as the keyboard course, and it is worth knowing before you choose. Piano is a one-to-one class centred on your development as a performer: your own repertoire, reading and technique. Keyboard is a group course centred on accompanying — singers above all — inside a band. If you want to play piano pieces, you come here; if you want to hold the harmony of a group, you go there. And nothing stops you doing both.
What to expect
- First weeks
- Posture, finger numbering and reading in both clefs from day one. With hands separately, recognisable melodies come out within the first month: the piano is one of the instruments that sounds like music soonest.
- First months
- The real leap: both hands at once doing different things. Independence usually shows up between the second and third month and is what turns an exercise into music. Chords and chord charts arrive alongside it — which is what lets you accompany a song without sheet music.
- First year
- Reasonable sight-reading, pedal used with intention, and a full piece from memory. Because the piano shows the whole harmony at a glance, this is the point where theory that other instruments struggle with starts to make sense.
You play from the first lesson
There are no months of theory before you touch the instrument. Reading and harmony come in when the piece you are building needs them.
Classical, modern, or both
The plan is built around the music you like. The underlying technique serves Chopin as well as it serves accompanying a band.
You play live, with other musicians
The school was born out of a working band. There is ensemble work and there are real performances, and accompanying others is what turns a living-room pianist into a musician.
International certification, if you want it
Your progress can be accredited with Trinity College London y RSL Rockschool London. If that is not for you, you keep playing for the pleasure of it with no exam pressure.
The essentials
- Ages
- From 7, no upper limit
- Format
- One-to-one, in person, at our Bogotá campus
- Language of instruction
- Spanish (materials and exams in English)
- Levels
- 8 repertoire levels + 2 live-performance levels
- Certification
- Optional — Trinity College London y RSL Rockschool London, regulated by Ofqual (UK)
- Price
- From COP $1.800.000 per semester — one course, 15 weeks of class
- Opening hours
- lunes a viernes 9:00–21:00 · sábado 8:00–17:00
- Address
- Calle 134A No. 17-57, Usaquén, Bogotá
Who teaches piano
- Hazel Pinto — Cantante, clarinetista y educadora.
- Tefi Bell — Pianista, tecladista, compositora y arreglista.
- Sofía Quiceno Villa — Cantante, tecladista y compositora.
Teacher profiles are in Spanish.
Frequently asked questions
Are the classes taught in English?
No. Classes are taught in Spanish. What is in English is all the course material: the RSL and Trinity College London syllabi, the repertoire and the exams themselves, which are graded by examiners in the United Kingdom. Many of our students are English speakers living in Bogotá and get along fine — music lessons are largely demonstration and playing — but we want you to know before you come, not after.
Do I need a piano at home to start?
We have instruments at the school for your lesson. For practising at home you do need something, and we will help you choose according to your budget — we do not sell instruments, so the advice comes with nothing attached.
Piano or keyboard?
A keyboard works to start, as long as it has weighted keys: that is what builds the hand. If you already have an acoustic piano, better. We help you decide based on how far you want to go.
Do I have to learn to read sheet music?
It depends on your goal. For classical repertoire and for sitting certifications, yes. To accompany and play from chord charts you can go a long way without it. We define this with you from the start.
Am I too old to start?
No. The piano is one of the most rewarding instruments to start as an adult: the notes are laid out visually and you get a correct sound from day one, without the painful early curve of string instruments.
How young can a child start?
From 7, with no upper limit. The piano is one of the kindest instruments to start young: it demands no hand size or strength, because you begin with hands separately and the repertoire is matched to each student's reach.
How long until I can actually play something?
With hands separately, recognisable melodies come out in the first month. The real leap is both hands doing different things at once — independence usually shows up between the second and third month, and that is what turns an exercise into music.
What is the certification, and do I have to take it?
You do not have to. If you want it, your progress can be accredited with Trinity College London y RSL Rockschool London — British qualifications regulated by Ofqual, recognised in more than 60 countries, and worth UCAS points from grade 6 up. The exam is a live performance recorded here at the school and graded in the UK. If you are not interested, you keep playing for the pleasure of it with no exam pressure.
Where are you and how do I get there?
Calle 134A No. 17-57, in the El Contador neighbourhood, Usaquén, north Bogotá. There is parking nearby and the school is a short walk from the Autopista Norte.
Book a visit
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