July 20, 2026 Submitted By Freddy Frymire
I started learning piano when I was six. I’m eight now. In our household, we love music. It has become a big part of our family ever since my older brother, Henry, and I started playing piano. We like to play in the mornings before school, and sometimes we even play for our dog, Brutus—he’s a great listener! Henry has been taking piano lessons at South Shore Conservatory with Mr. Jeff for three years. He also plays cello.
I decided to learn the piano because my brother plays and I thought it looked really fun… And it was! The first class I took at South Shore Conservatory was Summer Piano in July of 2024. Then I started taking Piano FUNdamentals with Ms. Anne, who makes learning piano fun. Her class makes everyone feel happy, especially when we play games. In her class, I learned the notes on the piano, how to read some music, how to keep a beat, and how to play “Ode to Joy.” It was fun because we all learned together, and it made me excited to come every week.
After I learned basic skills, we knew it was time for me to move on to private piano lessons. Since I had tagged along to so many of my brother’s lessons, Mr. Jeff and I already knew each other, so it made sense to take lessons from him as well. Watching Henry play made me excited to start learning with Mr. Jeff too. Where I had already learned a lot from Ms. Anne’s class, making the jump to one-to-one lessons was simple. The songs were easy at the start and then got more challenging as I became a better player.
Mr. Jeff is a great teacher and makes lessons fun. He teaches me new songs that challenge me, but he also helps me when something is hard. I also enjoy performing in student recitals. Mr. Jeff encourages me to play whenever there’s one coming up. This past March, I participated in the SSC Spotlight Celebration at Barnes & Noble Derby Street Shops. I played two songs in front of an audience, which was a rewarding experience. Afterward, I got to buy a book, which made the experience even better!
I want to keep getting better so I can play songs for a crowd one day. I enjoy entertaining people. I really want to learn more Beethoven. I would recommend students take FUNdamentals classes before committing to private lessons because it’s a great way to learn the basics, make friends, and see if you enjoy piano.
South Shore Conservatory is enrolling now for the 2026/2027 school year. Learn more about what classes and lessons are available for you and your family at sscmusic.org or find South Shore Conservatory on Facebook or Instagram.