It is very important to get into a good routine of consistently practising at home. It is really not possible to learn to play the piano without spending time at home playing and going over the things that you are advised to work on during lessons. As a minimum for a very young child, aim for 10 to 15 minutes on 5 or 6 days each week. As children get older it is important to find more time for practice. For teenagers studying at a higher level it is a good idea to aim for a minimum of 30 minutes a day.

For the Piano: A traditional acoustic piano or a reasonable electric piano/keyboard is needed in order to learn to play. If an electric keyboard is to be used, then it should ideally have 88 keys and a weighted action so that the learner can play notes loudly or softly depending on how hard they strike the keys. A sustaining pedal will also be required at an intermediate level. If you are unsure whether a certain keyboard will be adequate, do ask.

For the Cello: To learn to play the cello you will need an instrument of the correct size. There are small cellos to suit young children and they can move up to bigger instruments as they grow. As your teacher I would expect to give advice on the sizing of instruments and where they might be hired or purchased.

Only if you and your child want to do exams! My feeling is that exams provide good benchmarks and can really help to motivate young people to keep practising and improving. However, learning to play an instrument is not JUST about passing exams. Learning, playing and practising are what is important and exams are a helpful tool along the way. 

A beginner will soon be playing simple melodies, but there is no single answer as to how long it will take to become proficient. Most people will need to work steadily at practising and playing the piano for a number of years before they reach a good standard. At the outset you will be learning to read music along with finding the notes on the keyboard and coordinating playing hands together. Like any other skill this all comes together with practice. 

The cello is a beautiful instrument and at each stage of learning there are new delights and insights to discover. Everyone learns at different rates but many people's aim will be to play the cello together with others. This would easily be possible after a year or two of lessons with a good teacher and some regular practice. 

No, it's never too late! It is always possible to learn to read music and to make progress in playing enjoyable pieces. The more time and focus you can give to playing the better your progress will be.

There are many ways in which to be a successful musician and some read music and some don't. However, my own background is as a formally trained classical musician and to me the advantages of being able to read music are immense. My teaching approach is to introduce the reading of music at an early stage when acquiring skills and understanding notation go hand in hand. I believe this approach gives the best foundation for a lifetime of making music.

Anyone can learn an instrument at almost any age so don't hesitate to embark on lessons whether you are young or old. However, if a parent of a young child asks me when their child should start, I would say that a certain level of concentration and good coordination are needed. Generally speaking, around the age of 7 is often ideal. 

There is a simple answer to this: as soon as possible! Children who grow up singing songs and nursery rhymes, playing percussion instruments in time to music and moving in time with a beat are getting the best start in music. I think that playing a recorder and starting to look at musical symbols around the age of 5 is great. Singing as much as possible - as well as listening to all types of music - is a great way to start a musical life.