It's a fairly safe bet that most kids taking piano lessons don't like them. That was certainly my experience; I took piano from age 5-12 before quitting in frustration. The scales and sheet music and strict teacher just got the best of me.Now along comes a piano teacher named Payam Khastkhodaei. The 32-year-old son of Iranian immigrants says he's come up with a new method of teaching that has students loving their piano lessons.What makes this near-unknown worth a 60 Minutes story? Well, his students are sweeping national competitions. He's won over a legendary tech innovator and an Oscar-winning composer. They'll both tell you why they've joined his musical revolution, but we think you ought to hear from Payam first. Payam Khastkhodaei: Piano's not supposed to be fun. It's supposed to be strict, it's supposed to be stressful, it's supposed to be, like, this very intense instrument you're learning. And we're like, "Why? Like, why can't it be fun? Why can't we actually enjoy the songs we're learning? Our students don't just learn piano, they love piano. And that's one of the biggest keys to it.Payam Khastkhodaei: Can you play a little bit for me right there? Same spot. Now, can you play a little game? Can you show us how you can play without looking? You wanna look up? Yeah? Let's look up and play. In nearly every room of a converted home in the Seattle suburb of Bothell, Washington, Payam and his team of young teachers – all former students of his – are giving piano lessons, and having fun.Students are charged between $75 and $100 per lesson, and range from pre-school beginners to high school talents.
Piano teacher's students sweep national competitions after learning the "Payam Method"
Payam Khastkhodaei, the son of Iranian immigrants, says he's developed a new method of teaching that has students loving their piano lessons. Now his students are sweeping national competitions.











