I want you to take a second and think about something you are really good at - a skill you've practiced and perfected since you were 4. Actually, how many of us even remember what we did when we were 4? I can't remember a thing about how I was taught when I first started lessons, including who my teacher was; I only remember the rewards I got from my mom AFTER piano performances. In a previous post, I mentioned some of them and how important an involved and supportive parent is to piano lessons. 

While there certainly are concert pianists who are excellent teachers, they are usually not a good fit for most students. Here I've gathered some reasons from my own experience studying under teachers with an active performance schedule, and parents of students who have studied with concert pianists before transferring to me. 

I QUIT PIANO ONCE!!!

Whew, feels much better now with that off my chest. 

If my mom didn't use her sneaky persuasion skills I wouldn't be doing what I love as a living now. 

I'd be another adult regretting my decision to quit piano when I was young. 

The importance of parent support and perseverance in a kid's piano lessons can't be stressed enough. 

Just think about all the things your child can do instead of practicing piano: 

• Play in the park
• Basketball
• Baseball
• Video games
• Soccer
• Fridge raiding
• Fido riding

Which one would you choose? (I chose basketball, fridge raiding, and video games--in that order)

It's easy to see why piano's pretty low on the totem pole. But as parents and adults, we know the benefits of learning piano and we are able to--hopefully--delay present gratifications (or endure whining kids) knowing the benefits further down the line. 

(By the way, apparently the ability to delay present gratification is an indicator for successful  children when they grow up)