Piano Lessons, Not Just Between Teacher and Student

"after we take this picture mommy's taking the iPad away~it's piano time"

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)

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Here are some ways you can help your child in maximizing their piano lessons: 

• Learn WITH your child. While piano practice is an inherently solitary task, I don't recommend parents being involved in the whole practice session except for young beginners. You can, however, stay plugged into your child's music learning by communicating with the teacher on new concepts learned. The drive home is a great time to review new concepts together; asking your child to teach you something they learned shows your interest and support. 

• Show how important you view piano learning. Something I ask parents during the initial interview is where the piano is located in the home. Practicing piano is serious business; the piano should not be placed in an area of high traffic and noise. Growing up, piano practice was held above all other household activities. I was never discouraged from practicing late at night--which happened to be my preferred time apparently. You might have to make adjustments for this if you live in close proximity to your neighbors. Also, when I practiced, my parents would turn down the volume if they were watching TV. It's a small gesture, but I noticed, and it made a huge impact to how I viewed piano practice. 
• Reward your child after good piano lessons and performances, good or bad. It takes tremendous courage to perform in front of people; the last thing your child needs is a reminder of how many notes he missed. Believe it or not, your child is already aware of the notes he missed. In another post I'll be writing about wrong notes during piano performances. Some of my most vivid memories were of times when my mom rewarded me after performances or lessons, whether it's buying a pack of basketball cards or munching on a piece of crispy chicken breast. 
• Enjoy music together! Whenever possible, attend piano performances together, listen to CD's of great pianists' performances together, watch YouTube clips together. And definitely, definitely make an effort to be at your child's every performance. 

I hope this post has shown you a few ways you can show support in your child's piano learning and of the important role parents play in a child's musical growth. A piano teacher can only do so much in one hour out of the 168 hours in a week your child is with you. 

Share your thoughts!

Got your own ways of supporting and motivating children? Share it in the comments section!

Also, if you found this information helpful then don't forget to join the FreshStart Friends List to get updates on the latest posts. Obviously, as a piano teacher, I will not be spamming you. 

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