When it comes to learning, there is that age-old phrase, “start them young”. No wonder more and more parents are signing their children up for classes that will teach them various skills and hone their talents. Playing the piano is one of them. Parents often decide at what age to get their kids started with the piano. As a result, even kids as young as 4 years old are now taking piano lessons. Unfortunately, not all children take to learning how to play the piano easily or quickly. Some take time; others need more persuasion or convincing. There are children who get started, but quit halfway through.
9 simple tips
1. Make sure your child is interested:
At the end of the day, it will not work if your child’s heart is not in it. There is no use in forcing something that your child does not have the slightest interest in.
It is possible that your child may be a little curious about the piano. You can start with that. Gradually introduce your child to the concept of the piano. You can expose him or her to someone playing the piano and see if it piques their curiosity and interest.
Even when your child is already in the middle of learning how to play the piano, take steps to ensure that they are exposed to music, particularly piano music.
2. Get the right piano for your child:
Of course, to get the best results, you have to make sure they have the right tools. In this instance, the right piano.
For this, you will need help, especially if you are not an expert when it comes to the piano. You can check out several buying guides available online. Ask around to get tips on how to choose a piano, or what piano you should buy for your child to learn with and play. One of the best sources would be your child’s piano teacher. They are in the best position to make suggestions on what piano would be best for your child.
Once you have obtained the ideal piano for your child, you can also take this opportunity to train them in terms of being responsible owners. He or she must also learn how to maintain his or her piano. This will teach your child to care about the musical instrument, give it the respect it deserves, and feel more fulfilled every time it is played.
3. Choose the right learning program:
This involves choosing the right institution as well as instructor or teacher. If your child is taking piano lessons for the first time – meaning, you haven’t taught the basics yet – make sure that the class or course is for beginners. In some piano learning institutions, they conduct pre-assessment of your child’s skills to ascertain what level they should start in.
4. Learn with your child and play together:
Learning experiences are more fun when they are shared. Thus, you should consider learning together with your child. If you can sign up for a similar class for adults, that would be a good idea. In some instances, you may even try taking the classes together.
It would likely be a different scenario if you already know how to play the piano. You can skip hiring the services of a professional piano teacher and teach your child instead. Take this opportunity to bond with your child. It is definitely a good way to spend time together.
5. Give credit where and when it is due:
The best form of encouragement is giving them compliments or praising them for working hard or doing well. Some parents also give appropriate rewards for a job well done. Perhaps their favorite snack or dessert or an afternoon bike ride. These will motivate your child to do better in learning how to play the piano.
6. Make practice times fun times instead of an obligation:
Just because your child is taking piano lessons does not mean you have nothing to do with it (well, except for paying the bill). Even piano teachers convince parents to help their kids practice more at home.
When you do, it would be better to schedule practice times in short periods. You could try making them practice for thirty minutes to one hour only every day. Do not discount the fact that children have naturally short attention spans and easily get bored. If you drag their practice times longer, they may end up feeling pressured to learn instead of enjoy playing.
7. Talk to your child:
From time to time, find out how they feel about their ongoing lessons. When you sense them getting bored, you can give words of encouragement, or even come up with ways to make the learning experience fresh.
When trying to discipline your child, do not use their piano-learning lessons “hostage”, threatening to cancel or discontinue, or cut them short, if they refuse to do something.
8. Let them set their own pace:
Many parents make the mistake of putting pressure on their child, saying “you better do well” or “is that the only piece you know how to play?”. Children have different learning capacities. Some can catch on more than others; others are more naturally musically inclined. Do not pressure them to learn quickly.
You should also avoid comparing your child’s progress to that of others. It will lower their self-esteem, and they will be less motivated to learn, since they are no longer having fun.
9. Be involved:
This is probably the most important tip on ensuring that your child enjoys playing the piano. Be involved. If you can make it a family affair, do so.
Make sure you are there every step of the way, from choosing which piano is most suitable for your child to deciding whether he or she should continue playing it when he or she grows older. As a parent, your support and your active presence in their learning experience counts for a lot.