Your child has expressed interest in learning the piano? Hurrah! Mazel tov! Sound the trumpets! That is WONDERFUL news. News so great that it would be a shame to not set your kiddo up to succeed, right? Well luckily, we’ve started hundreds of students on the piano, and we’ve got four tips to help you and your kid avoid some obstacles that cause a lot of people to quit prematurely.
Tip #1: Find an excellent teacher
This is certainly our number one tip because of how much we value quality music education and instruction. To put it bluntly, your child has statistically little to no chance of successfully mastering the piano without a quality teacher who is fun and fair, and who teaches lessons that are engaging and interesting. The relationship you and your kid will form with this teacher will likely last years or even decades, so be sure to be picky and selective with who you would like to learn from. Many teachers today specialize in different ages of children also, so if you can anticipate a long-term engagement with the instrument, be sure to see if the teacher has enough experience to teach your kiddo even when they are more advanced.
Tip #2: Involve yourself in the music-making process
It is a fact: young children are rarely motivated to consistently practice the piano on their own. When not receiving instruction from a teacher, they require supervision, structure, and encouragement around their practice time. This may mean additional time on your part to contribute to your child’s development in this way, but it will be well worth it in the long run. Children usually thrive in routines, so feel free to establish set times throughout the week when your child can expect to experience the piano.
Tip #3: Encourage casual performance
Giving your child the goal-oriented mindset during practice is vital to their motivation and urgency learning piano. If they were to remember that in just three weeks they have a family recital to play, they will likely step up and devote some more time in preparation! Try planning monthly fun recitals for your family (keyword: FUN) on a set date like the first of the month or the third Saturday evening each month. Not only will this create another event for your family to enjoy and celebrate together, but it will encourage progress between children as they lift one another up long-term.
Tip #4: Know when to allow your child a break
As with anything in life, humans need breaks. Whether it is derived from a lack of motivation or a desire to “recharge” for a return to the action, we all need time to pause. No matter the age. Children learning piano are no different - sometimes the greatest thing you can do for a child feeling unmotivated or not excited is to let them know that you’ll pack up the piano for a little while. Give them a defined or undefined amount of time off, and then almost always kids will ask about the instrument in the future. Even if it’s just to play “Hot Cross Buns” or “Mary Had a Little Lamb”! Your child will never be ready to thrive in music unless they are invested and engaged, and they also receive time to let musical concepts “sink in”.
What a rewarding experience this is; to observe a child develop musically and be formed into the creative member of society that they were meant to be. We have the privilege of participating in this transformative experience at Vibe Music Academy, and we would love nothing more than to partner with you along the journey. Book a call with us today, and discover what opportunities are waiting just ahead for your child!
- Tyler Long, Administrative Assistant/Music Instructor at Vibe Music Academy.
