Learning any instrument for the first time is difficult at any age. The piano is especially difficult and children face more significant challenges while learning. Although there is no defined age to start learning the piano, taking lessons as a child has numerous cognitive benefits.
Moreover, skills developed while playing as a child are bound to stick for a lifetime. Nonetheless poor planning and inadequate guidance will make it difficult or even impossible for a child to learn the piano. Here are a few tips to help your child learn piano.
Find a Good Piano Teacher
How well your child learns the piano is heavily dependent on the teacher. Children lose interest quickly and it’s important to keep them engaged. Once they learn to make music, teaching gets easier. Good teachers use educational games and exercises to teach complex piano lessons to children. Such approaches are only learnt through experience.
Therefore, while choosing a piano teacher for your child consider their educational training and experience with children. Moreover, a piano teacher is not only called upon to teach the instrument but also inspire the child to keep learning. Remember not every musician is a good teacher. Your child’s first piano teacher will form a lasting impression and you are likely to have a long term relationship with them. Therefore, choose wisely
Have Realistic Expectations.
Do not added your own unreasonable expectations to your child’s piano learning experience. This can be detrimental to their journey to becoming great musicians. Every parent wants their child to be the best but not everyone acknowledges the path to greatness is long and unique to each player. Therefore, no matter how talented and hardworking your child is, do not accelerate their lessons.
Contrary to popular opinion, learning an instrument as a child is hard especially while trying to successfully navigate through childhood. We all remember how hard it was as a child trying to focus and accomplish objectives that needed a lot of repetition. The best thing you can do for your child is encourage them and set achievable goals and expectations. You don’t want your child to drop the piano because of you.
Practice Needs Assistance
Children have a hard time practicing piano on their own. Therefore, its paramount you dedicate time to supervise their practice sessions. This will ensure your child remains on task and meets the objectives of each session. On average a child should rehearse at least thrice a week for half an hour.
Therefore, it goes without saying that supervising such sessions will be daunting for a parent, but it’s a small sacrifice you might have to make to improve your child’s progress. Considering children thrive on routines, supervision will become easier as your child gets better with the piano. Ensure you communicate with your child’s piano teacher to ensure the practice sessions are effective.
Give your Child Creative Space
When children pick up instruments, their initial urge is to make noise. Although its tempting to condemn such behaviour, it’s important to allow children to explore music on their own.
Scales, sheet music and exercises are great for teaching piano, however, they are only tools designed to allow children to explore music. Give your child time and space to discover the piano. You can guide them through their creative process to ensure they are not mindlessly banging on the piano.
Piano is Not for Everyone
This is perhaps the hardest tip to accept but the reality is not every child can learn the piano. We are all unique and children are not any different. There are some children who will not pick up the piano despite your best efforts and ideas.
For some children music just doesn’t click. It’s important to know when to quit and allow your child to explore other activities. Remember, music is only one of the many things that are beneficial to children.
One of the best experiences your child can have is learning the piano. However, a lot of patience, dedication and understanding is needed. In the end it’s worth it.
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