If you’re waiting to start piano lessons, this is the episode for you! Potential students reach out to me for lessons but I often don’t have a space available. Many times, they opt to wait for my short-term summer session and start the process of waiting for piano lessons to begin.
In today’s show, I’ll share three things that piano parents can do to make good use of this interim time: think about your goals, build anticipation, and start a regular practice habit – NOW.
Listen to the full episode here
Think about goals
What do you want to learn through learning to play the piano?
- A stronger connection to music – appreciation and creation
- Piano is more than playing music – creative and emotional outlet
- PPP 042 Learning How Piano Can Teach Your Children Perseverance with piano mom, Beth Hughes
- PPP 014: Realistic Goals of Piano Study
- PPP 320 will share Ten Things Piano Parents Love About Piano Lessons
What type of music would you like to play?
- Your goals and musical interests will likely change as you learn more music.
- Include your piano kid in the conversation.
Build anticipation
Do other friends or family play piano?
- Talk about the joy of making music
- Talk about the importance of regular practice
- Listen to them play
- Does your teacher have recordings or videos you can watch?
Do you already have a quality instrument (PPP 005: Acoustic Piano vs Digital Keyboard)
- Has your acoustic piano been tuned recently?
- Make an appointment at a time when your piano kid can observe the process
- Listen to PPP 059: The One with My Piano Tuner
- If you’re buying a digital keyboard, include your piano kid as much as reasonable
- Set up an attractive practice area
- Good lighting
- A place to store music, music bag, sticker chart to track practices
- Away from distractions or in the main living quarters, depending on your child’s personality
Start a practice habit now
THE most important factor in your piano kid’s success is their home practice.
- The best teacher can only do so much – it is limited to 30 minutes or an hour once per week. PPP 168: You cannot learn to play piano in only 30 minutes each week.
- The best music can only do so much – they can’t enjoy that music if they don’t put in the work to learn to play it.
- Use this chart to make a plan and a schedule for your practice. 168 Hours Time Chart
- Set a time to listen to music together. Talk about your musical preferences.
- This episode might give you some other ideas for encouraging a love of music: PPP 010: Ten Ways to Encourage a Love of Music.
Include your child in the process as much as is reasonable
- Piano lessons are a commitment – your money and their time and willingness to try
- Piano lessons are a team sport – Your teacher is the coach, you are the cheerleader, and your piano kid is making all the big plays.
- PPP 017: Be Your Child’s Biggest Cheerleader
- Pep talk from a former NFL quarterback, PPP 194: You’re Awesome, But…
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