You cannot grow a great pianist on a mediocre instrument.
"Best move we ever made!" Is a phrase we hear often
from parents upgrading to a really fine sounding Piano.
I don't want to play anymore!! For children to want to take music lessons is a good decision. Everybody gets excited, and the process begins.
To expect children to always want to practice and learn on their own is unreasonable. Children need parents to pull them through the dry times. It takes caring, alert parents, to encourage, cajole, bribe, and occasionally even force their kids to help them achieve their original desires. You don't want to hear those legendary words: "Why did you let me quit lessons?"
We do not give kids complete freedom in anything else they want to do. In the same way we should not hand over their artistic education to childish whimsy.
All people consume art, even soldiers consume art waiting for battles. All people are driven to it. So think, isn't it far better to encourage the higher arts, to nurture our children's skills and desires for the finer things, not just what is popular and convenient, but what is classic, of true beauty and tested by the ages.
Consider how many boys would even learn to read if we let them decide on their own?
In the Book of Proverbs it says: "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right."
Therefore, do not let them be lax in anything, for from the discipline of such modest beginnings comes the shape of their adult character. But also, do not exasperate your children by unreasonal demands for perfection. Be balanced, realistic, and always loving.
Getting Kids to Practice PRACTICING the piano is where the magic happens. Do not just send your kids to the piano, take them. Sit with them, help them focus, encourage their efforts, be patient with mistakes. You do not need to know how to play, you only need to know the priceless value of your presence and of showing pleasure in their accomplishment. I have seen relationships between parents and children blossom from this.
As they grow in confidence you will not need to sit with them all the time, but always go and listen, and let YOUR PRESENCE AND APPROVAL be part of their strength and guidance.
Do not be afraid to link REWARDS with their faithfulness, but let the goal and the reward be reasonable.
DO NOT SKIP LESSONS. Your teacher has set aside precious professional time to teach your child. A missed lesson hurts their ability to provide the service, breaks the 'flow' of steady growth and incentive, and hints to the child that this endeavor is not so important.
COMMUNICATE WITH THE TEACHER. They need to know when selections aren't motivating. Or if not enough interesting material is given. Or if the music is not challenging enough.
You need to KNOW THE TEACHERS GOALS, why certain exercizes are given and what is expected each week.
REWARD PRACTICE TIME. Add an incentive to make practicing more interesting. As a teacher I often set up a points system based on the amount of time they practiced. To this I added more points for each excercize, written page or song they accomplished. The points became a goal each week for the kids to meet and exceed, and put a visible handle on their work and accomplishment. Learning the music became fueled and tangible.
