teaching piano

[Qestia]

DS, 5, has started saying he wants to learn a piano. We have a piano that is never played--I studied through high school. We do have a nice music school within walking distance that has a group piano class for his age--but it's $25 a lesson! (And you sign up for a semester at a time). It seems crazy expensive considering I should be capable of teaching him the rudiments.

Has anyone taught their kid piano? How did you do it? Do you start with teaching how to read notes? Are the lessons worth the price? Help?

[reezley]

Yes, YOU can teach him. I was inspired to do so for my almost-6yo ds, by my sister, who has taught her kids. My sisters and I all took lessons throughout elementary school and are quite "proficient", I'd say, at piano - not concert pianists, but we surely know the basics and are musical people. I didn't know where to start with teaching though.

What I did a couple months ago I browsed in a music store to find a couple beginner piano books for ds. I bought my favorite piano book from when I took lessons, "Joy of First Year Piano", which has nice beginner songs, but doesn't really teach step-by-step how to get started. I ended up finding another young-kid oriented book that gives a method for getting to know the keyboard, starting some fingering, etc. There are many, so just look for one that speaks to you. (The one I got is "Bastien Piano Basics, Primer Level".)
http://www.amazon.com/Bastien-Piano-.../dp/0849752655

It's hard for us to find time one-on-one for lessons, but we've managed about 4 so far, maybe one per week. He has gone from knowing nothing to very simple songs with 5 fingers in a "C" position. He's actually getting the hang of it. The book really shows me how to explain things and teach him. We read pages together and do the exercises. For this beginning stage, if I can do it, you can do it!

[pianojazzgirl]

Here's my take as a piano teacher and mom...

I don't think it's impossible to teach your own kids the rudiments of piano. But I do think there are things that they will get from a trained teacher that you will likely not be able to provide. One important point is that a good teacher will be very knowledgeable about proper technique and will make sure that your dc is getting a solid foundation, and will not develop bad habits that they will need to break later on. Not that if you teach them yourself they will definitely develop bad habits (re: technique), but that a good teacher will make sure that they will play with proper technique. (I hope that makes sense!)

If you do decide to teach him yourself I suggest a book entitled How to Teach Suzuki Piano (I think that's what it's called, or something very similar to that), along with getting Book 1 and CD of the Suzuki Method for Piano. If you don't want to go the Suzuki route I suggest the Faber series over Bastien or others. There is also a forum dedicated to teaching the Faber method which you could join to get teaching ideas.

p.s. I would look around at other teachers. Around here $20 a lesson is more the norm. You might be able to find that price in your area too.

[oaktreemama]

At the school here you can actually buy two lessons and see if you like them. They don't make you do a long term commitment at all. Perhaps there is a better school around (well one that meets your needs better).

[Alison's Mom]

I considered this myself when DD asked for lessons last year. I took lessons for several years into my teens and could probably teach her in the early years. However, like most kids, she gets her back up when I try to correct her with anything, and starts being rude to me, etc, whereas she is exceptionally 'obedient' with teachers and eager to please. The local school offers 30 min private lessons aftger school with a good teacher, and it's only $14/lesson, so very affordable. It's going very well.

[CatsCradle]

Whew, $25 per pop sounds like a lot, but with inflation I guess that is the going rate these days...my first lessons in the 70s were in the $2 range!

I played piano for an number of years and all my lessons were with independent music teachers in their homes. Have you looked around for this type of thing? I know even in my own town that music/piano instructors will come to your house for a lesson. For a starving musician, a bunch of students which are independently taught can be good and steady income.

I think I am capable of teaching DD, but I have limited patience and I think DD would thrive better under an independent instructor. She is only four but has expressed an intense interest in music. We're about to lease a piano now long term.

[newbie_mary]

I am also a piano teacher, and teach a parent/child piano class for this age because the parents have to be so involved at this age (i.e. practice with them), so basically the parents ARE teaching the child.

I second the recommendation for the Faber & Faber series (My First Piano Adventure) over Bastien. It is much more child-friendly in my opinion.

[reezley]

Originally Posted by pianojazzgirl

Here's my take as a piano teacher and mom...

I don't think it's impossible to teach your own kids the rudiments of piano. But I do think there are things that they will get from a trained teacher that you will likely not be able to provide. One important point is that a good teacher will be very knowledgeable about proper technique and will make sure that your dc is getting a solid foundation, and will not develop bad habits that they will need to break later on. Not that if you teach them yourself they will definitely develop bad habits (re: technique), but that a good teacher will make sure that they will play with proper technique. (I hope that makes sense!)

To qualify my earlier response, I agree actually, and I don't think I'll feel comfortable teaching beyond the basics, first-year stuff. But for trying out piano lessons, seeing if it's something he'll want to keep doing, and learning basic playing, music reading, technique, I'm know I can do fine. And unlike other pps here, I think it would actually stress out my ds *more* if he had a teacher instead of me - every kid sure is different! It seems to be working for us for now and he's really into practicing. As he progresses though, I anticipate investing in lessons with an professional pianist/teacher.

[Qestia]

Thanks for all the feedback. I ordered this Thompson "piano for little fingers" or something like that, we looked at the first lesson yesterday. It definitely seems like something I can teach him--the instructions are very spelled out. And he was interested for about 5 minutes--so I'm glad I'm trying it at home--because it seems he's not ready for 50 minute lessons yet! (that's the $25 ones)