piano lessons

[carol572]

Hello everyone. 

I am a mother of two: a 7 year old girl and a 5 year old 

 

boy. They both go to private schools where they do music. 

 

Since I don't have a musical background, I am not quite 

 

sure if it is important to also start them on piano lessons. I 

 

would really appreciate some experienced advice as to 

 

what you consider beneficial in taking piano lessons for 

 

children. 

 

Thank you so much for your time and input.

 

 

 

 

Caroline

[pbjmama]

My ds is 6 and will be giving piano lessons a try this coming spring. I think piano is a great instrument to start with because a child can learn to play a simple tune easily. I like that it brings music appreciation and education. It is important to have an instrument to practice with during the week. It is a great stepping stone to a different instrument because child learns to read both treble and bass clef.

I think the teacher is the key and there are many teachers out there. I want a teacher that is kind and will encourage my child's interest while incorporating basic piano playing and note reading.

I would expect to have a lesson once a week (sometimes every other) and to practice about an hour a week (can be 10 mins a day).

My own experience is that a few years of piano lessons as a child led me to playing the cello from 11 -16 which was a good experience for me. I would love to get back to it now, as an adult.

[moominmamma]

I'm a music teacher, violinist and violist, amateur pianist, and mom to various kids who have studied string instruments and piano to very high levels. I think piano (and other instruments!) is wonderful to study. But I think it's misguided to have your kids study any instrument because of some perceived end-goal like higher math aptitude, or an impressive extra-curricular to put on a resumé, or develop a talent that earns a child entry into some sort of elite program. You study music because it is fun and worthwhile to learn how to express human emotion and ideas without words, because music touches the soul, because creating complex beauty is intrinsically worthwhile. 

So if your child is excited by music and wishes to delve into how it's made, if you believe that music is a pathway to artistic expression that is valuable, by all means, consider finding an instrumental music teacher or a good children's choir. Along the way kids learn to break big problems down into manageable bits, to build up layers of skills, to tap into their feelings and understand the feelings and messages of others, to create and understand metaphors, to structure and organize a work session, to collaborate with others, to appreciate the artistic output of composers and performers, to commit long-term to a particular type of learning ... in short, they learn an artistic discipline in the fullest sense. It is an amazing way to grow as a human being. But I still think music is best viewed not as a means to an end but as a journey worth experiencing.

Miranda

[whatsnextmom]

It's important to start piano lessons when a child is interested in starting piano lessons. Learning an instrument can be fulfilling and great fun but without internal drive and interest, it can also be something a child greatly resents. 

My DD asked for the violin for a year before starting lessons at 5. She played seriously through 8th grade. She enjoyed the social aspect of being in an orchestra, being able to play music with her grandparents, ect. These days though, violin is recreational, just a stress reliever along with the ukulele. She only just started to want piano lessons at 15. DS 12 started piano at 6 because that's what he wanted to play. He also plays trumpet in his school marching band and in their jazz band. Honestly, his main goal in piano is to learn all the major John Williams pieces lol. Yes, he's on his 3rd Star Wars theme. He picked trumpet because he really wanted to be in band and we just happened to own a trumpet.