Experienced mamas, I need your advice! In August, my DD #1 (7 yrs old) started taking piano lessons. We started the lessons because she wanted to, found a wonderful teacher who has been teaching for 40 years, very loving, gentle, encouraging, vibrant, dramatic, fun, etc.
We go to piano lessons once a week, and practice 5 days a week (30 minutes a day). The schedule has been hard on this not so disciplined / rigid family. On the other hand, it's been a good exercise to figure out when to practice, how to practice and how to keep that commitment going. Piano is the only extra activity we're doing right now outside of 2nd grade.
DD and I practice together and generally have a good time doing it (well, except when she slumps over the piano exasperated, or lets her whole body slip to the floor because she just can't do it any more
She generally wants to please, and is a very bright, sensitive, gentle, and (surprise) DRAMATIC child.
NOW, DD says she doesn't want to take piano any more. She doesn't like practicing, she doesn't like the weekly lesson. She doesn't constantly say it, but it usually comes out when she's upset about something else or (surprise again) when it's time to practice.
My gut is to keep plugging away at it and not stop the lessons. Yet, I don't want it to become drudgery for her -- I want her to keep feeling the joy of piano and music (she LOVES music, musicals, singing, making up songs, etc.). I also want her to have the benefit of playing an instrument.
Am I asking too much to keep going with piano even through her objections? Any suggestions for helping practice to be fun?
We go to piano lessons once a week, and practice 5 days a week (30 minutes a day). The schedule has been hard on this not so disciplined / rigid family. On the other hand, it's been a good exercise to figure out when to practice, how to practice and how to keep that commitment going. Piano is the only extra activity we're doing right now outside of 2nd grade.
DD and I practice together and generally have a good time doing it (well, except when she slumps over the piano exasperated, or lets her whole body slip to the floor because she just can't do it any more
She generally wants to please, and is a very bright, sensitive, gentle, and (surprise) DRAMATIC child.NOW, DD says she doesn't want to take piano any more. She doesn't like practicing, she doesn't like the weekly lesson. She doesn't constantly say it, but it usually comes out when she's upset about something else or (surprise again) when it's time to practice.
My gut is to keep plugging away at it and not stop the lessons. Yet, I don't want it to become drudgery for her -- I want her to keep feeling the joy of piano and music (she LOVES music, musicals, singing, making up songs, etc.). I also want her to have the benefit of playing an instrument.
Am I asking too much to keep going with piano even through her objections? Any suggestions for helping practice to be fun?
