Piano lessons are a big commitment for both kids and parents. It is important that they want to learn and that you don’t jump in too quickly and find that your child wants to quit or isn’t enjoying it after all. You can do a lot to help keep them interested by creating a music filled environment and by encouraging them to play simple songs at home.
Encourage them to try out a variety of instruments, even if it’s only for a short while at first. It will get them used to playing with different sounds, allowing them to discover their own preferences and develop a deeper connection with the instrument. This will also help them to be better prepared for their piano lessons.
Listen to lots of music together, from the classics to their favourite pop piano lessons for kids artist or band – this will teach them rhythm and melody. Playing along to their favourite song will show them how fun it can be to make music. It will also give them the confidence to play at their first lesson.
Talk about the music they are listening to and ask them what they like about it – this will give you an idea of their musical tastes and interests which will be beneficial when they start learning piano. Playing songs they like will make them more likely to want to practice and continue lessons, especially if they can play those songs well.
You can also help them prepare for their piano lessons by teaching them about the structure of a piano key (black notes in groups of 2 and 3 placed between white) and the way they make sounds when pressed (higher sounds towards the right, lower sounds towards the left). You can even play games with them such as naming the keys and their families. They may feel a little overwhelmed by the fact that there are 88 keys to learn at first – you can start with one family and progress gradually.
Once they start their piano lessons, they’ll learn how to read music, how to play notes in both hands at the same time and all the other elements that go into making beautiful music. This will allow them to easily pick up other instruments in the future if they wish, and will be a huge asset for any career they might choose later on in life.
There are many ways to help your child enjoy their piano lessons – they can be a bit of hard work sometimes, but your children will thank you for encouraging them and sticking with it! If they find that they are not enjoying it at all, it is a good idea to find another teacher – there are some bad teachers out there who can damage your child’s enjoyment of piano and their musical future. The right teacher will make the process fun and rewarding!