Kid's Quest: Choosing the Right Time for Piano Lessons
To this day, I feel deprived that my parents didn't sign me up
for piano lessons. You see, I have two sisters who are
considerably older than I am (ten and 14 years older,
respectively). They both learned to play the piano, and my
parents had a piano in the house until the time I was six years
old. At that point, they sold the piano and, alas, my potential
piano lessons went with out the door with the instrument. In
retrospect, I imagine they felt as though they'd "been there,
done that" with my sisters, and that another round of piano
practices and recitals was more than they could bear. Still, to
this day, I wish I had learned to play the piano.
Many parents embrace the idea of piano lessons for their
children, but wonder when beginner piano lessons are
appropriate. Is it when their prodigy-to-be bangs out his first
tune on his toy piano? Is it once he's show an interest in an
educational toy or an educational game? Is it once he's started
school?
Experts generally agree that parents should take their child's
lead in deciding when beginner piano lessons are appropriate. If
a child shows an interest in her toy piano, that may be an early
indicator. A child who sits down at her aunt's piano and bangs
out notes at every opportunity is one who may be ready for piano
lessons.
Ultimately, a child's experience of piano lessons - just like
the experience of playing with an educational toy or educational
game - should be one that's enjoyable. He should be old enough
to understand that there is a level of commitment necessary in
learning to play the piano, and to understand that beginner
piano lessons are just that - for beginners. Once he can see
that his skills improve with practice, he's likely to more
thoroughly enjoy his piano lessons.
Parents can contribute to their child's feels of satisfaction
about her progress by encouraging her at every opportunity.
Applaud her initiative in practicing, attend her recitals, and -
if you've ever had the urge - consider taking beginner piano
lessons with her. Family involvement in her piano lessons will
go far in giving her the motivation to continue playing.
If a child does lose interest in piano lessons after a time,
though, it doesn't pay for parents to force their child to
continue taking piano lessons. Instead, they should encourage
him to continue to enjoy music in its infinite variety.