10 Things to Do BEFORE Your Child Begins Piano Lessons
1. Purchase an Instrument
No matter if you decide to purchase a digital keyboard or an acoustic piano, it is crucial to have an instrument available at home for your child to practice and play on. If you decide on a digital keyboard, make sure that it comes with 88 weighted keys and a sustain pedal.
2. Place the Instrument Well
It is important to place the piano in an area that is not completely isolated (for instance, a dark corner in the back room of the house) or in a space that your child won’t get easily distracted (for example, next to the TV). Unwise placement of the instrument can discourage students to practice, which will hinder their progress!
A common space that families place their piano/keyboard is the family room (separate from the TV room) on the main floor. This is because the family room is usually an open space with lots of light and is easily accessible for the child to practice on throughout the week.
3. Find a Height-Adjustable Bench
Being able to adjust the bench according to the height of your child is extremely vital. Sitting at the right height plays a huge role in effortless piano playing. Sitting at the wrong height can prevent your child from producing beautiful sounds on the piano! If your keyboard or piano was not equipped with a height-adjustable bench, consider purchasing one before your child’s first lesson.
4. Make the Piano a Part of Everyday Life
If possible, keep the piano/keyboard at home a couple months before your child starts lessons. This will encourage your child to explore and discover the instrument more independently througout the day.
5. Encourage Exploration
Have your child play at the piano! Making sure that they are comfortable with the instrument prior to lessons will boost their confidence and encourage them to explore different sounds and techniques in their lessons.
6. Understand that Learning Piano Takes Time and Practice
Learning the piano is a long-term journey that takes time, energy, practice and dedication. It is an extremely rewarding journey that will be full of both fun and challenges. The most important thing is to ENJOY and KEEP GOING!
7. Realize Your Important Role as a Parent
Parental support plays a HUGE role in your child’s progress. The teacher is with your child for only 30-60 minutes a week, where as you are with them every day! Setting time to practice and explore outside of lesson times with your child will be extremely beneficial for their progress and development as pianists. The teacher and parents should discuss a practice routine/strategy that works best for the family’s routine.
8. Make Sure Your Child Knows the Difference Between Left and Right
Being able to distinguish left and right can help your child develop a sense of spatial-physical awareness. Children with greater sense of spatial awareness will experience an easier time learning different skills on the piano and understand instructions more clearly.
9. Make Sure Your Child is Ready for Piano Lessons
You might be asking yourself, what is the best time for my child to start lessons? While there is no one perfect age for all children to begin lessons, I have found that ages 6-8 is a perfect time to start. There are 5 factors that can determine whether or not your child is ready for piano lessons! Check out those 5 factors on my blog post here.
10. Find a Great Teacher!
Finding an experienced and high-quality teacher that is a great fit for your child is the most important step that will determine the foundation of your child’s piano journey. This might take a lot of research and interviews with teachers in your area, but it is worth the time. If you haven’t already, get to know me and my studio! If you would like to book a free trial lesson with me do not hesitate to contact me!