3 Tips for Teaching Piano to Children
There is special training for teachers who teach small children, mostly because teaching a child is not the same as an adult, who can typically stick to a task much longer. There's an upside to teaching kids, however; most are like sponges, grasping new concepts faster than an adult, especially in art and music. The next Beethoven could be sitting right next to you, who knows?
Even if you yourself have no interest in playing an instrument, always encourage your child's interest in it, especially if there seems to be a talent in the making. It may be worth the expense to hire a teacher, even if only to validate your child's self-confidence. It may be cheaper to go for group classes, even cheaper if you can do the teaching yourself with the help of material available here at Learning To Play Piano Today.
However, teaching your own children can be difficult, especially if they are easily frustrated, as younger children tend to be. Instead of getting into a battle of wills when your child seems about to give up, get creative with the teaching style by emphasizing the enjoyable aspects of it and keeping your sense of humour. Most music teachers have a handle on teaching kids, and you may want to ask for some tips in managing your child's learning. Patience, especially in this instance, is very much a virtue.
It is always easiest to sustain your child's interest by making the instrument accessible, so if budget permits, spring for a piano. A keyboard is also acceptable as they are pretty much the same in form, if not in quality. If the idea of piano playing is purely your own idea, this is one sure-fire way of kindling your kid's own interest if it wasn't there before. Nothing is more desirable to a child than to emulate parents or older siblings.
The required equipment is pretty basic; a piano, some music sheets, and a training system. What's more important is your own emotional commitment to the project. Your child needs you to keep the rudder straight and steady; they are usually not mature enough to stick to it long enough to reap the benefits. You will need the following:
#1 - A Regular Schedule
Most kids today have too much going on, what with school, after school programs, homework, friends, television and a plethora of other things that all add up to make time a precious commodity. The way to ensure you get the time you need to plop your child on the piano stool is to make a schedule and to stick to it. To be effective, piano practice should be at least an hour a day thrice a week.
#2 - Incentive to Learn
Piano practice can be a drag especially if it means foregoing some other activity that the child finds enjoyable. It is up to you make the experience a positive one, especially during the first few weeks. Make it a habit to praise your child when each lesson is done correctly. Arrange for a family recital for a newly-learned piece to put your child on his mettle. It is important that you keep the experience stress-free, so keep the strictness within limits.
#3 - Process Learning
The key to teaching children is taking one step at a time, leaving enough leeway for the child to absorb it fully, before moving on. A child learns fast, but they also have short attention spans, so it is up to you impress the importance of learning the basic thoroughly. It is equally important to review the previous lessons in various guises, to ensure imprinting the lesson sufficiently. If the child forgets, be patient, and go over the lesson again before starting a new one.
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