Do You and Your Child Have What It Takes to Learn Piano?
Making the determination for your child to take piano lessons needs to be considered seriously. It is not an “investment” to be taken lightly – by either you or your child. There are some things that you need to consider before making the commitment so that your time and money are not wasted.
First, you need to determine whether you and/or your child have the time and commitment needed for lessons and practice. To make progress, an hour of practice each day is necessary. In addition, time for travel to and from lessons, recitals, concerts, teacher consultations, etc. must be figured in to the time cost of learning. This may seem like a lot, but any other after school activity, such as sports, would require the same commitment.
Attending the concerts and recitals are very important for your child’s success. It can be an enjoyable experience for both of you – you get the joy of music and your child gets the joy of performing and knowing you are there to support him/her.
Second is the equipment. While it is possible for a student to start piano on a digital keyboard or MIDI keyboard connected to a computer, at some point the student will need an acoustic piano. The commitment needs to be serious by this point, because pianos are not cheap. They range from about $2,000 for an upright to over $80,000 for a concert grand piano. A budget for regular tuning and maintenance will also be important to the upkeep of the piano.
Placement of the piano for practice is important as well – away from distractions and interruptions. A quiet area of the house is good for practice so that the music is the main focus.
Third are the ongoing costs – of piano upkeep, lessons, music and materials, etc. No teacher should be expected to teach for free, regardless of how talented your child may be. If funds are an issue, create a budget for meeting these expenses, or maybe your child should find a way to earn some money for their lessons (provided that they are of an age that they can). Babysitting, paper routes, and dog sitting/walking are just a few areas that kids can earn some money for their hobby.
Parental support of their child’s interest in piano is very important to their development and progress with music. Nagging to practice or go to lessons is not conducive to their enjoyment. Take an interest in their playing and provide encouragement while they are learning.
Learning to play the piano takes a lot of time and patience, but can be a wonderfully rewarding experience for both you and your child. |
