Top Ten Lessons for Taking Piano Lessons
Learning piano can be a rewarding experience, but also a challenging one. There are a number of ways to make the best of taking piano lessons, and the top ten are listed below.
- Be prepared. Being prepared means performing to the best of your ability, and practicing all of the lessons that your teacher gave you for the next session.
- Remember your materials. Be prepared for each lesson by taking your books, a notepad, a pencil, lesson money, etc. with you.
- Be organized. Some piano students keep a bag with all of their lesson materials in it and replace them after every practice so they are ready to go.
- Allow plenty of time. You will need plenty of time to get to your lesson so you won’t be rushed, or worse, late. Arriving ahead of your scheduled lesson shows commitment and allows you some time to relax before getting started.
- Limit “chit chat.” Your time to learn is valuable, so try to not spend too much time visiting with either your teacher or a departing student (if lessons coincide).
- Listen carefully. When your teacher gives you a direction, repeat it and make sure that you understand it before attempting to play. If you have a question, ask.
- Ask questions. If you don’t know what a particular sign mean, then ask. If you have a question that comes up during your practice, write it down and ask the teacher at the next lesson time. There is no question that you can ask that your teacher has not previously heard.
- Focus. Keep your attention on the music at hand and not what you are doing later or what the teacher may be thinking.
- Emphasize learning. You are at the piano to learn – not perform. Your teacher doesn’t expect you to know everything at every lesson right at the start. She will not smack your knuckles with a ruler. (If she does, you might need to find another teacher).
- Write it down. Make sure that you write in your book or on your notepad everything that you are expected to work on for the next week and any areas in particular that you may need extra practice.
These are just a few of the tips to keep in mind when taking piano lessons. By making these a part of your routine for practice and lessons, then you can expect to perform better and make the most of your time spent learning. |
