Why Take Piano Lessons?
Did you ever notice how most people who start off at a young age taking piano lessons rarely continue past high school? Then, when these people grow into adults many of them will eventually regret their decision to quit. So much so that, many will actually seek out a new piano teacher and start all over again.
Why do most people quit? I don’t think it’s because they’re not motivated or they don’t like music. I believe it’s because they don’t realize why they’re taking piano lessons in the first place. Sure they can tell you that music is important and they probably should be trying harder but the fact is most simply cannot tell you the real reason for learning in the first place.
Do you want to know why? Ok, here it is. I truly believe that music is engrained into our subconscious and most of us truly want a way to express ourselves in ways that words cannot. Not only has music been around since the dawn of time, way longer than most modern forms of entertainment but, music is an integral part of our humanity.
Music resides deep within us and when we hear it, sing it, play it, share it, learn it, teach it or even dance to it, we get a little closer to who we truly are; multi-dimensional beings who are ultimately creative.
So why do we quit? Because we get discouraged when we cannot express ourselves through music the way we want to. Usually this happens because we compare our abilities to others and the distance between the way we play music now and where we want to get seems insurmountable. But, here’s the good news. Nothing can get in your way of learning if you just realize that know matter how you play you cannot be bad. Expressing yourself in any way with music is a good thing and can never ever be bad.
Now, I’m not going to go as far as saying that most piano teachers cause their students to quit because that would mean that it’s intentional. Nothing could be further from the truth. However, I do believe that many teachers lack the necessary skills to teach their students how to play from within. What does that mean? It means that teachers know how to teach notes, scales, rhythm, harmony and how to play a piece of music. What most of them fail to realize is that there is much more to teaching music than just what the mind can absorb.
If teachers knew how to tap into the souls of their students by providing the right motivational, emotional and spiritual information then, it would be easier for their students to overcome all the obstacles of learning to play. In fact, no obstacle is too big to overcome on the way to learning to be a great artist or musician. The drive is within all of us, it just needs to be recognized.
So, how can teachers learn the necessary skills? By learning how to tap into their own creative energy. You see it’s all about energy. It would be impossible for a teacher to share information about energy if the teacher lacks the creative energy themselves. Creative energy comes from within. In my experience, many teachers have never learned how therefore can’t possibly teach it.
Learning to tap into creative energy is a process which can be learned. It’s never too late. The first step to learning is realizing that you are not already connected to this energy. Then, once you realize that you’re not connected you begin to search for ways to get connected. How? By focusing on the reasons you play music. For example; you do not play music to impress rather you play music to inspire.
Music causes emotional changes within us that are positive. Most music anyway. Of course you have to be wary of low energy music that disguises itself as high energy music such as heavy pounding rock with repetitive angry lyrics. But, piano does not fall into this category. Piano music is the perfect outlet to express innate creative energy. If more teachers are to see the results they desire then more teachers will have to tap into their own creative energy.
Paul Tobey
http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/why-take-piano-lessons-110231.html
Comments
What's a good age to start letting my kid take piano lessons?
I really want him or her to be a great pianist, so what’s the best earliest age to take lessons.
Is 4 good?
And yes, I know, you’re going to say "Don’t force it into him if he doesn’t like it."
Of course I won’t, but if he does like the piano, I want him to take as many lessons as possible at the earliest possible age.
I started when i was 8 and went once a week until I was 18. SO maybe 6-8 is a good time to start, or maybe more like 7-8
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The best age is when they show an interest.
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That is a great age to introduce Piano.
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My son started at 6, that is the soones that any teacher would take him. They said his hands are just not big enough at any younger age. The teachers might be different in your area though. Call and ask one of them the best age to start.
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I would talk to a few piano teachers to find out the age of their clientelle. If they accept very young people, you can ask what the criteria for being accepted as a student is, how many they have and can you talk to their parents about their experiences.
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Started piano lessons before age 2 – child prodigy.
Well when I started playing piano when I was 5 years old.
So I think 4 would be good too. My mom would wanted me to go sooner but I really didn;t like it then. But, when I was 5 I started to like to play piano.
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I say about 6 or 7. He will then develop into it… You know. He will like it maybe if the teacher or you teach him his fav. songs!!!
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My son started piano lessons at age 3. They were special group lessons aimed at children and were more of an introduction to piano. I started him early because playing a musical instrument is good for a child’s mental development. He continued playing piano for 10 years before switching to electric guitar in his teen years.
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I started at 5, but 4 is good too. As long as he likes it. I remember being young and having my mom put me in a lot of classes for different things. Good luck!
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A friend of mine teaches piano and she will not take students who have not yet entered first grade. She’s been teaching for many many years and has in the past taught children younger than first grade and does not do it now. She says their attention span is just not what it needs to be to be able to grasp the concept until they are about age 6 or 7.
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I was told that you can start them when they can reach, but it really won’t put them ahead of a child who didn’t start until around 8 or 9 because they way kids learn. If your child is exceptional, then he’ll pick it up sooner, but most likely, he’ll be playing the same stuff until he’s 8 or 9.
Call a teacher or two and talk with them. Find one who is a certified music teacher, not just some neighbor or friend. Make sure they’re excellent with children and have a background check done. If it’s fun, your son will enjoy it, but if it’s a chore, he’ll fight it.
Another thing to consider, is both of you learn together. He could start younger because he’d be with Dad and you’d learn together.
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