7 Kid Friendly Ideas that Really Work!
One of the best times to learn how to play the piano is early in childhood. It’s not that people of all ages can’t learn how to tickle the ivories exceptionally well. There are players out there who touched a keyboard for the first time in their 90’s!
But with young kids, there is a distinct advantage. They’re like little sponges that soak up everything around them. Their brains are more open and receptive to new information and concepts like art, music and languages than they’ll be at any other point in their lives. Beginning in these years offers a prime opportunity for children to learn how to read and play music.
But there’s one big caveat! Children learn very differently than adults do. So there are several techniques that good piano teachers and parents should know and apply to make sure every child gets the most out of their piano classes. Here are some tips on piano lessons for beginners to help your child get started today!
Stimulate Their Curiosity
Having a keen sense of curiosity is one of the most magical parts of being a child. It’s important to harness that curiosity and use it as an advantage that makes learning how to play the piano a more exciting experience. By approaching each lesson as an adventure or an experiment, you stimulate the natural curiosity that every child has to find out what happens next. Used regularly this technique keeps younger students completely captivated throughout every lesson.
Motivate for Success
Children lose interest quickly if they aren’t motivated enough to accomplish a task. A big part of being a great piano instructor is knowing exactly when and how to motivate your student. The main goal of each piano session should be to help and motivate the student into wanting to learn more. Through frequent motivation and consistent effort during beginner piano lessons, they’ll gradually understand simple and more complex musical concepts and eventually learn how to play any piece of music you place in front of them.
Reinforce Continuously
To keep a child on the right track it’s good to offer reinforcement continuously throughout each music session. By continuing to mention and revisit concepts learned in prior sessions, you build layers of reinforcement and a deeper understanding of various musical concepts and how they relate to each other. This is also important because of the fact that we all learn in different ways, so changing perspective from time to time appeals to the various learning styles that each child has.
Play Music They Love
The day a child sits down to play a classical piece at their first recital is a very proud moment. However, to get them to that point, sometimes it’s easier to focus on the kinds of music they already know and love. Children get excited and want to keep going when they practice playing the songs they enjoy. So along with learning the classics, throw in a few of today’s hits to make piano lessons more fun and motivating.
Be Patient
Children need time to absorb, process and apply everything you teach them, so patience is a virtue that every piano teacher should possess. As you work through a session, it’s essential to be mindful of each child and how quickly they grasp the concepts being shared. Allowing them to ask as many questions as they need to and taking the time to provide thoughtful answers goes a long way towards encouraging them to learn more.
Practice Regularly
Practice makes perfect! And when it comes to learning how to master the art of piano playing, this rings particularly true. Scheduling regular and structured practice times ensures that children continue to learn and grow with their piano playing skills. Whether it’s shorter and more frequent sessions or longer practice sessions done at wider intervals, consistent practice is an important key to long-term success.
Make Learning Fun
Learning how to play the piano should be fun! Even if it means getting off the bench from time to time and pretending to rock out at their very own private concert, children should always experience a lot of fun during each piano lesson. Each child should be so excited and amped up about the learning experience that they can’t wait for the next set of exercises. Having an awesome time makes the learning process so much easier and more enjoyable.
Want your child involved in a music program in Fargo that utilizes all of these success methods? Give them a unique ‘rock star’ learning experience that combines traditional teachings with an unconventional twist. It makes playing any instrument fun and educational! For more details, sign up for a FREE lesson and tour today to explore our program and get more information about our piano lessons for kids.