SURREY MUSIC SCHOOL
  • Home
  • Small group piano age 4+
  • 1:1 Piano age 8+
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Testimonials
  • Our Philosophy
  • Buying an instrument
  • FAQs
  • Small print
    • Privacy Policy & GDPR
    • Terms of business
    • Safeguarding and conduct for online lessons
  • About Us
  • e-book - "learning the piano"

Music: composed and played by your child

Enquire about a space

The child's role in the piano learning journey

17/11/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture

When learning a musical instrument a three way relationship exists between the teacher, child and parents.  If any of these elements is not functioning properly there will be barriers to learning.  Last week we looked at the parent's role; today it's the child's. 


Children tend to love music, they like to dance, to sing and to play on instruments.  Really, they just have to show up at the lessons wanting to learn and curious to explore.  By all means try out instrumental lessons with your child, but if he or she doesn't want to continue, please don't make them.  Instead help them find what they do want to do. 

When a child wants to learn an instrument it's essential they choose one they like the sound of since they will spend a lot of time playing it.


Parents can help by playing all sorts of music and even giving children the opportunity to try some out - advice here!   Peter and the Wolf is a good piece to introduce children to various orchestral instruments, as is Carnival of the Animals. 
Music is an entire language and just as children took years to learn to speak full sentences so will they take years to learn the language of music.  This doesn't mean it can't be fun, engaging and fulfilling (which is the teacher's job; we'll look at that next week), from the beginning but reaching the dizzying heights of Grade 8 is hard work! 

As well as showing up willing to learn, children need the parent's and teacher's support to develop:
  • Commitment - to the outcome they want;
  • Perseverance - to push through the hard times;
  • Self discipline - to play their instrument even if they don't feel like it sometimes;
  • Determination - to learn new things even if they are hard at first.

Please remind your child not to be afraid to ask if he / she doesn't understand something and also to let their teacher know if they are not enjoying a particular approach or piece.  Good teachers who have undertaken professional development can adapt their approach and can easily provide different repertoire to better suit the child.  We are not mind readers and while we can 'pick up' on undercurrents we don't always succeed.

So much of the child's experience in learning an instrument depends on the quality of the teaching and if the child can develop the attitudes discussed above and is supported by their parents they will be well on their way with their musical journey.  Next week I'll look at the final part of the triangle - the teacher. 

What is your child's experience of music lessons?  Are they developing the attitudes they need to succeed?  Is there anything you can do to help them even more than you are already?  If you missed the parent's role in the learning journey read it here.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Caroline Blount

    Director of Surrey Music School.  

    Archives

    January 2024
    September 2023
    January 2023
    May 2022
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017

    Categories

    All
    Benefits Of Learning Music
    Good Music Teaching
    Improvisation
    Kodaly Approach
    Music Exams
    Music Lessons For Children Guildford
    Music Moves
    Music Moves For Piano
    Online Piano Lessons
    Piano Exams
    Piano Lessons
    Piano Lessons Chertsey
    Piano Practice
    Piano Teaching
    Reading Music
    The Curious Piano Teachers
    Traditional Music Teaching

    RSS Feed

Location:
  • Boxgrove Primary School, Boxgrove Lane, Guildford GU1 2TD
  • Home
  • Small group piano age 4+
  • 1:1 Piano age 8+
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Testimonials
  • Our Philosophy
  • Buying an instrument
  • FAQs
  • Small print
    • Privacy Policy & GDPR
    • Terms of business
    • Safeguarding and conduct for online lessons
  • About Us
  • e-book - "learning the piano"