With the start of school at hand and all of the extracurricular activities that coincide with it, this perspective is offered for those parents considering piano lessons for their child.

1. At what age should my child start taking piano lessons?

Most students are ready to take lessons between first and third grades. Signs of readiness include: enjoyment of music, ability to read at grade level or above, good eye-hand coordination, an attention span that can last through a 30 minute lesson, and willingness to practice at least five days a week. If a child is younger than this and seems to already be exhibiting these characteristics, it is best to first enroll them in a program specifically created for early childhood, such as: Kindermusik, Musikgarten, Gymboree, Suzuki, or Music for Young Children. Good pre-school programs will include creative movement to music, musical games, exploring various sounds, playing various age-appropriate instruments, and singing. Early childhood programs correctly develop the large motor skills, before proceeding to the small motor skills needed to play the piano.

A child is motivated to play when he/she sees himself succeeding at what he learns and experiences steady progress. This can only happen when he/she is practicing assignments at least five days a week on a reliable instrument at home. As opposed to teachers at school, who reinforce learning five days a week, the piano teacher only has a half-hour to hour lesson to teach the concepts the student will work on. The other days of the week, it is up to him/ her to reinforce and solidify that learning.

Parents and students need to set realistic expectations. For instance, after a year of learning and diligent practicing at home regularly, the student will be playing easier pieces with two hands. He/she will be able to play some pieces they are familiar with, as well as many that are unfamiliar. He/she will also be able to name the notes on the musical staff and will know most of the basic rhythms in easier childhood songs. Some work harder and go way beyond that. It is most important that he/she gets a lot of encouragement and helpful supervision from parents to enable greater progress.

If parents have never taken music lessons, it is best that they observe the lesson to learn what the child is working on. It would be unusual for a student who is just sent to a lesson, with no parental supervision at the lesson or at home, to excel. Studying the piano needs to be seen as a longterm commitment since it takes several years to get to the point of playing some of the well-known classics or a current popular piece that most kids love to listen to.

A good teacher is enthusiastic and clearly derives enjoyment from seeing students make progress. She/he sets goals weekly for the student and measures progress against those goals. She/he instructs the student how to practice, not only what to practice. She/he encourages parental involvement at the lesson and at home. Wherever possible, she/he encourages socialization, such as group lessons, or ensemble playing. It is also highly motivational for teachers to provide recital opportunities. A good music teacher should have a college degree in piano and continues to develop professionally. Just because someone can play the piano well does not necessarily mean he or she will be a good teacher. Most importantly, she/he instills the love of learning, listening, and performing in her/his students. The Charleston Music Teachers’ Association is a good resource for finding qualified music teachers. Sometimes, local schools and churches also have good recommendations.

Students need a full-size, in-tune piano to use at home. There are many digital keyboards that are also full -size, but be sure it has "weighted" keys. That means that pressing harder on a key will increase the volume. The piano teacher works with the student on how to play different volumes, so the student needs an instrument sensitive to touch at home. If buying a used piano, it is recommended that a tuner/technician look it over, to make sure the sounding board and other vital parts are intact. Also, check with your teacher for his/her recommendations.

Taking piano lessons benefits students socially, academically, and physically. There is much evidence that students who take music lessons benefit in their learning at school as well. As students learn piano, they are constantly reinforcing the concepts of: up/down, left hand/ right hand, fast/slow, loud/soft, as well as learning the alphabet forwards and backwards from A to G. They develop the physical coordination of using two hands and feet, all doing different things at the same time. They use visual, aural and language skills that reinforce reading skills acquired at school. There has proven to be a correlation between math and rhythmic learning, since rhythms are taught as fractions and multiples of the basic beat. Students also develop the powers of memory, concentration, and focus. They experience the fulfillment of self-discipline to attain a goal, and the feeling of exhilaration when they accomplish it. All in all, taking piano lessons can lead to a lifelong discovery of the joy of music.