Everyone seems to have advice these days—sometimes even when we don’t ask for it! But with 56 years of experience in selling, servicing, and talking all things pianos, along with a deep passion for piano education, we feel we’re in a good place to offer a little insight.
All of us in this family owned business have taken lessons, some family members have studied music abroad, and even participated in and won local and international festivals and piano competitions. With that in mind, we’re excited to share a few tips for new students!
- Be positive:Instead of the classic “Come on, we have to go to your piano lesson,” try something more upbeat like, “Let’s get ready, we get to go to your piano lesson!”—as if they’ve been waiting for this all day. Just remember, choosing piano lessons isn’t optional—kind of like eating vegetables or going to bed on time. Kids don’t have the life experience to skip out on that one. Your enthusiasm and commitment are crucial for their attitude…
- Establish a regular routine:Chat with your child’s teacher about how much daily practice is actually needed—because let’s be real, it’s about quality, not just cranking out endless scales. A few focused minutes can do more than mindlessly repeating what they already know. A short, concentrated session when they’re not half-asleep is far better than a marathon when they’re tired and cranky. Seriously, don’t torture the poor kid! Some people swear by early morning practice, if you can pull off that miracle.
- Be available:Yes, you actually need to listen to your child practicing. Throw in some encouraging suggestions—like, “Wow, that almost sounded like a real song!” Don’t just send them off to practice like it’s a punishment. Think of practice as a chance to show off their skills—play for Grandma on FaceTime, the family pet, heck, even the plants! Inspire, praise, and cheer them on like they’re about to perform at Carnegie Hall… because if you don’t, who will?
One final note: As a parent of a beginner piano student, my goal wasn’t to turn them into musicians or world-class performers. It was to enrich their lives through the gift of music, helping them grow into compassionate, confident, disciplined, and tolerant individuals—beautiful citizens of the world.