Fun Link Just for Kids!
http://pianoeducation.org/pnokids.html
FAQ's
Q: It seems like you require too much practice time?
A: Playing piano takes a lot of stamina, just like for any athlete. Muscle strength and memory are built through repetition and regularity. Connections between brain and body are deepened with consistent practice. While I'm not the "Piano Nazi" by any stretch of the imagination, it is important for parents and students to understand that without practice there cannot be the joyful musical experience that comes from mastering a song or concept. I understand that hectic schedules, unforeseen events and age differences combine to vary what is actually possible from day to day. So, I am patient while steadfastly encouraging all involved to aim for their best. I always do whatever possible to support families in nurturing musical studies. It is crucial to take people where they are in life.
Q: How do I know if my child is ready for piano lessons?
A: Parental readiness is one half of the equation. If the parents don't have the time to work with there child consistently, it's not a good idea to start. Teaching a young one is a delicate business and without full family support, it is extremely difficult for the child and teacher. The other half involves the criteria I use to screen young children for readiness.
Mental Readiness: Can the child say the alphabet, count to 20, sit still and concentrate for at least 10 minutes at a time? Does he know his left from his right most of the time?
Physical Readiness: When the child sits on the bench, are his forearms fairly parallel to the floor? Does the child's hand measure at least two inches across the width of the large knuckles? Can the child use scissors and color fairly well "within the lines"?
Emotional Readiness: Has the child asked for lessons? If he has not specifically requested lessons, does he (1) go to the piano to experiment (or is he drawn to one like a magnet elsewhere if there is no piano in the home)? (2) pretend to play (such as on the arm of a sofa)? (3)react favorably when the parent suggested lessons? Does he respond to music he hears by dancing or moving to it? Have teachers at school or church remarked on his interest in music?
Q: What is the optimal age to start piano lessons?
A: The prime window to start music study, according to the researchers, is ages 3-5. During this time range, connections in the brain can be formed more easily and deeply. The window extends to about 9-and-a-half, so all is not lost if children do not begin study until third or early fourth grade. It's just that it's better for the child to start much earlier. Although there is variation, I have found that many children this age can be ready for real piano lessons. They may progress more slowly but their learning will be as complete.
Q: How old is too old to start?
A:It's never too late to study music or anything else in life!. It can be a lot of fun! Just be aware that learning may be slower in some ways. This is due to ingrained learning styles and a less malleable brain and nervous system.. For adult learners, studies may be more meaningful due to determination to succeed, a keen interest in music and a devotion to establishing music skills that have been yearned for over many years.
Q: What methods and materials do you use?
A: I utilize a variety of materials in my teaching. I make my choice for each student depending on their personality, age and level. I am beginning to incorporate The New Kinder Keyboard Basic Piano Series, Alfred Series, Music of the Moppets: Pace Piano Education, and Pre-school Music-Moppets' Rhythms and Rhymes Child's Book. I regularly use The Piano Tree by Frances Clark, The Hal Leonard Series, some Bastien, and Faber. I also use supplemental materials like flashcards, recordings, visual materials, physical activities and, in the future, group activities.
Q: How often should I have my piano tuned?
A: Once a year at the least, twice according to technicians. Especially have your technician check the pedal to make sure it is functioning properly.
Q: Should parents with music training teach their children?
A: It depends. You might be able to do it, but it's tricky!. Some teachers tried teaching their children and got nowhere so they hired another teacher. If you want them to love music and have it their whole life, I recommend hiring a professional teacher so they get a good foundation from a person who creates a teacher-student dynamic with them rather than a parent-child dynamnic or a confusion of the two.
Q: Is there a "right way" to structure a practice session?
A: There is no one, "right way". As a general guideline, I suggest 20% of the time on technique, 70% on literature, and 10% on fun. We're all different so remember these are just guidelines, not set in stone.
Piano Practice Suggestions for Young Ones
5-10 minutes total per day (1-3 practice sessions per day if possible)
1. Find a smooth rock or small ball that they can close their hand around. Maybe they can decorate the object or name it. It can be the little hand position friend. Sit it on the piano so they can always see their buddy. Have them practice holding the object in a relaxed manner and then remove the object and place hand on piano keys. Have them play a few adjacent keys all the while trying to keep the hand position (nicely curved fingers, with a wrist parallel to keys. Always emphasize arms should be relaxed not stiff.) This should be FUN! Do both hands one at a time. You may use a short song they are learning to practice hand curve.
2. Clap and/or dance along with their favorite music. Play seasonal songs. Review finger numbers using the Finger Wiggle activity. (yell out a number and hand and they wiggle that one!)
3. Clap or use household items like a wooden spoon and a plastic bowl or other items to the rhythms in a song. You clap a rhythm and have them repeat it back to you. Feet, hands, etc. may be used. If using Musicland books, utilize the small rhythm story books as well and they repeat back to you the word phrases while clapping.
4. Once or twice a week, give a reward of coloring a Musicland character or other coloring book after completing a song or other exercise.
5. Make finding new notes a game “Can you find me a Purple Dragon? Can you find me a D?” then “Can you find me a low Purple Dragon, or a low D?” etc.
6. Play all the notes on the piano like a spider crawling up the wall. Use a teddy bear or other toy to play some of the notes. Or a favorite doll walking up the keyboard. Then have that friend watch them find the notes with their own hands.
7. Have the student turn around and you play a high or middle or low note on the piano. Have them guess if it was high, low, or middle. Do the same with loud and soft.
8. Use different objects around the house to imitate Forte(F-loud) and Piano(P-soft)
9. Practice Whole (4), Half (2), Quarter (1) and eighth notes (1/2). Challenge student to remember how many counts. “I bet you can't remember how long to hold down a whole note?” Have them play notes to the counts.
10. Most importantly, practice is something that should be understood as taking them down the road to being able to play beautiful and fun music. Help them to correlate it to sports or other subjects they love and had to work a bit to learn.
11. If siblings are both in lessons, have them challenge each other to sit up straight, use a curved hand position, play games together and to help one another enjoy music by playing for each other, picking music to listen to, and to share with one another what each likes most about music at any given point.
12. Let the students compose short songs. You can even specify rhythms, notes and dynamics (F or P) to be used. Ex. “use 5, 10, 15 notes(student picks), play them Piano or Forte and use one whole note somewhere in the song.” You can have them name the song.
13. Give them a cute calendar and have them draw a small picture or use a colorful music note sign or sticker on each day they do something piano or music related.
It is important to note, that while practice can be fun it may also involve times when repetition is needed to learn note names, rhythms and songs. It is best to vary saying note names, finger numbers and clap a song while learning it. Then, after playing it maybe 5 times mostly correctly, it is time to move on. Mistakes will always happen even for professionals. So, in the early stages of piano training, don't obsess over mistakes. Try a few times to learn what went wrong, fix it if possible and then let it go. If a child gets caught up in repeating a song over and over when a note is missed early on in the song, let them know that it is okay and to keep going in the song.
Typical Day Example
(make the sessions short and sweet so the student will want to come back and do more!)
Before school for a few seconds or minutes: name a few notes, play one song, do a clapping game, wiggle some fingers or do Piano and Forte examples, etc.
After School or Evening: same as before school. Practice a song, do a worksheet from assignment book, quiz each other, etc.
Vary the practice activities. This encourages whole brain involvement and will leave no musical concept untouched. Basically, don't do the same thing all 7 days of the week or however many days practice takes place.
More FAQ's to Come!