Archives October 2020

Most parents want to know how long it will take for their child to learn the piano, and that question is justifiable – after all, it’s your time and money on the line! The question is reliant on many personal factors, though, and we’ll discuss those factors below.

I offer piano lessons in Fairfax, VA, piano lessons in Washington D.C., and serve the entire Northern Virginia area, so if you’re interested in signing your child up for a free piano lesson trial, I’d love to hear from you!

How Long Does It Take To Learn The Piano?

After one year of lessons, you should be able to read notes on both staffs, identify basic time signatures, and be familiar with the concept of sharps and flats. You may not be able to name advanced key signatures, but those will come a bit later. All told, after 12 months of lessons, you should probably be able to read two lines of notes simultaneously (in the right and left hands) within the five-finger pattern. Adults or older grade school children who are highly motivated will be able to exceed this.

By the end of year two, students should be able to play in 4-5 total key signatures, count in more complicated time signatures (like 6/8 time), and play a melody overlaid with a left hand chord structure.

In year three, students should be playing melodies and lines outside of the five-finger pattern – scales and crossover technique comes into play here.

By the time you reach the end of your fourth year, you should be able to sight read music somewhat fluently with two hands.

How Predictable Is The Piano Learning Curve?

The above timetable can be used as a rough guideline, but please note that this is impossible to predict. There are too many variables at play.

For instance, some parents like to start their children at the piano very young – four years old or so. They may not progress at the same rate as an older beginner. If your child is precocious, they may keep up with the steps outlined above, but it’s not necessarily likely.

Along those lines, let’s take a hypothetical situation. Student #1 starts the piano at age five and follows a pretty normal growth pattern at the piano. Student #2 starts the piano at age 8 and a half, and because of greater maturity and the awareness that they are “behind,” makes above average progress. Both students will end up at roughly the same skill level by the time they are in middle school.

Do Adults Learn The Piano Faster?

Adults have to unlearn more bad habits than children, and the adult mind can’t absorb information as quickly, but adults have two huge advantages: discipline and motivation. Adults can sit down and learn all of the notes on the staff in two weeks if they want two, they can learn their scales in the first year of lessons, and they can be learning intermediate repertoire by the end of year two. It all boils down to your dedication to regular, efficient practice.

How To Speed Up The Piano Learning Practice

The first thing you should do is get in touch with a qualified teacher. No app or self-study book can replace the influence of an experienced piano educator.

Secondly, follow your teacher’s instructions when you practice. The most valuable thing your teacher can do is to show you how to practice the piano, and if you follow the steps they prescribe, you will be ahead of your peers. It takes discipline, and most people are not disciplined!

Third, commit to regular practice, even in small amounts. Twenty minutes of piano practice per day is way more valuable than one 2-hour chunk per week. If you can commit more time, you will learn so much faster – it’s best to practice in 2-3 chunks every day. Each chunk can be only 15 minutes, but it’s a very efficient way to internalize information.

Fourth, remember that you can outpace your teacher! No teacher will be disappointed if you show up to a lesson having learned five more notes than they assigned.

Let’s Get Started With Piano Lessons Today

If you think my Alexandria, VA piano lessons will be a good fit for your child, please get in touch. I have 10+ years of teaching experience, and I offer classes and private lessons to pre-college students. I would love to work with your child at the piano.

Does it matter which instrument your child plays first, or is it beneficial to just get started with music in any capacity? Can your child play different instruments to pick a favorite? And will it set your child’s development back if they change instruments after a year or two?

As one of the leading destinations for piano lessons in Fairfax, VA and the surrounding area, we often help parents answer these questions around music lessons for their children. Keep reading to learn more, and please get in touch if you would like to enroll in a free piano lesson trial.

What Instrument Should Your Child Learn First?

If you are enrolling your 3-5 year old child in music classes, they will probably experience a variety of musical activities and instruments – this is for the best. Especially at the younger end of that spectrum, kids should be having fun, discovering musical concepts, dancing, and preferably using rhythm instruments like hand drums. It’s unlikely that your 3-4 year old will be able to have an effective piano lesson unless the teacher leads a significant amount of away-from-the-keyboard activities.

Things like bells, drums, and other percussion instruments can really help a child learn rhythm, and the voice can be used to train the ear and learn how to recall and reproduce tunes.

If your child is starting lessons after the age of 5, they probably have enough fine motor skills and discipline to jump right into piano or violin (or something else) lessons – although the lessons will still need to be specifically tailored for children.

Once Ready, Should Your Child Learn Piano First?

The piano is an excellent choice because it requires such a fundamental understanding of music and theory. It’s a foundation for a future in music, and whether your child decides to maintain piano studies or pursue a different instrument in the future, a solid understanding of the keyboard is very helpful.

The piano teaches both the bass and the treble clef, your child’s reading ability will be much better than non-pianists at that age, and compared to the piano, most other instruments will seem much easier. For instance, if you can play the piano, you can basically know how to  play the xylophone already, and you already know how to read music and recognize chords.

Many great instrumentalists started with the piano and picked up their brass, woodwind, or string instrument in middle school or high school (violin is usually the exception here), so starting on the piano does not mean they can’t learn other instruments later.

All Things Considered, What Is The Right Age To Start Music Lessons?

This varies from child to child, but you can start as early as you’d like – just realize that they won’t become a great pianist faster just because you enrolled them in lessons when they are three years old.

The earliest years should be spent galvanizing a love of music – if you can lead them to a discovery of the piano or another instrument, they will be happy to take lessons and practice without it becoming another chore. If they are handed a violin when they turn five and told to practice, it won’t be something they enjoy.

Our music classes for young children involve movement, rhythm instruments, teamwork, pre-recorded music, and more – we are trying to inspire kids and make them love music (while also learning!).

Unless your child is especially gifted and disciplined, starting them at the piano at age 4 won’t really increase the likelihood of them becoming an advanced pianist compared to a 6-7 year old who starts piano lessons. Even a child who starts piano as late as age 10 can catch up to the level of his or her peers by high school. It all comes down to practice and discipline.

Are Music Lessons Really Good For Kids?

Yes – music lessons strengthen the same part of the brain used for linguistic development, so one of the advantages of group piano class is that your young child will be more skilled at discerning language and communicating.

Music class also reinforces counting and logic, and it builds self confidence as students start to see that the work they are putting into music is resulting in greater ability at the piano or another instrument.

The social aspect of group music class should also be taken into consideration, and if you commit to practicing with your child, then it becomes a powerful bonding experience as well.

If you’d like to learn more about piano lessons in Alexandria, piano lessons in Washington D.C., or anything else, please don’t hesitate to get in touch – we would love to hear from you.

Maybe you remember being forced to take piano lessons as a kid – and perhaps you don’t want to afflict your child with the same thing. Maybe you “burned out” because of a domineering teacher, or maybe the lonely hours at the piano started to wear on you. Or maybe, as a child, the last thing you needed in your life was another chore! Nothing sucks the joy out of an activity like being forced to do it.

And herein lies the question – should you make your child play a musical instrument? It’s not an easy choice, and plenty of well-intentioned adults have made the wrong decision both in favor or against the piano. Hopefully the thoughts below will help you decide.

And if you do want to enroll your child in fun, interactive classes or piano lessons in Fairfax, VA or Alexandria, please get in touch – I’d be happy to schedule a free trial for you.

Be Careful: You May End Up Causing Your Child To Dislike Piano

Forcing your child to play the piano probably won’t have the impact you think it will — they will most likely end up frustrated, they’ll stop playing as soon as they can (when they reach high school, college, etc.), and they won’t find any joy at the piano. And if they can’t enjoy the piano at all, what’s the point?

Your child probably won’t start playing the piano on their own when they are young, and it is certainly your responsibility to place them in a position to experience and try new things (piano being one of them). So the point isn’t that you should not try out piano lessons for your child; the point is that after giving it a shot, if the child really dislikes the piano, it may not be the right artistic outlet for them.

Does Your Kid Dislike The Piano, Or Do They Dislike Practicing and Work?

Discipline is a character and/or a learned skill. Young children, unless they are an outlier, will not have the discipline to sit at the piano by themself and practice the piano. So naturally, you’ll have to tell them to practice.

But if your child starts saying that they want to quit lessons, you need to get to the bottom of the situation:

1. Are they just frustrated that they aren’t seeing progress?
2. Do they actually dislike the piano, or the other stuff, like practicing?
3. Do they not enjoy the lessons or teacher?
4. Do they hate having to sit at the piano by themself?
5. Do they not understand that there are goals and accomplishments to be met during each practice session?

There are things you can do to remedy the situation. Firstly, talk to your child’s teacher. Are there clear expectations after each lesson? Does the child know why he or she must practice?  If you explain goals and progress to your child, they may understand. Give them items to accomplish during each practice session so they can feel a sense of accomplishment.

Secondly, you can sit and practice with your child. Making piano practice an activity with your child will make it more rewarding for them, you’ll learn the piano too, and they enjoy it. It will also keep their mind focused on practice.

Young Children Need Special Consideration

If your child has taken lessons for a while, and if they’re old enough to make an informed decision that isn’t reactionary, it’s worth considering their desire to quit. But younger children are different.

Firstly, if you force your 3-5 year old to take serious private piano lessons, of course they will complain about practicing – it would be rare for them to like it. There are two routes you can take. One option is to find a fun, activity-oriented piano class that involves rhythm instruments, multimedia, and engaged classmates. That’s what we offer at MEA Piano Studio for beginners.

Your second option is to help your child “discover” music naturally rather than forcing them to sit at the piano. Encourage their curiosity at the piano or keyboard, get them musical toys, and allow them to see you interacting with the piano. If they start to express interest in the piano on their own, you’ve already won half the battle.

Remember, You Have More Perspective On Life Than Your Child

Very few kids would study or engage with any subject in school if they weren’t forced to do so, and music is no different. If you believe that arts education is a worthwhile use of time that will lead to a happier life for your child, then you may need to make the piano a required activity. So many adults wish that they hadn’t quit piano lessons, so you may be saving your child from a lifetime of regret.

The key is to make piano an experience that they love in the first place. Find lessons that are inspiring and fun, get a teacher who loves working with students and brings out the best in each of them, and commit to spending time with your child at the piano. If you do those things, you’ll be off to a great start.