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I. Advice for Parents
Q. How can I help my child
to practice? A. For older kids, sitting down with them and understanding their musical goals is important. In that way, the parents and child can
create a schedule, as recommeneded by the teacher, that allows the child sufficient practice time to meet those goals while balancing other
activities in school, sports and life. For younger kids, it's the job of parents to introduce the child to the beauty and benefit of cultured
and artistic pursuits. Set a daily schedulel and be involved in their practice. Give them lifetime talent and your children will thank you
for the rest of their lives. Show them that music is fun and important. Music is not something you 'do'. A musician is something you 'are'.
Q.
How young can I begin my child in piano lessons - 3 yrs, 4 yrs, 5 yrs old?
A. Three is usually too young. It depends on the child's ability to concentrate, finger coordination, physical and emotional maturity, as well as his/her natural interest in music. Most of our youngest students begin between age 4 and 5; although at Piano4Life we have had students begin around 3.5 years who did very well, sometimes waiting a little longer is the best choice. In the meanwhile, introduce your child to the music of Chopin, Beethoven, Schumann, Bach, Rachmaninoff, Mozart, Grieg, Schubert and other great composers. Consider teaching your two- or three-year-old a second or third language. Limit/eliminate television and computer games and ensure your child has a healthy, natural diet. Soon, your son or daughter will be ready for the piano! Q.
My child can't sight-read and is frustrated when his teacher just says to practice more. What can I do?
A. What you have described is not unusual. Many students came to Piano4Life with 1, 2, 3, or 4 years of other music
lessons and were still beginners schooled in poor technique by teachers using a 'cookie-cutter' curriculum
that left them with virtually no knowledge of music grammar. Then the teacher pressures the students to play well for a recital. The
students began to hate music. It is the result of bad teaching. What if an art teacher admonished you to "draw harder" but didn't teach
you how to draw? It's important to find a great teacher before the student starts to think he/she is not talented.
Q. Is it too late to help a child who has been taught poorly?
A. It's never too late. Learning music and how to play the piano is not difficult. When a child sees that he/she is really learning, it becomes a fascinating source of confidence and pride. The piano is exciting. If you want to be learning more, a little regular daily practice and great teaching is all it takes. Your choice of a music teacher will make the difference between years of fruitless lessons or the joy of mastering the piano for life. Q. What can I do if my
child is overly interested in computer games, talking on the phone, chatting and television. A. Playing the piano is fun, but if a child has been conditioned from an early age to the frenetic pace and over-stimulation of
computer games, compulsions and even addictions to those games can develop. As parents, we can only blame ourselves if we're the ones who've
created these conditions. As unusual as it might sound, some families have 'unplugged' the television and game console and report a quieter,
more productive home life as a result. Ask yourself, "Do they really need yet another crash-and-bang video game? Is that nourishing the mind
and spirit?" Why not present them a collection of Beethoven or Brahms or Chopin music?
Q. Are you suggesting I
throw away my television? A. Setting the TV and game console by the curb next Monday morning is too extreme for most tastes, but parents have reported success
by limiting computer games/chat/phone/television to less than or equal to the total time spent practicing piano each week. An interesting result
is that as the child begins to see his/her musical talent grow, the child becomes less interested in 'empty'activities such as computer games.
II. Training the Mind for Musical Success Q. My child doesn't like classical music.
Is that normal? A.
The brain develops in response to its environment. It is very important to expose your child early and regularly to great music by the classical
masters. If the only music a child hears is pop music, he/she will find it harder to understand music theory and to appreciate the complexities,
beauty and nuances of music. Studies have indicated that is it harmful to the development of a child's brain to expose the child to heavily rhythmic
music such as rap, techno and much pop music. Be mindful of the axiom, "Garbage In, Garbage Out." Food sustains and nurishes the body; music and art
must be choosen to sustain and nourish the spirit. Here is more information about the effect of music on children while in the womb through the
teenage years, http://www.sound-remedies.com/musforbabmus.html
Q. Is pop music OK? A. Parents should not allow violent, hateful, explicit, debased or hypnotic music as those can damage a child.
Much pop music, however, is enjoyable as entertainment when taken in measure and as part of a balanced musical diet. But a serious
piano student must understand, appreciate and be familiar with the vocabulary and repertoire of the piano. It's an educational process
that gradually opens the doors of the soul to higher realms. Listen to a concerto or sonata by Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin, Grieg
or Rachmaninoff and then compare that to pop songs and you'll soon appreciate the difference.
Q. Is listening to classical music necessary if my child already listens to
pop keyboard music? A. Some pop music is entertaining in measure, but Chopin has much more to offer the serious piano student in the way of advancing
that student's education. An analogy is that 'Harry Potter' might be a fun read for some people, but you'll do much more for your development as
a writer by reading Dostoyevsky, Cervantes, Fitzgerald and Homer. Then, you can go on to write your own billion-dollar pop serial.
Q. Any other tips to help
my child? A. Yes, parents, turn off the 'Wiggles', 'Disney' songs, 'Hanna', 'Justin' and 'Jonas' and turn on Beethoven. Expose your kids early to
great music, great art and great literature and their minds will grow accordingly. Guard your children against the overt commercialism and
sexualization in today's media and culture. A musician plays using his/her mind and soul more than his fingers. The development of one's mental,
aesthetic and spiritual facilities is paramount for a pianist.
III. Before Buying a Piano Q. Must I buy or rent a piano as
soon I begin lessons? A.
Great question. If you go to a used piano store, you'll see
many pianos that were purchased by parents for their children who were taking lessons, only for the parents to find out that their children lost
interest in music. If you're not sure if your child will enjoy piano studies, it is perfectly fine and prudent to begin with a simple 61-key tabletop
keyboard. You'll find them at many retails outlets for around $100-$150. After a few months you'll know if your dear child is really interested in
music. If so, go ahead and invest in a real piano so he or she can continue to progress as a musician. Q. Should I get an electronic piano?
A. If you need a keyboard instrument for traveling, taking a full-sized electronic keyboard along on your vacation is a great way to maintain your
practice schedule while away from home. Otherwise, No. An electronic instrument is an amazing piece of technology, but it is not a substitute for
a piano. There's really no such thing as an 'electric piano' or 'digital piano'. Those are names given to synthesizers that mimic a piano but
cannot rerplace one. You cannot progress much beyond a beginner's level in a piano curriculum playing an electronic facsimile. The human touch
on piano keys and pedals can produce an infinite number of sounds and intensities and polyphonies. An electric instrument can only sample a small
set of sounds and then reproduce them electronically - and inferiorly - in response to a few programmed pressures for each key.
Q. How long does a piano
last? A. A good piano will last several generations and becomes part of your family that your children and grandchildren
will enjoy. It requires regular tune-ups and as it ages it'll need some maintenance and perhaps even parts replaced. An analogy is
to a car. A well-cared for piano will last several generations. It's a complex instrument with thousands of moving parts, so take
care of it, don't abuse it, but do play it everyday. Pianos were created to be played. Keep it away from windows, changes in temperature,
direct sun and swings in humidity. In most climates, you'll want to install a humidity control system either on the piano itself or
directly to your home heating/cooling system. Humidity control systems are inexpensive and are worth the little bit extra in price.
Ask your technician and teacher about how to care for your piano. Unless you are a piano tuner or technician, don't attempt to tune a
piano yourself. Q. What about renting a piano while I shop for one to buy?
A. There is no benefit to renting instead of buying if you are certain that you want to own a piano and are ready to do it. So why rent?
It could be to make sure you really want that piano; or, to postpone the lump sum cost of purchasing so you can save money while renting
(however this raises the overall cost). In addition to the monthly rent, shops will often charge a moving fee and require a minimum lease period. If
you find a piano that you want to buy while renting one that you don't want to own, you'll be in a position where you can't buy the piano you love
because you still have months remaining on your lease. Renting also makes sense if you are living in the area temporarily and
don't want the commitment of owning a piano due to frequent moves.
Q. Where should I buy a piano? A. We recommend buying from a dealer/store rather than a private party unless
you know the piano already. With a dealer/store, you'll get a service contract or warrantee. Buying a used piano from an unknown private party is
risky unless you have it inspected first (just like with a car). However, you might find a great deal from a private party; but to be safe, have a
professional piano tuner/technician inspect it before buying. A pre-owned piano of a good brand, well-built and cared for, will save a lot of money
over a new one. Q. What are good brands? A. You should educate yourself first if you are considering buying an
expensive piano. Much will depend on your budget. Top brand, mid-brand, new, used... there are many factors to consider. A piano hobbyiest will
have different requirements from his instrument than a professional or serious amateur. Don't over-buy for a new beginner. You can get a
decent "starter" piano for a few thousand dollars. You can get the best in the world for much more. $2,000-$100,000 is the range. Quality and
price are not necessarily linearly-related. There are some once well-regarded (but still expensive) brands that are rather low quality today
(despite the marketing hype and sales pressure) and if you buy one of these you'll be over-paying tremendously for a weak instrument.
There are also amazingly well-built instruments being manufactured today that offer the best in piano design and craftsmanship. You have to
educate yourself, play the different pianos, and listen.
Q. Should I get an upright, grand or baby grand piano?
A. That
depends on the size of the room it will go into and also your budget. Upright
pianos are usually less expensive than grand or baby grand pianos. Uprights also use
less space in the home and are easier and less expensive to tune, repair and
move. Within a given brand, the longer the grand or the taller the upright the better the sound.
Volume and tone come from the size of the soundboard and the length of the strings. A grand
piano requires a larger room, not just aesthetically, but also because the acoustics
need more space. Grand pianos have about 9,000-10,000 parts. They're more complex than an
upright piano which has 'only' 5,000 parts. A baby grand is a nice choice if you don't want
an upright and you don't have space or budget for a larger grand. But be careful because the smallest baby/petite
grand sizes sound weak. A strong upright will have a richer sound than the smallest petite grands. Q. How much does a good piano cost? A. Relax, you don't have to spend a fortune. Unless a student is preparing for a career as a professional pianist, he/she doesn't need a $40,000+ instrument. If you're on a tight budget, save that money for college. With some professional advice, you'll find a good instrument that fits your budget and needs. But beware. If you are uneducated about pianos, a slick salesman might sell you junk (new or used) and and you'll soon regret it! Many stores carry cheap new pianos made on high-speed assembly lines in China. You'll regret ever owning one of these pieces of furniture. They often have German-sounding names to try to fool you. You must educate yourself. Take along a music teacher or technician whom you trust. Buying a piano wisely requires becoming educated about pianos or relying on the knowledge of someone who is. |
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