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The piano is the most popular instrument in the world because of it’s unique sound, range and pitch, but it is easy to forget when listening to a master just how intimidating learning the piano can be to a beginner, particularly a child. Piano lessons for kids can be boring, difficult and embarrassing, so it’s important to make the young pianist feel at ease and look forward to the lessons. Regardless of the discipline involved learning is always easier and faster when it is something enjoyable that the learner is anticipating rather than dreading. Beginner Piano lessons are no exception to this rule.

To understand what it is that can make piano lessons for kids fun or not you have to think a little like a child. For instance, are the children’s piano books the sort of thing that will excite a child, or are they more likely to think of that as an old, boring adult thing? What about an online piano lesson? What about the music itself? A child is more likely to want to show off playing the theme to a popular child’s television show rather than a classical piece they have no understanding for. Is the piano the most interesting thing in the room, or do you need to remove distractions that prevent the child being fully focussed on their beginner piano lessons? You may want to consider the following:

1. Always look to practice at the same time. This will establish practice as a habit.

2. Keep the practice area consistent. Do not move things around if this can be avoided - especially the piano itself.

3. Make sure there is no possibility of interruption from a television. If there is one in the same room turn it off. If there is another that can be heard from the practice room, close doors or do whatever it takes to drown out the noise.

4. Remove as many ‘other interruptions’ as possible. For instance pets or siblings that may demand attention.

5. Do not have food or drink near the piano practice area. Piano lessons for kids should be about the piano - not about a snack.

6. Keep books tidily and teach the child to respect them. Scattered books are a distraction, and moving the books to bedrooms etc can lead to them being damaged or lost.

7. Where piano practice conflicts with another activity such as playing with friends, it should be made clear that piano practice happens first, and then the child can play. This needs to be done in a positive way to both the student and the friends. IE/ “She can’t play now she has piano lesson” is negative, while “She can play right after her piano lessons” is positive.

Whether your kid is following a traditional course or an online piano lesson, follow these 7 tips to create positive piano lessons for kids, but also seek their input as to what they enjoy so this can be incorporated into the lesson. Numerous educational studies have shown that children are more likely to follow rules and guidelines if they have had input in making the rules. This is a favorite trick of early childhood teachers which can easily be incorporated into piano lessons for children. Have a set of piano practice rules in your head, and ask the child what rules need to be in place for the piano practice. Then gently steer them in the direction of the rules you have in mind. “Do you think we should have a special place for your piano books?” or even better(because that question can be answered with a ‘no’), “Where do you think we should keep your Piano books?”.

Ultimately getting beginner piano lessons for kids to be productive is about designing them and their objectives with the child in mind. Children’s minds work differently at a younger age, and piano lessons for children should take this into consideration. The best lessons will have a clear objective, but also many smaller objectives so the child always feels they are making progress. So long as you keep things structured and keep your piano lessons for kids fun and interesting then the student will find them enjoyable and interesting enough to remain enthusiastic about, and will progress at a much more satisfactory rate. Although online piano lesson is more common among adults, the amount of kids going online is expected to grow. The tips above are meant for those as well.

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