What are the basic steps to learning to play the piano?
This is probably the most frequently asked question. As with most developmental benchmarks, a child's readiness to learn piano is different with every child. At the Austin Piano School we accept children starting at 5 years old. At this age, they are old enough to learn rhythm and the different notes and their values (step 1 above), followed by learning keyboard geography (step 2 above).
A more important question than when to start is:
"How long should my child take piano lessons?"
Children who take only one or two semesters of piano will most likely forget all that they have learned. If a parent wants the greatest benefit from piano lessons, I recommend that they commit to having their child take piano lessons as long as they are in elementary school. This provides a solid foundation of music reading that will not be easily forgotten; in fact, most students will then sing in choir or take up an instrument in middle school and continue to build on the note reading skills they developed in their piano lessons. Naturally, we hope that most students find piano so fun at the Austin Piano School that they will want to continue lessons, and in fact we have many middle school and high school age students currently enrolled.
If my child doesn't start lessons at 5 years old, is it too late?
No, most children do very well starting at a later age, and learn steps 1 and 2 very quickly. It is never too late to learn to play the piano! We have many students who started piano lessons when they were third graders and older.
What can I do to help my child learn music when they are younger than 5 years old?
There are lots of ways to develop a love of music in young children before they can learn to play the piano. Play lots of music for them, and sing, dance and clap along with the songs. Teach them any funny or silly songs that you remember from when you were young. Kindermusik classes are especially designed for young children and help them learn to appreciate music.
Does my child have to practice at home?
YES! The most difficult part of playing the piano is training the hands to react immediately to the music on the page. This can only be accomplished through repetition. Daily practice does not need to be long, in fact it is better for children to practice for short periods but on a regular, daily basis. Ten to fifteen minutes a day is appropriate for beginning students.
We don't have a piano - Is a Keyboard OK for Home Practice?
Yes, a keyboard works fine as long as it is a good quality keyboard. Features to look for are full-sized keys and graded hammer action or weighted keys. (The keys should look like those of a piano, not an organ.) You do not need a full size 88-key keyboard for beginners. Do make sure the keyboard either comes with a sustain pedal or a jack where a pedal can be plugged in. If you get an acoustic piano, make sure all the keys work and that it is properly tuned.
What are the advantages of group lessons?
As any parent knows, germs are everywhere, and especially on hands! Good piano hygiene includes:
- Learning note values, how to count and rhythm.
- Learning "Keyboard Geography" - which keys are A,B,C,D, etc.
- Learning to read notes on the staff.
This is probably the most frequently asked question. As with most developmental benchmarks, a child's readiness to learn piano is different with every child. At the Austin Piano School we accept children starting at 5 years old. At this age, they are old enough to learn rhythm and the different notes and their values (step 1 above), followed by learning keyboard geography (step 2 above).
A more important question than when to start is:
"How long should my child take piano lessons?"
Children who take only one or two semesters of piano will most likely forget all that they have learned. If a parent wants the greatest benefit from piano lessons, I recommend that they commit to having their child take piano lessons as long as they are in elementary school. This provides a solid foundation of music reading that will not be easily forgotten; in fact, most students will then sing in choir or take up an instrument in middle school and continue to build on the note reading skills they developed in their piano lessons. Naturally, we hope that most students find piano so fun at the Austin Piano School that they will want to continue lessons, and in fact we have many middle school and high school age students currently enrolled.
If my child doesn't start lessons at 5 years old, is it too late?
No, most children do very well starting at a later age, and learn steps 1 and 2 very quickly. It is never too late to learn to play the piano! We have many students who started piano lessons when they were third graders and older.
What can I do to help my child learn music when they are younger than 5 years old?
There are lots of ways to develop a love of music in young children before they can learn to play the piano. Play lots of music for them, and sing, dance and clap along with the songs. Teach them any funny or silly songs that you remember from when you were young. Kindermusik classes are especially designed for young children and help them learn to appreciate music.
Does my child have to practice at home?
YES! The most difficult part of playing the piano is training the hands to react immediately to the music on the page. This can only be accomplished through repetition. Daily practice does not need to be long, in fact it is better for children to practice for short periods but on a regular, daily basis. Ten to fifteen minutes a day is appropriate for beginning students.
We don't have a piano - Is a Keyboard OK for Home Practice?
Yes, a keyboard works fine as long as it is a good quality keyboard. Features to look for are full-sized keys and graded hammer action or weighted keys. (The keys should look like those of a piano, not an organ.) You do not need a full size 88-key keyboard for beginners. Do make sure the keyboard either comes with a sustain pedal or a jack where a pedal can be plugged in. If you get an acoustic piano, make sure all the keys work and that it is properly tuned.
What are the advantages of group lessons?
- Group lessons allow students to have longer lesson time at less expense. The longer class time allows time for musical games and theory lessons that reinforce what they are playing on the keyboard and makes lessons more fun!
- Playing with others helps students think more about rhythm and playing in tempo.
- Students make friends and enjoy sharing their musical skills with each other.
- Students are more motivated to practice when they play with their friends.
- Parents have more opportunities to carpool, saving time and car expenses.
As any parent knows, germs are everywhere, and especially on hands! Good piano hygiene includes:
- Washing hands before piano lesson time.
- Keeping nails clean and trimmed, which also helps with playing with good hand positions!
- Avoid touching face (nose and mouth) during lessons and using a tissue if necessary.
- Covering any cuts or infections on the hands with bandages (warts are very common in children and are infectious. Applying salicylic acid and covering with a bandage is an effective treatment.)