Help i want to play piano

The most common scenario I faced in my twenty years as a music teacher is: The studenttakes lessons, discovers that they don’t like to practice or the music, or challenge oflearning, etc

Ticklin’ the Ivoreez SeriesHelp! I Want to Play the PIANO

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This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, belent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the Author’s prior consent in anyform of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similarcondition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent publisher

Cover Art © Eva Rodriguez

ISBN-13: 978-1536933710ISBN-10: 1536933716

For Lola

Chapter 23: Local Performance OpportunitiesChapter 24: Musical Support

You’re reading this guide to find an honest, experienced and concise answer to all yourpiano instruction questions If you are a parent, you are also concerned with your child’sfuture with music and exploring any hidden talents they may have

Before I point you in the right direction, let me explain where this experience is comingfrom and the many discoveries and mistakes that came to create this guide

The most common scenario I faced in my twenty years as a music teacher is: The studenttakes lessons, discovers that they don’t like to practice (or the music, or challenge oflearning, etc.) and quit They like music and continue with self-paced lessons via software

or YouTube They achieve immediate and small goals on their own after having a negativeoverall experience

This would happen to 78% of students with the average drop-out timeframe anywherebetween 3 to 5 months Then this cycle would repeat itself There was always anabundance of children interested in music so to address the “quitting” concern was never apriority

I, like most teachers, would chalk it up to the popular stereotype: Playing Piano is hard.

Sometimes, students have such a poor experience and feel a lack of personal confidencethat music no longer holds an interest In general, it inhibits them from ever pursuing orenjoying music

In finding real answers to this problem, I discovered many flaws in the system and feltcompelled to bring these concerns to light before they continue the cycle of musicnegativity

What if people were to discover that private piano lessons were meant for the professionalmusic aspirer and NOT the casual player? And, would people continue to enroll theirchildren in lessons if they know that it would create a negative experience for a lifetime?

Think about your own child: If they like gymnastics, would you contact Bela Karolyi(famous Romania Olympic Coach) to train your young, clumsy, partially interested child

or would you sign them up for group classes and introduce the gymnastics world to themslowly? Doesn’t it seem logical to have your child experiment with basic tumbling, bodycontrol and strengthening before committing to an Olympic goal?

On the flip side, why aren’t there more coaches and teachers that accommodate the manystyles of learners, families, goals, interests and circumstances when presented? How hard

Having a positive musical experience far outweighs any musical knowledge that is

gleaned from lessons In separating the interest levels and properly aligning the correct approach with the correct goal, you’re chances for success and enjoyment are far better overall.

Consider that private lessons should be reserved for the future professional and alternative mediums encouraged to embrace the fun & creativity of casual playing This would be a celebration of genuine music creation.

From my piano & organ lessons in the 1970’s at my strict, Asian grandmother’s pianostudio in Northern Virginia, to becoming a Professional Musician and Music Teacher with

advanced degrees in music, I never anticipated that I would recognize and promotealternative methods of music learning.

My grandmother, who started playing the piano in 1921, was convinced that her pedagogywas the only method acceptable for piano aspirers After all, she was the daughter of afamous and beloved National Composer who surrounded the family with music andprestige She committed her life to the promotion and recognition of music as a MusicTeacher and Professional Pianist

To counter this genetic ideology would be a disgrace to the family and disrespect to themusicians and artists who have sacrificed to make music their profession In hearing theplight of families from across the nation and experiencing firsthand the effects of poormusic alignment, I’m convinced that we have it all backwards

Truth be told, it’s a new world out there and music has a place in everyone’s life regardless

of circumstance Against tradition, this book was created to help the average persondecipher the real, modern day truth about piano lessons and guide you in the process ofuncovering ALL methods in finding instruction

To my fellow musicians and teachers, please continue the discussion Reach out to yourassociates, teachers, music community, colleges, studios and music advocates We are all

at risk of losing live music forever Be open to the many ways music speaks to people andcelebrate the essence of the message, regardless of how it was formed

2 Experience achievement To encourage learning, each lesson should involveachievement, thereby building confidence Each song provides them an opportunity

to excel in small, fun and creative ways This is the fuel for any story of pianoplaying success

3 Have fun Every lesson should have a moment of fun, especially in the beginning.Check on your child if they aren’t smiling after 3 months Urge your child to express

a thought, feeling or experience at the end of every lesson giving them ownership

Having a personal trainer demonstrates that you are serious about your health This is theconflict with traditional piano lessons Most assume that lessons are the first step tolearning and playing the piano With the many alternative methods out there, some ofthem free, private lessons are best for those who’ve demonstrated true interest in theinstrument and are willing to dedicate the time to learn the fundamentals

Private piano lessons are the best action for those with proven and/or heightened pianointerest Before music was offered in schools, private lessons were the only way forstudents to gain music knowledge Not anymore

You can find just about every piano technique and method discussed and demonstratedonline Some offer introductory lessons free YouTube has become the largest learningchannel and has the highest potential to bridge early aspirers to music success with freelessons, free tools & resources and 24/7 access to quality teachers

YouTube learners tend to be distracted easily and follow many different methods, some ofpoor quality They commit to piano to achieve a specific goal and seek teachers ormethods that help them do this one task versus learning the piano as an instrument

As there are many goals and learning styles, so too are there many methods that one canuse to achieve musical success As a teacher, I can’t dismiss any of them Whatevermethod or technique that gets a student playing & making music, is an effective method

That goes for YouTube There are millions of people making music (some poor attempts

to bewildering prodigies) and Music Teachers want YOU to be one of them So, don’t betoo eager to reject YouTube if you are gaining knowledge and creating music

With the advancement in video communication, it’s possible to find a really great onlineprivate teacher Online lessons work best for organized and self-motivated people The top

3 problems with online lessons are:

1 Complications with Set up – Not preparing your computer or laptop at the start

of the lesson is the biggest waste of time Because the teacher is not with you in theflesh, you must prepare as though she/he will be there

2 Audio/visual problems – It happens to us all If this happens to you, know how to

remedy the problem or make available someone who can

3 Noisy & Distractive Environment – This can be impossible for some families

with multiple kids and busy schedules Students taking lessons in a bedroom withoutthe parent present is never a good idea so plan lessons as a family so that you makethe most of your time

The options for Piano Education Software are endless and exciting Just check out thenumerous links in the appendix You can find the newest innovations and music productsthat it will inspire you to play alongside your child

time (even informal settings count) and set weekly and quarterly goals.

As a teacher, I want an instructor who will teach the basics in a fun, engaging way that can

be easily understood, in an organized and logical fashion where building upon that conceptwill be easily accepted

Most importantly, choose a teacher that will leave a positive and happy impression withyour child, regardless of the speed of progress.

This impression lasts for a lifetime and can be factor that determines their involvement ordisconnect with music as an adult

If your teacher’s behavior, demeanor or action don’t support the ultimate goals, look intothe matter immediately Parents intuition are good indicators that there’s something “off”

I’m sure you know a kid in the neighborhood taking lessons from a retired music teacherdown the street I’m positive that she’s nowhere to be found on the web She might notknow what the web is…

The only way to find these teachers would be to collect info from other school moms,people in your neighborhood, local hangouts, groceries, centers- ask everyone Theseteachers are in demand and run small, personalized, organized businesses with fair costs.They usually work out of their home or make house calls and are very proud of theirimpeccable reputation

If you can’t find one of these gems, you can try online companies like takelessons.com orangieslist.com These companies compile a database of local teachers and advertise forthem online in exchange for a portion of their profit

Piano organizations like MTNA (Music Teachers National Association), SuzukiAssociation for the Americas or your city’s Piano Teacher Registry are non-biasedresources for the budding pianist

A reliable and untapped source for a piano teacher would be Piano tuners and Piano

Another good connection is your local churches These piano teachers are volunteers atthe school musical, active in civic groups and play within the community Ask long timeparishioners or congregation leaders for a referral If anything, they can point you toretired teachers who can then point you to the teachers who took over their studios

Online neighborhood watch or neighborhood online forums are a good way to put outfeelers They network with many different professions, care about the families in theirneighborhood and eager to help people

I love the convenience of the web but in this situation, a personal referral is best If youuse Yelp or other online forums, you might find a great teacher through an agency orstudio Through a third party connection, you might pay more and not have the freedom tochange teachers if there is a contract between the studio and your family

Regardless of where you found them, the right teacher will motivate and encourage yourchild to be the best musician they can be, help them find success and love music long pastlessons are over

She valued music knowledge over practical knowledge like cooking, driving or reading.From her perspective (much like any music teacher I’ve met) no cost is too much.Speaking as a parent of many children, I feel differently

$50-$100 for metropolitan cities The addition of $25-40 per session can be expected withteachers carrying advanced degrees or credentials

For reference, most beginning lessons are 30 minutes as the majority of students arechildren ages 5-14 Their attention spans are limited and for the teachers that make house

calls, it’s a way to keep schedule and avoids “lesson overload” Most likely, you won’tneed 60 minute lessons unless your child is advanced, super focused or have specialneeds.

If your teacher makes house calls, you can expect to pay another $10-$40 for theconvenience depending on your region This may be worth the cost if you have multiplekids taking lessons or have complex transportation issues

Some teachers and studios may require a fee for the end of the season/semester recital.Those can be from $10-$50 The largest portion of the fee may include the stipend for thejudge(s) during the audition process This audition is a private or public hall or roomwhere a judge or panel of judges will hear, critique and assess if you are ready to proceed

to the performance phase If your studio or teacher doesn’t offer the audition experience,the majority of the fees will be for the venue, awards, trophies and certificates

The cost of a medium or high grade keyboard, acoustic upright or baby grand piano isanother cost to expect while taking lessons Read Chapter 14: What piano do I choose?Can I choose a keyboard to start? for tips on this purchase.

Be sure to spend for the cost to tune the acoustic piano This will run you around

$65-$125, depending on the tuning professional and your area If you intend to move often,you must account for professional piano movers vs 20-somethings with large necks Theyare equipped to maneuver all kinds of pianos, in all kinds of moves These costs can rangefrom $125-$600, depending on movers and your area

For the majority of beginners, you will find piano teachers with experience the mostbeneficial Remember: this is beginning piano lessons, not brain surgery Choosing ateacher solely based on credentials versus teaching style, patience, experience withchildren is what’s most important

More important than your teacher’s degree is the relationship your child has with theirteacher, the nature whereby the teacher presents the lesson, and the fun, positiveexperience they have during lessons

Find a great teacher who teaches music versus a professional musician who happens toteach The approach can make or break your child’s interest forever

During this warm up, teachers are reviewing the assignment log from last week and beginassessing the practice assignment This could be grading worksheets or workbooks,reading compositions or reviewing songs for practice

Now, the teacher will ask the dreaded question, “Did you practice?” Most kids practice(sometimes reluctantly) and this time will be used to demonstrate their progress Teacherswill offer correction and grade appropriately

This next portion will be where the new lesson is taught via exercise, song or assignment.Each week, your child will learn bits of music info where the practice lessons apply thisknowledge in action These bits of info will be built upon quickly and can beoverwhelming if offered too quickly Make sure your teacher gives time to ask questionsbefore you leave the studio

Your teacher will assign homework and offer feedback or an assessment of their progress

As a reward, some teachers will ask to work on a “fun” song (selected by teacher orstudent) This is most likely a Disney or pop song and the teacher will teach a portion ofthe song and assign this portion for practice

This is a fun way to end the lesson and gets kids excited about playing again Hopefully,your teacher will encourage the students to talk at this time about their own progress,future goals, share their insights about music and make a contribution to the positivity ofthe lesson This gives the child ownership in lessons, re-aligns goals and makes themaccountable for their own progress

If you will be conducting lessons in your home, be sure to have a quiet and distraction freespace to learn Have adequate lighting and a medium quality keyboard or acoustic pianofor the student If in an apartment, condo or townhouse community, arrange for easy &accessible parking Teachers are busy people

During lessons, parents can expect to be given a quick assessment of their child’sprogress If lessons are at home, listen to the dialogue from afar If in a studio, listen foryour child’s piano playing You’ll be able to hear if they are progressing This will helpwhen your child’s teacher offers an assessment

Expect open communication, transparency, and a loving, supportive, challenging andpositive experience for your child

Some families are so grateful that they’ve offered me dinners, gift cards, chocolates,teacher/office supplies (sticky notes, page markers, highlighters, notebooks and fun musicpens) or anything music related.

If you insist on recognizing your teacher, feel free to round up the monthly bill Teachersdon’t teach for the cushy paycheck They love to instruct and they love helping childrenand aspirers achieve their goals Your appreciation, respect and solid referral is ourreward

I admit, I love all the goodies, though

They have success because teachers relate to the style of learning and believe that it is themost effective method for their students

Teachers are aware that students learn differently, process information differently, areinspired by different aspects of music, and have different goals In time, your teacher willbegin to know your child well enough to recommend which method is best for your child’sinterest and learning styles

Regardless of the method, all techniques strive to do one thing: Get students to play the piano.

With this explanation, decide for yourself what method works best for your learner Somelearning methods, like Bastian, Alfred, Faber, etc focus on note recognition and basictheory, intervals, rhythm and understanding how these elements come together to form thelanguage of music

These are “traditional theory/Learning” methods and most likely, the methods your musicteacher learned from For a few hundred years, these methods were the only way to teachpiano with consistent and measurable success

In a nut shell: These learning methods teach theory first All teachers will recommend learning the fundamentals of music because it has the longest track record of success and the basis of music knowledge.

The Entertaining methods are centered around gamification or story learning Thesemethods have expanded to include digital video games, creative and colorful websites, andfun activity based software that guides students through an adventure

These Entertaining methods effectively captivate students with compelling stories andcharacters, enticing and vivid graphics and/or settings, and solidify primary knowledge

Learning with this approach makes repetition effortless and makes for speedy progress.This method requires practice, energy, concentration, some memorization, and a littlemore time to learn because it is presented via story/gaming, making each concept longer topresent These websites, software or technology can cost anywhere from $99 - $799

If this sounds expensive, then you’ll be shocked to know how much private piano lessonscost (Check out Chapter 5: What is the average cost of Piano lessons? What can I expect

Ear Training methods focus on what is gleaned from listening to music and re-creating itwhile Chord Playing methods show users the basic chord foundation to begin playingaccompaniment in a matter of minutes

These methods provide a rapid level of success especially for those with learningdisabilities, short attention spans, or autism (Within the Suzuki method, it includes theinfluence and example of the parent combined with the creation of music influenced andfostered in the home.)

IVOREEZ does exactly that: Shows you where to put your fingers and when to press thekeys so music is played without knowledge

Playing methods like IVOREEZ and YouTube are the fastest growing methods, butbecause these are less traditional methods, you can find some teachers chomping at the bit

to tear these methods apart, eager to discredit them With equal gravity, you’ll hear praiseand evidence of success as to the simplicity and likability of these methods It’s proof thatalternative methods work for alternative students who have alternative goals

Suzuki is another great method for beginners for many reasons but wholly because it’slearning in the style they are already familiar with: the family It introduces them tomusicality over music theory The Suzuki method recognizes that children learn to read

after their ability to talk has been well established In the same way, children develop

basic technical competence of their instruments before being taught to read music

Let’s consider what happens when the student isn’t challenged, engaged or thriving by aparticular method They will probably quit