| Private lessons for children are the traditional teaching | | | | would have many piano students, but only a handful of |
| model for piano lessons. There are draw backs to | | | | them would actually learn to play well. |
| one-on-one instruction that parents need to be aware | | | | I have to argue with this premise. I don't believe it is |
| of. First, private lessons create a dependence on the | | | | necessarily true. I know from personal experience that |
| teacher that is hard for children to overcome, and | | | | many more children learn to play well in group lessons |
| second, they don't encourage children to develop | | | | where they learn how to go about taking responsibility |
| independent learning skills necessary to learn piano. | | | | for their success in a supportive, family styled and |
| Although it is true that private lessons have been the | | | | creative learning environment. The energy kids in group |
| norm for centuries, how many people do you know | | | | lessons share and the fun they have playing for each |
| who took piano lessons as children, but as adults don't | | | | other also breaks down their worries and fears about |
| really know how to play the instrument. | | | | performing that help kids go on to achieve their musical |
| Unfortunately a lot of excuses have been made by | | | | goals. Plus they are able to see that other children |
| the profession for this failure including a tendency | | | | face the same challenges in learning to play the piano |
| toward elitism, where only a few students are thought | | | | as they do. |
| to have enough talent to learn this instrument. But think | | | | The best time to give your children one-on-one |
| about it. Is there any other educational area where | | | | instruction is at home when they are young. Just as |
| students are taught only in a one-on-one situation? In | | | | parents can teach their children to read, parents can |
| every other educational area children learn best in | | | | also give their young children a solid foundation of |
| small groups. Here each student receives thorough | | | | musical language skills at home. Together with the |
| instruction, but then is expected to work independently | | | | benefits of group piano lessons using keyboards |
| within the group to master their lessons. The tutorial | | | | afforded by modern technology, many, many more |
| model of private piano lessons leads students to | | | | children are successful in piano lessons today than |
| believe that their piano teacher's knowledge and effort | | | | ever before. This is good news for kids because of |
| is more important than the student's. In the past, piano | | | | the overall educational benefits piano lessons have for |
| teachers have even tended to glorify themselves and | | | | children. So don't wait to prepare your young children |
| their enviable musical ability. They knew the truth - that | | | | with home music study programs for piano, and when |
| learning to play the piano takes consistent study | | | | they are old enough, enroll them in group piano lessons. |
| through years of experience. They knew too that they | | | | |