| Are you a mother looking to get your child piano | | | | few pieces, play together. It's a joy to be able to play a |
| lessons? Maybe you took them as a child as well, but | | | | piano duet besides Heart and Soul. |
| stopped as you got older. Or maybe you always | | | | By participating in your child's instrumental development, |
| wanted to learn the piano and never got the chance. | | | | you'll know when they're ready to be challenged. |
| The good news is that helping your child learn how to | | | | Consult with the teacher and discuss your child's |
| play the piano can actually help you learn the | | | | readiness. Hopefully you'll be ready to be challenged as |
| instrument as well. | | | | well. Don't push yourself too hard, though. If you feel |
| The most important thing to do is to participate. | | | | pain in your hands or wrists, see a doctor. |
| Passively watching your child practice or just listening | | | | You'll be gaining both technical skill and musical |
| while you do the laundry isn't going to teach you | | | | knowledge. You might find yourself exploring the |
| anything. Though you may enjoy hearing your little one | | | | classical section of your local bookstore with a new |
| gradually progress in skill, without participation you'll be | | | | interest. If you only know Claire de Lune by Claude |
| the frustrated non-musician that you've always been. | | | | Debussy, you might suddenly be interest in the rest of |
| It's time to step up, sit down and practice right | | | | the Suite Bergamasgue. Warm up your hands before |
| alongside your child. | | | | attempting the Menuet at full speed to avoid injury. |
| When your child's instructor is around, ask questions. | | | | Maybe you'll hear jazz pianists in a new way once |
| Throw your mind into the lessons as though they were | | | | you've begun to understand what they're playing. Or |
| your own. If you don't understand a particular exercise, | | | | you'll hear the Beatles Eleanor Rigby and notice the |
| ask the teacher to explain it again. Your child might | | | | shifts between E Aeolian and E Dorian in the melody. |
| need to hear it again too, but might be afraid to ask. | | | | When you start hearing music in a different light, you'll |
| Ask about different composers and pieces so that | | | | wonder how you ever lived without playing the piano. |
| you understand the theories behind the music. The | | | | Remember that your child will probably learn the |
| piano is a huge instrument, able to reproduce an | | | | instrument much easier than you. The empty vessel of |
| unsurpassed variety of sounds, so ask investigative | | | | childhood is a blessing in this area, so don't feel bad. |
| questions. | | | | Just learn to play for your own enjoyment. Find piano |
| Practice alongside your child. By doing exercises on | | | | pieces that interest you and play them for your ears |
| the piano together, you'll bond over the newfound skill | | | | only. Of course, if you're a bit of a showboat, you can |
| you've developed. You'll strengthen the muscles in your | | | | always sit down at the bench at a party and impress |
| hands and fire up unused synapses in your brain. | | | | your guests. Keep participating in your child's learning |
| When you've gained some skill and knowledge of a | | | | and you'll find yourself a new avenue of expression. |