On the surface, the benefits of piano lessons are well documented:
Better math skills
Better handwriting
Better handling of tasks
These benefits can be achieved, over time, with as little as five minutes a day of piano playing. It doesn’t have to be more than playing about with a few songs, and then moving on to something else.
But there are more subtle benefits that a child experiences when they are lucky enough to have an inspiring teacher that fuels their enthusiasm.
The first reward is social. Have you ever heard the saying that “everyone loves a person who plays piano?” It is quite true, but only if the person playing loves it.
This can be as simple as a child plunking out Scooby Doo or the Star Spangled Banner, and being very proud of playing a recognizable song.
As soon as a child can play a familiar song, there is a rise in self-esteem, as the child becomes one of those people who can “play the piano.”
The second reward is maturity. A child has to repeatedly try a song to master it, and this teaches the child the rewards of persistence. A disciplinarian will mistakenly imprint the opposite message in a child’s mind, showing them that persistence leads to frustration and boredom.
The third reward is personal. A child sits for a half an hour with a piano teacher. A clever piano teacher knows how to use praise to raise the child’s mood and self-view. A half-hour with a caring, intelligent teacher is an uplifting experience for a child, for few children spend any length of time, happily, with a teacher. But piano music is different, and children are very susceptible to its charms.
The fourth reward is cultural. In this day and age, almost everything is digitized and sliced and diced and made easy. But the piano remains a personal struggle for anyone who attempts it. This teaches a child that not everything in life is automated and has bright electronic screen.
Ultimately, both rewards, the standard educational ones like math skills, and the subtly indefinable ones like self-esteem, are part of a positive piano experience for a child.
You don’t have to purchase a vastly expensive grand piano. Acoustic pianos are preferable to electronic ones, and you can find excellent rebuilt pianos to fit any budget.
My advice would be to explore craftsman-rebuilt pianos with a reputable dealer. There are very reasonable prices on these wonderful instruments.
In fact, take the money you save by buying a rebuilt piano, and spend it on a very good, caring and creative piano teacher who specializes in inspiring everyday kids in the piano.
The real reward of as parent is hearing their child playing the piano, enjoying it and wanting to find out more about it.
Imagine your child happily playing the piano, and you will know why buying that piano was a wise decision.
By John Aschenbrenner Copyright 2008 Walden Pond Press All Rights Reserved
See also HOW TO FIND A GOOD PIANO TEACHER
See also HOW TO BUY AN INEXPENSIVE PIANO OR KEYBOARD
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