Tag Archives: Piano

Understanding Teacher Feedback in Piano Lessons

Parents feel thrilled when their children spend time at the piano daily, yet often, something isn’t going well. They expect glowing feedback from their child’s piano teacher and get lukewarm.

The teacher comments on small achievements, but also on a surprising level of stuff their children haven’t learned. It’s confusing for both parents and students because one would think that just spending time at the piano is enough.

So here’s a guide to help you assess the quality of your child’s daily piano practise.

Why Kids Need Parent Involvement in Piano Learning

A piano parent once commented that I’m very unlike their child’s earlier piano teacher because I interact quite often with parents.

This student enrolled in piano lessons with me because he wasn’t practising and had lost interest in learning with his earlier teacher. Began lessons with great enthusiasm. Then practise began to falter. I called the parent in – to attend a lessons once in a way – so we could find a way to get practise going. And it worked!

Do students need parent support to learn in solo piano lessons?

The best way I can talk about this is with examples from my past teaching experiences.

‘What Helps Young Piano Students Practise?’

I’d like to talk about piano students who enroll in piano lessons with me for the first time and what it takes to get these students practising. Particularly young piano students who can’t use practise apps because of restricted or parent supervised access to devices and to internet access.

A Students Guide To Online Piano Lessons

The best set-up for online lessons is a computer or laptop with a digital camera and tripod. This isn’t workable for many piano students and students often prefer to set-up for once a week online piano lessons without much investment, using a device they already have – either cellphones or tablets. So here’s some ideasContinue reading “A Students Guide To Online Piano Lessons”

The Piano Practise’r’s

They go to the piano on days that are sad, On days they feel happy, or to let out their mad. On days that go well and on days they feel taxed, Because, most important of all – they play to relax. Listen to music for joy – not as homework. Different genres and stylesContinue reading “The Piano Practise’r’s”

A guide to buying a suitable piano bench

This post talks about piano posture, what to consider when buying a piano bench & where the Indian student can find piano benches to suit different budgets. Plus an easy low-budget solution for a low piano bench. Practising on a basic keyboard during the early years of piano class Many Indian students buy basic 5-octaveContinue reading “A guide to buying a suitable piano bench”

Coping with the overscheduled child in piano class

  I write this based on my experiences as a piano teacher years ago, and success working with piano students and families that were over-scheduled. This is a child who never has a weekday at home after school. Who doesn’t get enough age-appropriate unstructured play time that is necessary for growth and development. And whoContinue reading “Coping with the overscheduled child in piano class”

A tribute to Piano Parents

  I wrote this post at time when it was almost always the mom who helped with piano practise. The parent supporting piano practise at home still is mostly the mom, but these days I’m seeing a few families where the dad is the piano parent. Children love to perform and play. But many don’tContinue reading “A tribute to Piano Parents”