Your child is super keen to begin learning the piano and you’ve checked that they’re ready to start, but are YOU ready for your child to start learning music?
Being well prepared before your child’s first lesson will not only give your child the best start to their musical education but can also speed up their initial progress. Also understanding the more active you are in your child’s learning and the more encouraging you are, the better start your child will make.
Invest in a good quality keyboard or piano
It may seem obvious to buy an instrument before the first lesson, but in actual fact many children start learning without having access to an appropriate keyboard or piano at home. Some parents believe it’s better to wait and see if their child ‘takes’ to piano before spending the money, or even researching how much they’ll need to invest (including the extras of a proper stool, and solid stand for a keyboard). Without an instrument to practise on at home, your child will make very little progress between lessons. (You can find advice for buying a first keyboard, stand and stool here.) And if you choose to invest in a piano, make sure you have it regularly tuned.
Prepare a practice space
Ideally you want to set up the piano, or keyboard on its stand, and stool in a quiet space free from interruptions and family traffic, but not so far removed from the main hub of your home that your child feels lonely or banished from family life. The space should be uncluttered, well-lit and warm with a seat for you or another family member to sit down and listen. Make the space a place where your child wants to go and spend time.
Encourage exploration of the piano
Help you child explore the piano and start discovering the different types of sounds it can make (high/low, loud/soft, smooth/detached). You can do this even if you don’t know how to play. Notice the groups of black notes and how they are grouped together in twos and threes. Create your own music together, encouraging your child to experiment while reassuring them there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ when it comes to being creative. Make up music for their favourite animal or story or how they’re feeling that day. Give them suggestions but let them be the ones deciding – just explore and have fun!
Start a practice habit
If you make it a habit for your child to spend time in your practice space playing the piano every day (which can initially be just exploring and being creative) even before your child starts lessons, your life as a piano parent will be so much easier (and I’m talking as a fellow music parent here!). Decide, together with your child, on a fixed time when they aren’t tired or hungry and build it into your routine. The length of the practice time isn’t as important as doing it regularly, ideally every day. Also allowing your child to feel a sense of control by deciding (or choosing from some options) how they spend this time will help them learn the value of practice as well as develop independence.
Be your child’s biggest fan
Your most important role as a piano parent is to encourage your child. Show them how excited and proud you are of every achievement and how interested you are in their learning. Listen to their playing as often as you can and always say something positive after each practice session. Ask them questions about their playing: do they prefer playing fast or slow, how do they feel when they play, and once they start lessons, what do they enjoy the most about their lessons? Share their piano journey with grandparents or friends. Be genuinely interested and they will feel motivated and excited to show off their new skills.
Now that both you and your child are ready, all that’s left to say is ‘Enjoy your amazing piano journey!’