OT: Help - Piano Lessons/Teacher

[princesssfws]

We just bought a piano for our 2nd grader and Kindergarten daughters to start taking lessons.
What kind of questions would you ask when talking to a piano teacher to find the right one for our girls? Are there different methods of teaching piano that might be better for my DDs?
I took piano many years ago because I was forced to, along with flute. My girls have asked to take piano and I want this to be something fun for them and not another thing I am trying to make them practice.
Thanks for any advice that you might have. I really want for them to enjoy this since they have been so excited about it.

 

[Bibbidi]

My daughter (6) started piano this summer in group lessons. We got the name of her teacher from my daughter's Pre-K teacher last year--her own children use this same piano teacher. I didn't know what questions to ask either, but the piano teacher had so much great information upfront, and where I had a good recommendation, my selection of a teacher was pretty easy.

Here are some things I can tell you about my daughter's lessons. The teacher said "this is supposed to be fun". She recommended group lessons until children are about 8 years old or in second grade--at that age they can focus on a 1/2 hour private lesson.

Her teacher used the "Music for Little Mozarts" books during the summer which teaches piano by the method of each finger having a number, 1 through 5 on each hand. The workbooks came with a lesson book, coloring book and a practice book. Now they are on to the "Piano Adventure" series. They also do fun rhythm games during her lesson to get the idea of keeping a steady beat while playing piano. They spend a lot of time now talking about quarter notes, half notes, whole notes, how to identify which note, how to clap the beat for each note. I would say it's a really well-rounded introduction into piano lessons. I am VERY Pleased with her teacher. It is $15 for each one hour lesson or $60 month. Money well spent.

I hope you find a great teacher for your children.

 

[Princess Roo]

I think it's most important to ask a teacher what his/her goals are for students your daughters' ages. Make sure you find someone who is interested in just making it fun and not expecting a lot of practice if that is not what you want from them. I would also suggest group lessons if that is what you are going for, or at least a shared lesson with the two girls. Piano lessons can get very expensive!

Another option, again depending on your goals, would be to have an enthusiastic high school student teach them. Assuming your goal isn't to turn out classical concert pianists, I don't think that the particular book series you choose to follow matters a lot at the beginning stage. I taught some lessons to young children as a high schooler until the children were ready to move on to more formal training, and charged less than half of what trained adult piano teachers charged. I would go to the child's house to teach and the mom was welcome to listen in as she wanted and didn't need to transport. It was a great deal for me, because it paid more than babysitting and looked good on my college applications (and was fun!) and was a great financial deal for the parents while they determined if their children were really going to stick with piano or not.

 

[Stephres]

I can't give advice about picking a teacher: luckily one of my good friends teaches piano. I can tell you it will be a lot easier (and fun) if you sit with daughters while they are practicing. It is so easy to get frustrated and want to give up and I know my son needs me to be a cheerleader and help when he gets stuck. My son tells people he hates piano lessons but I notice that when his friends and grandparents are over he likes to play for them. So expect some mixed messages as well!

 

[Bibbidi]

I can't give advice about picking a teacher: luckily one of my good friends teaches piano. I can tell you it will be a lot easier (and fun) if you sit with daughters while they are practicing. It is so easy to get frustrated and want to give up and I know my son needs me to be a cheerleader and help when he gets stuck. My son tells people he hates piano lessons but I notice that when his friends and grandparents are over he likes to play for them. So expect some mixed messages as well!

You make some very good points! My dd's piano teacher told me that I'd need to sit with her to practice--at this age it doesn't take long, about 10 minutes a day. She also complained at first (which the teacher warned me about) that she didn't like piano and it wasn't her thing, but I'll be darned if every day she was ready to practice--and practices on her own in addition to me working with her. We tried it out for the summer and told her going into it that it was something that was worth trying during the summer months and if she liked it we'd consider continuing in the fall. Obviously she liked it and now it's her favorite thing to do. Practice is key though, and that shouldn't be laborious either.

 

[Keara'sMom]

My dd10 has been taking piano lessons since she was five and in kindergarten. Her teacher uses the Suzuki Method (playing by ear using a series of method books), supplemented with books and duets that dd has to play by reading. We chose this method because she was picking out tunes on the piano pretty well by ear as a preschooler, and it has worked fairly well for her. My only hesitation, if we had it to do over again, is that she has been somewhat slow to master note reading with confidence, although playing band and orchestra instruments has helped with that. Suzuki is VERY parent involved--I am in the lesson with dd and have had to be with her during practicing to help or to guide. This has been okay, although dd doesn't particularly like any help from me with regard to anything! I'm trying not to help as much now, 'cause it's causing strife...

I would recommend asking around for suggestions. Perhaps your dds' elementary music teacher(s) could provide some recommendations. Do you live near a college or university with a music program? If so, that's a good place to start!

Good luck!

 

[princesssfws]

Thank you all for your replies. I guess I'll call around and talk to all the teachers. The piano salesman gave us a list of teachers in the area. They probably have a spiel prepared since they are also trying to sell themselves.
I really want them to like this and don't want them to get discouraged by the wrong teacher. I was forced to take piano because it is "good" for you and didn't get any choice of what I got to play.
I thought about teaching them myself the basics, since I do know that, but kids always seem to do better with an outside source.
We bit the bullet and bought a piano so if they don't like it we'll have a nice piece of furniture collecting dust .

 

[mickeylove2]

I was blessed enough not to have to find a piano teacher for DD6 because the choir director and pianist at my church teachers her and she has known me since I was a toddler and has known my DD since she was 1 1/2. But I will say that I love the fact that she teaches DD how to play by ear as well as reading music and playing, to me that was a big must. Good luck!

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I, too, did not like piano has a child. I suffered through about three years and then was able to quit. Well, we inherited the piano. We started my DS last year in second grade. I got his teacher from someone I talked to at my DD gymnastics' class. She is great!! It is so much different from what I remember. My DS is now in his second year, and we started my DD this year. I think you have gotten some good suggestions, but I want to add to make sure he/she clicks with your child. She makes it fun, and they are learning a lot.