When it comes to finding the right age to learn piano, there is no definite answer to it. It is because there is no definite age for starting to learn any instrument or particularly piano. For a child or a person to begin learning to play piano, the first signs should be interest and willingness. In case of children, it is parents or guardians who are to analyze your child’s interest in piano lessons. If you child is showing a desire and is happy to sit on piano for some minutes, it is a sign that he/she is ready for a head start simple lesson. However remember that you should not be imposing or bombarding it on your child with all the information thrown on him at once, giving piano lessons to a pre-school aged child is something that requires proper planning and techniques by giving a little information at a time according to caliber of your child.
Teaching your Pre-Schooled Child to play Piano:
Your pre-school aged child has small hands. If you find that your child is uncomfortable with positioning of hands and fingers over piano, you may need to wait some time for their hands to grow a bit more.
Note: It is important to realize that your child would be able to take in a small amount of beginner knowledge at a time so do not give him all the information at once or you may end up confusing or demotivating him.
First Goal:
Your first goal as a teacher or parent is to make your preschooler think that playing piano is one of the most interesting things to do. In the beginning you should not be focused on success of a lesson but should be concerned about making a lesson more of a fun thing for the child. His first experience should be a good one or in fact a great one.
First Piano Lessons:
A series of theories or lectures or books may get him bored at once. So for a pre-school aged child, you may need to disguise his beginning lessons in the form of some games or activities. First lessons would be based on building and strengthening memory with recognition of notes. Co-ordination should also be introduced but only in the most entertaining way so that they don’t get irritated. Going easy and simple on basics would not only lay foundation for a confident pianist but it would also make it more of a fun learning experience for both teacher and the student. Researches have proved that one to one piano lessons give a more successful result as compared to a class environment. Your child will learn quicker and it would nurture his love for the instrument.
Preschoolers are in the phase of getting introduced with letters and numbers and thus they will be able to understand simple tasks well. Your piano can also help preschoolers to gain identification of numbers and letters and this would give them more confidence over this instrument.
Moreover with piano lessons, you can also introduce to them concepts of left and right, up and down and other cognitive and motor skills. Children would find these ideas more interesting if you present them in the form of games. Getting them interactive with the instrument would encourage them to learn more.
Learning would be easier for those children who can identify symbols for numbers; it would give their confidence a boost. They will be more motivated towards learning complex things in future. During the first piano lessons, it would not be right to expect your child to read music sheets. Remember that they are kids and they are to be expected to behave like kids. Your first lessons and thereafter should have creativity, entertainment, humor and a lot more to keep them engaged. Also remember that you would need to keep patience and make continuous efforts with them for improvement.
Do not force child!
If your preschooler student is only spending a few minutes of his day over piano, it would be beneficial for him. Do not force him to keep on playing longer. A preschooler who is learning piano would give you impressive results of improvement in mathematics and hand writing.
Key Points to Check Readiness of your Preschooler:
Not all preschoolers can turn out to be ready for taking basic piano lessons. All the kids are different and this is the reason why there is no definite age for learning to play piano. Here is a checklist to find out whether your child is ready to begin or not.
- Your preschooler must have basic understanding of numbers, letters and symbols.
- Finger dexterity is important. Make sure that your child is able to move fingers independent of other.
- The child should be emotionally ready for taking piano lessons.
- He/she should be mature enough emotionally and should be comfortable with a teacher without availability of one of the parent.
- He/she is capable of carrying out simple tasks on their own without getting frustrated.
Some Key Tips for Parents for Selecting a Piano Teacher:
Having a good teacher is the most important aspect of piano lessons for kids. Below mentioned are some tips that would make piano lessons much fun and easier for your preschooler.
- The teacher should not be a stern person but more of a talented, fun loving and kind teacher. He/she should have enough patience to deal with a preschooler.
- Teacher should be able to capture child’s interest.
- One to one individual piano lessons would be more successful than working in a group.
Conclusion
The prime factor that would enable you win the half battle would be making first experience of a preschooler over piano, a happy one. If you are unsure about your child’s readiness or are unable to find a professional talented fun teacher, you should delay first piano lessons of your child. The reason is that once a child summarizes that piano is not a fun thing or that it is difficult and he/she couldn’t do it; it would then become most difficult to renew his interest. So the bottom line is first piano experience of a preschooler should be great.
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