Thursday, May 2, 2013

When To Start Piano Lessons

By Lori Buenavista


The piano is usually the 1st instrument introduced to a child. Learning to play can be fun and exciting, as long as the little one is mature enough to handle the training and materials. How can you determine when to start your child in piano lessons? While there's no one "right" answer, below are some basic guidelines.

Emotional and Behavioral Maturity

Several kids are ready for piano lessons at age four; others may be seven or eight before they're mature enough to handle the lesson and the training sessions necessary to obtain skill. Prior to starting piano lessons, your son or daughter should: have an attention span that allows for a thirty minute lesson, manage to listen to a teacher, take guidance and display proper behavior, be able to converse verbally, and be excited to master new skills.

Fine Motor Skill Development

Understanding how to play the piano demands motor skills that lots of youngsters under the age of 4 or 5 don't possess. To find out if your child has adequate development of the small muscles in his hands, see if he can: lift each finger independently of the others, print letters, use scissors, button a shirt, and hold a pencil.

Mental Skills

Actively playing the piano necessitates the ability to grasp some concepts that only come with maturity and age. The ability to recognize symbols on a page of sheet music and transfer the meaning of the image to a key on the piano is vital. Most youngsters begin playing "let's pretend" around the age of five. If your little one can assign an object an imaginary role, for instance turning a building block into a "car," then he's developed this skill. Your youngster should be able to understand basic principles such as "up," "down," "high" and "low" in order to start reading music and recognizing the different tones of notes on the piano.

Letter identification and early reading skills are very helpful while studying notes. The piano uses the 1st 7 notes of the alphabet; learning the proper order of at least those letters assists with comprehending the positions of the keys. The capability to count and keep a steady beat by clapping helps students learn the time signatures required to count out a rhythm.

Although some kids as young as age four might be ready for piano lessons, you need to consider your ability to help your youngster with practice sessions. The younger your child is, the more time and dedication you'll need to provide in order to make his training effective. Children who have started the first grade (typically around age 5-6) are able to read the assignment book and interact in some self-guided practice trainings.

If your kid isn't fully prepared, starting lessons too soon can cause frustration and can ultimately sour the musical experience. It's easier to wait an extra year and also have a child that's excited and motivated than to start too soon.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment