 1. Question: Are private piano lessons the right musical choice for my child ? Answer:
 2. Question: How do I know when my child is ready to start piano lessons ?
Answer: Your child must be mature enough to read, answer questions, sit still and concentrate for at least 30 minutes. His fingers and hands must be big enough and strong enough to do the technical moves required in piano playing. He must understand that daily practice is required, just as homework is required for subjects he takes in school. 3. What type of instrument do I need ?Answer: A good quality acoustic piano is preferable; however, a full-sized (88 key) digital piano with graded hammer action and pedals is also very good. The student needs many elements that only those instruments can provide: touch sensitivity for finger strengthening, tone control and development of proper technique, a great staccato response, a wide range of dynamic levels for sensitive expression, and the damper and una corda pedals. Students are required to play on acoustic pianos at recitals, festivals and competitions; practicing on anything but a proper instrument at home will greatly hinder their performance. 4. Question: I don't want to buy an instrument yet. Are there any other alternatives ?
Answer: You can rent instruments through Jordan Kitt’s Music. Call 703-450-5398 to learn about the current rental and rent-to-own plans available. 5. Question: What brand of piano should I buy ?
Answer: Kawai, Boston, Yamaha and Steinway are excellent choices. In this area, Kawai pianos are sold by The Piano Company in Leesburg, Boston/Steinway by Steinway Piano Gallery in Tyson's Corner Center and Yamaha by Jordan Kitt's Music in Fairfax/Sterling. In upright pianos, taller models are the best choice. In grand pianos, longer models are the best choice. If you do not play the piano yourself, take an experienced pianist along or hire a piano technician to help you. 6. Question: Are there any books on buying pianos that I could read ?
Answer: The Piano Book by Larry Fine is the authoritative source on buying pianos. There is an annual supplement published that lists brand names, models and average retail prices. 7. Question: Do you have any advice on piano pricing ?
Answer: Piano manufacturers distribute their instruments through one licensed store in each geographic area. After you have found an instrument you like, check out-of-town dealers and compare prices. Bargaining is common and the potential varies from brand to brand. Pianos retain their value and some retailers will offer 100% trade up value if you decide to buy a larger or better piano in the future. 8. Question: How often should I have my piano tuned ?
Answer: The minimum is twice a year, ideally at the beginning of the heating and cooling seasons. The longer you wait to have a piano tuned, the more out of tune it has become. The tuner must bring the strings up to pitch. Piano strings always want to return to their learned position. If they have learned to be extremely out of tune, they will revert to that position quickly and it will be difficult for your piano to hold a tuning. 9. Question: What do I need to consider when choosing a teacher for my child ?
Answer: It is important, especially in the first years of lessons where habits are learned, to study with a teacher who has music degrees and certification. There is no regulation in our field. Unfortunately there are many “teachers” who have no degrees, have only played for a few years in high school and are teaching students to play by imitation instead of teaching note-reading and rhythm, without using progressive materials, and without goals or direction for their students. An educated piano teacher would typically have Bachelor of Arts degree with major in music or Bachelor of Music degree with major in music education or piano. A Bachelor of Arts degree is a liberal arts degree with course requirements in many subjects and a small concentration of courses in music. A Bachelor of Music degree is a music education/performance degree; most courses are in performance, music theory, music history and music education with only a small amount of courses in other fields. Good teaching is exceptionally critical in the early years of piano study, as this is when habits are learned and technique is developed. A good piano instructor will be well-educated and very focused on piano technique as well as note reading skills and rhythmic skills. A good teacher wants the student to eventually become independent, able to teach himself new music as an adult, and will give him the skills necessary to do so. 10. Question: What is “NCTM” next to a teacher’s name ?
Answer: This means “Nationally Certified Teacher of Music”. National Certification is a program designed by MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) to help the public identify qualified music instructors in their area. A teacher who is nationally certified has proven competency through testing and college coursework in the following areas: music theory, music history, piano pedagogy, piano performance, music education and business practices. 11. Question: How many minutes are lessons ?
Answer: 45-minute lessons or 60-minute lessons are preferable unless the child is a young beginner. During a lesson the teacher hears the student’s technical assignment and repertoire, works with the student on trouble spots, gives corresponding new assignments, introduces new music, and spends 10 minutes on sight reading. In a shorter lesson the teacher is forced to give small assignments due to time constraints, which will therefore limit the child's progress. Also, shorter lessons do not provide enough time for sight reading, a very essential skill. 12. Question: How much practicing is required ?
Answer: Students should practice every day, repeating pieces many times, stopping to work on trouble spots. Specific assignments written in the assignment notebook must be completed. The quality of practice is much more important than the quantity; however, a student should practice a daily minimum equal to the number of minutes in his lesson. One parent must be designated to attend lessons and monitor every practice session if the child is age 8 or younger, making sure pieces are repeated enough and assignments are learned thoroughly. 13. What constitutes good practicing
Answer: Students love to play through their pieces from beginning to end at a very fast speed. This is not good practicing ! Good practicing should sound disjointed. A student needs to practice one small section repeatedly, stopping to work on trouble spots, gradually increasing speed until the section is mastered. Students should also be doing the assignments written in their notebooks (counting out loud, practicing with the metronome, naming notes while playing, shaping the phrases, correcting details). 14. When will my child be ready to perform in recitals, festivals and piano exams ?
Answer: Every event is different, but in general, first, second and sometimes third year students are usually not sufficiently advanced to play in these events. Students need to be mature enough and comfortable enough at the piano to withstand the pressure of playing in front of a large audience. The student must also be advanced enough to meet the repertoire requirement of the particular festival or exam. Events that have many requirements, such as a piano exam, should only be attempted by highly motivated students, because several months of regular learning and progress are sacrificed for the preparation of such a program. 15. Question: How long does it take to learn to play the piano well ?
Answer: To learn the basics, it takes approximately 3 years, but only after 7 to 10 years of study will piano playing become a lifelong skill. Learning to play piano takes dedication and persistence. If you want your child to succeed, support them through the highs and lows of piano lessons. Let them know that taking piano lessons is a privilege and that you will let them continue if they keep up their good work. It is better to approach lessons with positive reinforcement (rewarding the child for good work) rather than with negative reinforcement (you won’t be allowed to play video games if you don’t practice). If you want him to become proficient at an instrument, don't let him quit when lessons become challenging. The parent must be in control of the child's musical destiny if they want him to learn to play well. Letting a child jump in and out of lessons, bouncing from one instrument to another, will only result in a loss of money for you and very little knowledge for your child. Musical instruments are not learned in a year or two. 16. Question: How can I get my child to practice ?
Answer: It is important to establish a set time for piano practice every day. Piano should be treated as another academic subject and practicing is “homework”. Piano practice should not be negotiable, just like homework in non-negotiable. If the student doesn’t practice, they will not progress. 17. Question: In what ways will piano study benefit my child ?
Answer:
18. Question: Will piano lessons contribute any weight to a resume when my child applies for college ?
Answer: If student has demonstrated commitment (taking lessons through 12th grade) as well as excellence (winning competitions and getting high grades in piano exams), piano lessons would definitely help reflect the student as a motivated individual. 19. Question: Do you write college recommendations for your students ?
Answer: I am happy to write a college recommendation for a student who has excelled and continued lessons through 12th grade. “In opera, there is always too much singing” |
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