For Parents of Piano Pupils: Do’s and Don’ts

Tips on how to survive piano lessons!

Do’s

• Be enthusiastic!
• Make it clear at the start how wonderful it will be to be able to play, but that music training is a long term process, just like school, with high points along the way.
• Anticipate your child’s ups and downs.  You may have to cajole them through the bad patches.
• Know when to help, when to support and encourage and when to step back.
• Stress that quality practice is better than thoughtless quantity practice.
• Keep your sense of humour when resolving practising issues.
• Always make it clear how proud you are of them.

DON’T!

• Ever belittle your child’s efforts!
• Don’t despair at temporary lapses in practice.
• Don’t threaten to stop lessons if they don’t practice. Learning piano is a long term goal and it may only be a temporary lapse. Encourage them to practise and ride it out. Otherwise you may have to carry out your threat.
• Don’t EVER criticize your child in the presence of others. Never make your child lose face. And don’t criticize your child in front of the teacher. This may undermine the relationship the teacher has been building up. Better to speak to the teacher privately.
• Don’t expect gratitude for having lessons. Your child has no idea of your sacrifice and it may be years later that gratitude is voiced.