"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything." - Plato

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Teaching Philosophy and Learning Practices

Is it important for my child to practice the piano at home?

I’m asked this question frequently. While it’s not a requirement for taking music lessons, I recommend it for the following reasons.

Students who don’t practice at home, feel ill at ease and frustrated during the lessons so their progress is minimal. They feel disconnected from playing the piano and eventually, they quit taking lessons.

Students who practice at home are more enthusiastic and make more progress during the lessons.

Practicing very little is hard. Practicing a lot is easy.

Some students practice regularly at home for 1-2 hours a day. For others, getting to the piano even for 10 minutes once a week is a challenge.

Here’s why. It’s related to the “second breath” in sports. For example in jogging, the longer you run, the easier it gets. And that’s exactly what happens when playing a music instrument. The more they practice, the more they accomplish; the more they accomplish, the more they’re motivated to practice; the more they practice and accomplish, the more they enjoy playing the piano and look forward to the lessons.

As in sports, playing a music instrument produces “happiness” hormones. Their release is associated with the second breath. And that’s the secret to why musicians can play a music instrument for a prolonged period, even though it’s considered the most challenging type of activity. The first 10 minutes are the most difficult until the second breath takes over.

What if your child has a short attention span?

Split the home practice into 3-4 times a day 15 minutes each.

2 common misconceptions about piano practice

Parents often expect their child to practice at home on their own. If their child is a diligent, straight A student in school, and can do homework on their own, parents may believe that they should also be able to practice the piano at home on their own. This is not true. School is mandatory and students are subject to peer pressure and pressure from tests. Piano lessons are optional. Students are not striving for grades, and they have no interaction with their peers.

Parents try to rationalize with their child. They explain why they want their child to take piano lessons and why they should practice at home. An example of this is when a parent tells their child they pay money for the lessons and if the child doesn’t practice, the money is wasted.

First, this is not a good reason for practicing at home. Second, we don’t fully develop cognitive skills until age 24. Depending on what the parent is rationalizing, the child may be too young to understand it or relate to it. So rationalizing is not only fruitless, it’s also counterproductive: the child may feel guilty and it can alienate them from piano lessons and from the teacher.

In fact, children learn best by doing an activity, rather than by listening to logical reasoning about it.

The best approach is to be positive, less talk, and more action. If you initiate a conversation about practicing at home, then make sure the child practices.

Children need your encouragement with home practice

Children are doing more than simply practicing a music instrument: it becomes a part of their whole life. You can use the practice time to connect and socialize with your child and have special time together. This is even more precious in our digital era when parents and children spend so little time enjoying each other’s company.

You can ask your child to play a music piece for you. Then express your joy at listening to them play. Soon your child will ask you to listen.

Should parents reward their children?

The answer may surprise you. Consider the following quotations.

“Do rewards motivate people? Absolutely! They motivate to get more rewards.” – Alphie Kohn, Psychologist and Author of Punished by Rewards

“Children have an intrinsic desire to learn. Praise and manipulation can only serve to stifle that natural motivation and replace it with blind conformity, a mechanical work style, or compliance toward authority.” – Randy Hitz and Amy Driscoll, the Authors of Praise in the Classroom

“When we repeatedly promise rewards to children for acting responsibly, or to students for making an effort to learn something new, we assume that they could not or would not choose to act this way on their own. If the capacity for responsible action, the natural love of learning and the desire to do good work are already part of who we are, then the tacit assumption to the contrary can fairly be described as dehumanizing.” – Alfie Kohn, Psychologist and Author of Punished by Rewards

The theory of rewards -“do this and you’ll get that” – is based on the assumption that children don’t naturally love learning, so they won’t learn anything on their own, and they won’t experience any joy from learning. Rewards are borrowed from training pets and they don’t have the same effect on people. In Punished by Rewards Alfie Kohn condemns the use of rewards. He proves that they’re the main culprit in academic failure.

The reality is that rewards only lead to the desire for more rewards. They can make the child dependent on external incentives, rather than following their internal desire to learn and be creative. When you give a child a reward for doing something they enjoy, it can kill their interest in that activity for weeks because it suppresses their natural love of learning, including learning new activities.

Contrary to what parents believe, the child sees the reward as a bribe, and they ask: “Why do I have to do this?”

Playing a music instrument is a reward in itself.

I haven’t purchased a piano because I don’t know if my child is interested in learning to play. I want to try 1 lesson and see if they even like it. What if they hate it?

Once in a while, I hear a fearful comment like this. When you dream of your child learning to play the piano, consider the following advice.

Firstly, never let your child hear you saying that you doubt their desire for lessons. Playing a music instrument is a gift and a soothing experience. It’s not to be hated. It’s an honor.

Secondly, students already learn various music instruments in school. If a child is learning to play a music instrument in school, why would they hate to learn another instrument after school?

In the beginning it’s just general knowledge. Piano lessons are very short and are not every day. Home practice is minimal. After 3 years, learning can become more rigorous and challenging: this is the time to review whether your child is enjoying playing the piano or not.

Lastly, if your child likes music and piano but still says “no” to playing the piano, find out the underlying reason for this.

The culprit could be video games. For example, if your child is playing a video game after school and you start talking about piano lessons or reminding them that it’s time to leave the house to go to the piano lesson, it’s like offering them vegetables (piano lessons) while they’re eating a cake (video games). Of course they’ll say “no” to the lessons.

Another culprit can be rewards. Using rewards to get a child to do what you want them to do, can undermine your parental influence and guidance. When the “terrible twos” are past, children continue to say “no” to almost everything. This is the damaging effect of using rewards.

Children are born with inquisitive minds and a natural desire to learn new things. The use of rewards destroys the true essence of learning. When children are not raised with rewards, they grow into self-motivated and self-disciplined individuals.

10-, 11-, or 12-year-olds have an idea of what they like and what they don’t like. 4-, 5-, or 6-year-olds may not: they don’t have sufficient life experience. For them, it’s best to take an experiential approach and let them try it. Let them know that piano lessons are a wonderful gift.

Of course, playing the piano is not for every child, but in my 30-plus years of teaching, I’ve only had 2 students where this was the case. If you’re still doubtful about the idea of long-term piano lessons for your child, I suggest you buy an electronic keyboard or an inexpensive acoustic piano to start with. You can upgrade later if your child really likes it.

To sum up:

• A music instrument is a tool for learning. The opportunity to play the piano at home fuels your child’s interest in lessons.
• Don’t use rewards.
• Be positive. Introduce piano lessons as a gift and honor.

Playing a music instrument is a joy and not a punishment. It’s in your hands to make your dreams for your child come true.

Classical music

What is classical music? The word “classic” means a musical masterpiece or a work of art of recognized and established value, characterized by lasting interest, and serving as a model or exemplar. Musical masterpieces often become classical several years after the death of the composer. Only true art is accepted by the following generations.

The earliest form of a written manuscript of classical music was the Gregorian Chant during the Medieval era. Prior to the 11th century, people memorized music and passed it down to the next generation by word of mouth. Some music was forgotten and lost. Thanks to Guido of Arezzo, music now can last forever. An Italian musician and monk, he is regarded as the inventor of the universally recognized system of musical notation.

Guido used musical syllables Do Re Mi Fa So La Si from the Latin hymn in honor of Saint John the Baptist. Their melodic quality is euphonious and pleasant to the ear; and therefore, particularly well-suited for singing.

Ut (Do) queant laxis, Resonare fibris, Mira gestorum, Famuli tuorum, Solve pollu ti, LabiI reatum, Sancte (Si) Johannes.

The Do-Re-Mi musical language (fixed Do) prevails in all European countries with the exception of England and English-speaking countries. Do-Re-Mi is also taught at the Juilliard School (the music conservatory in New York).

What music should my child listen to and at what age?

I’m often asked these questions. The answer is simple. Have the child listen to your favorite classical music. For example, if Mozart is your favorite composer, the child can listen to his music. In addition, consider the following.

Classical music is divided into several eras similar to art movements: Ancient, Medieval (mainly Gregorian chant), Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, Expressionistic, and Contemporary.

A child can start listening to music while still in the womb. An unborn child can hear and respond to sound after week 16. Studies show that polyphonic music has a significant impact on the development of children’s intellect and personality, both before their birth and during their early years. This is because of the complexity of the music’s emotional, intellectual, philosophical and spiritual content.

Before the Classical era (also referred to as Classicism), music was mainly polyphonic, involving multiple melodies. The simplest polyphonic form was a round (also known as “perpetual” canon). During the Classical era composers used harmonic musical language, involving a melody and a harmony or accompaniment.

The polyphony (often referred to as “counterpoint”) reached its culmination in J. S. Bach’s music during the Baroque era. Other Baroque composers are Vivaldi (the composer of the well-known concerto Four Seasons), Pachelbel (the composer of the well-known Canon in D), Albinoni (the composer of the well-known Adagio in G minor), and Handel (the composer of the well-known Water Music), Purcell, and others.

Below are some examples of music by J.S. Bach.

Piano Concerto #5 in F minor, BWV 1056

Harpsichord Concerto in F minor, Largo
Concerto for Oboe and Violin in C minor, 1st movement
Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, 1st movement
Concerto for Oboe and Violin in C minor, Adagio
Toccata and Fugue in D minor

Is Mozart your favorite composer? If so, enjoy the music below.

Symphony #40 in G minor, 1st movement
Fantasy in D minor

Baroque music has a powerful effect on children’s cognitive abilities. 

Learn more about Tanya and her piano teaching methods

Click on the link to read about Early Childhood Music Program for kids from birth to age 12 and expectant mothers.

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