Do I need a real piano for piano lessons?
There are many kinds of pianos out there that are wonderful instruments to purchase for yourself or your child. Many families that decide to get their kids involved in piano lessons start out with a keyboard. While this particular instrument is a decent starter instrument for piano, there are many skills a pianist needs to learn over time that require the weight and structure of a real piano such as how to use the pedals or key technique. As students advance in piano lessons, they will use more of the keys. Most keyboards only have 64 of the 88 keys that are on a piano, and eventually, all 88 keys will be used in various repertoire and will require the full piano to play them. It is ideal to buy a real piano before the start of piano lessons. Pianos can be sold at bargain prices over selling websites and apps such as Craigslist, Facebook Market, OfferUp, and LetGo. Another great resource to check out is this article. Although the first paragraph talks about a 76 key keyboard, you always want the full 88 key keyboard:
https://daniellavin.com/recommended-keyboards-and-pianos/
How much should I/my kid practice each week?
It is best to practice for the length of your lesson time for at least 5 days each week. This means if the lesson is 30 minutes, you should practice 30 minutes each day, and if your lesson is an hour, an hour each day. Practicing on a regular basis at a consistent time in the day is the best way to retain and optimize your music skills and get the most out of your lessons.
My child/I have been taking lessons for a few months and they/I don't feel I am making much progress or have lost interest in music lessons. What should I do?
It is normal for most students at any age to feel like their expectations of progress or interest have not been met within a few months of lessons or longer. Like any skill, music lessons are skills that take a long period of time to build a solid foundation and refine. Because music lessons bring so many benefits to people of all ages, it is strongly encouraged that you or your child continue to take piano lessons through this stage of difficulty so that you can reap those wonderful benefits that lessons give. Sticking to a consistent practice routine has been shown to dramatically increase interest and progress in music lessons.
What are some good practice tips for me/my child?
Like any other activity, practice must be part of a consistent routine to obtain the best results. Here are some tips for managing practice time and using practice time to your advantage to reach optimum results:
1. Find a consistent time to practice for 5 days out of the week: Showing up for music lessons is part of the battle, but the biggest factor in improvement is finding the time to practice every day and sticking with it. For some people, this would be in the morning while they are getting ready for work or school. Scheduling in a practice time before getting ready for the day or after breakfast before getting in the car or on the bus is a great time to practice early in the day and it will result in one less thing needing to be done in the afternoon. This time of the day is the best for maintaining consistent practice throughout the week. Other times in the day that show consistent results are practicing right after work or when homework is finished. This practice time is effective because it is seen as a small extension of scheduled events throughout the day and has been shown to be effective for many students young and old alike. Another great time to schedule practice time is before or after dinner. Many families with multiple children taking music lessons find this to be a great time to fit practice time into their daily schedule because while one person is practicing, the others are playing or doing their bedtime routine.
2. Mark practice times on a calendar or planner: View music lessons the same way you view other activities that need to be done throughout the day and schedule them into your calendar or planner. Studies show that people are more likely to get consistent practice in their schedule when it is marked on their calendar or planner. This also allows you to look at your schedule in advance and see which days of the week you can practice and which days of the week appear to be booked.
3. Remove any distractions: Science shows that people are most efficient at a task when they have removed distractions from the work area and they are completely focused on the task at hand. The same concept applies to music lessons. Allow the space for practice time to be clear of any distractions such as food, drinks, toys and electronic devices that are not being used for practice time. If you are putting your child through lessons, do not allow other siblings to do activities that could be distracting such as watching tv, playing video games, or being excessively loud in the same area that the child is practicing. For adults, make sure the practice area is quiet and request that people do the same while practice is occurring. It is ideal to schedule practice at a time when no one else is home. If your child is asking for time to play, watch TV, or do any other activity, make sure they have completed their homework and practiced first before allowing them to continue with other activities at home. This is a great motivator for many kids to get consistent practice in on a daily basis.
My child/I want to play/sing certain pieces. Why can we only sing/play certain pieces for lessons?:
When people are taking music lessons, their strengths and skill sets allow them to sing/play specific pieces that match. For pianists, there are many wonderful pieces to play, but they simply don't have the skills to play them yet. For example, if you or your child want to play The Entertainer but have only been taking music lessons for a year and are on beginner level books, you/they do not have all the skills to play The Entertainer, which involve more complex rhythms, notes, and stylistic technique that take at least two years for most people to learn effectively. For singers, their voices are individual and different from other singers, carrying different ranges, color, and areas of richness and beauty. Composers and song writers write music with these characteristics in mind, which result in some songs easily sung by some singers, but not others. For example, if a singer has a beautiful high voice and is a young girl, she cannot sing in a Barber Shop Quartet because Barber Shop Quartet songs have notes that are generally lower than her range, but sound very nice in adult, male singers.
It is the job of the music teacher to put the primary focus in helping musicians gain skills to eventually play and sing music they want while making sure it is suitable for their voice or skill level.
Do I need to tune my piano?
If your piano is brand new, it is generally suggested that it be tuned four times in the first year, twice in the second year, and at least once a year thereafter. For pianos that have been owned for a few years or more, they should be tuned at least once a year.
Do I have to purchase music?
Hannah Berlin Petry Studio has a library of music that is used for educational purposes but is not to be loaned out. All students must purchase their primary materials and some pieces may be copied and given to the student in various circumstances.
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