The Parent's Guide to Piano

A Comprehensive Guide to Music Education

Early Childhood Music

"The fate of a child is in the hands of his parents"
---Shinichi Suzuki





Music is a Language

All children speak languages. They listen to their parents voices and then imitate them using their own voices. After years of relentless attempts to communicate, and countless corrections, they eventually master speech.

Music is no different.

To master music, a child must be exposed to it every day. They must absorb it through listening. Only after sufficient exposure will they develop the tools needed to communicate naturally through music.

The more a child hears good quality music, the more often they will attempt to imitate it.



Communicating Through Sound

To increase the child's chance of succeeding at music they need to be exposed to good quality music on a regular basis. So how can this be done?

Here is a list of ideas.

• Sing songs, lullabies and the alphabet.
• Play recordings of great artists.
• Encourage them to watch musicians at work.
• Play musical games.
• Let them play instruments.
• Hum or whistle simple melodies to them.
• Host "living room" concerts.
• Encourage creative musical activities.
• Use music as a tool for communication or as a supplement to other activities.

The more exposure the child has to good quality music, the better.


You can also:

• Attend childrens concerts.
• Sign up for early childhood music classes.
• Seek out interactive musical entertainment.
• Host family or neighbourhood sing-alongs, jam sessions, recitals and concerts in your home.

Approach the Piano

Your son or daughter should become familiar with the piano as soon as possible. Have them sit with you at the piano. Let them touch and press the keys. Let them be free at the piano. Don't correct them at this early stage or they may feel burdened by the instrument.

When they are ready and willing, gently show them how to depress one key at a time. Do this repeatedly every day and multiple times a day and they will grow more and more attached to the instrument. Do not force the child to sit at the piano if they do not want to be there.

The best way for a young child to learn music is through imitation. Even if you don't know how to play music, attempt to have them imitate you depressing one of the keys repeatedly in a rhythmic fashion.

Sitting at the piano should be a joyous event. You should be smiling, singing and laughing with them - showing them how fun it truly is. Its always playtime when you sit at the piano with a youngster who is just beginning. Otherwise, the child will not associate the piano with joyous experiences.

If the child is begging to be lifted up to the piano bench, that is a good sign!



Integrate Music and Playtime

I can recall taking care of my cousin's four-year old one afternoon and successfully integrating six separate trips to the piano in the span of one hour. Each trip generated more enthusiasm than the last because we had successfully integrated the piano with our other play activities.

The piano was just as fun as everything else we were doing that afternoon and the prospect of learning how to play a simple song was very exciting.

At each trip to the piano he would learn a new note from the melody and as a result learnt "Jingle Bells" in the right hand.

But most importantly he had gained the knowledge and confidence that he could in fact play the piano. As a result I could see his growing attachment to the piano and to music.

Put music in your childs heart.



"From an early age, I was taught to approach the keys very delicately on the keyboard and to feel all the subtle differences between the various touches"
---Bella Davidovich


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