Music By Art Scott

I am asked this question often. The answer generally is YES. You make your child eat their vegetables, you make them go to school, you make them clean their room, you make them do homework, you make them brush their teeth. Very few children know what is GOOD for them. This is why GOD GAVE CHILDREN PARENTS....to nurture them, love them, be their parent - not just their friend..... too many parents today are too worried that their child will not be their friend if they discipline them. Children yearn for boundaries even though they may act like that do not want them....they do! I think it is reasonable to do what my dad did forty years ago - a parent should have a VERBAL AGREEMENT with each child that they are going to take a minimum of one year of piano lessons. After that commitment is fulfilled, then a child should be rewarded and allowed to go on and perhaps play another music instrument. During that first year a child will learn many things and not just about music .... ...

I get calls every week from parents who are either looking to start their kids for the first time with lessons or they are contemplating switching teachers. I am always amazed when I ask a parent who is considering a switch of teachers and I ask them, "How Long Have you Been with your teacher?"....and I get responses like, three years, or two years. I explore deeper then and ask, what are the issues your having? Here are some common responses; 1) My child is not progressing. 2) The teacher yells and screams and my child. 3) My child is bored with the music the teacher is giving them. 4) The teacher is always cancelling lessons or not showing up. 5) The chemistry is just not good between my child and the teacher. The bottom line here if things are not working right, talk to the teacher and see if issues can be corrected. If they cannot be resolved, by all means stop the lessons and try out some new teachers and keep trying till you find the right fit. I...

Readiness is a very individual issue. Some children are ready to start private lessons at 4 and 5 years old. I base it on attention span....if mom, dad or the grandparents can sit with a young child and read a book for 30 minutes - usually they can be taught well in a private piano lesson. I does take parental involvement....a parent of grandparent must be willing to support and encourage a child and be hands on present for them during the first few weeks. Even just having a adult present makes a child feel safe and important; the validation that taking piano lessons is a good thing and that we hang in there and not just quit because it gets hard...we keep perservering and get the 'job' done. Never be afraid to try out a lesson or two and by all means try out several teachers and find the right person to connect with your child. You will know when this happens if you know your child well. Best wishes, Art Scott   For more information, see another of my 50 websites...