9 years old boy wants to quit the piano lesson

[Blobbi]

piano24:

Yes, he likes to hear the music, I am not sure if he does not like to play piano or just because the piece is hard for him and he would like to walk away, need more time to find out. And I tried to inspire him a little bit more to motivate him, since I did not play any instrument, so really a headache there.

piano24, I'm not sure if I'm reading you correctly - you're concerned about your son's perseverance and discipline in the face of difficulty, and you'd like to look for a way to foster this attitude?

If this is what you're asking, then I think it's what all parents would love to inculcate! Playing a musical instrument is one way of fostering this attitude, although it's not the only way. If you're sure you want him to learn about perseverance through piano playing, based on what you've written, be prepared for a long drawn battle. But so long as you've got your plans drawn and you're prepared to dig in (I think quite a few parents here have advised that slowing down may actually re-ignite interest), it may just work.

Otherwise, you may want to switch tactics (or even work concurrently) with something else that your son likes. For eg, if he likes building Lego - you can dig out complicated projects and encourage him to complete, or go for robotics classes etc.

Either way, he will need lots of encouragement (sounds like you're doing a great job on this btw).

I'm one of those who took my grade 8 exam and never played a single note again if I could help it. There were years when I loved it a lot, but the last mile became too much of a slog, and when it came with coercion, my need to rebel took over :roll:.

[phankao]

Blobbi:

Either way, he will need lots of encouragement (sounds like you're doing a great job on this btw).

I'm one of those who took my grade 8 exam and never played a single note again if I could help it. There were years when I loved it a lot, but the last mile became too much of a slog, and when it came with coercion, my need to rebel took over :roll:.

I personally did not like classical music and lessons were a drudgery, but I managed to finish g8, not bc my parents forced me to, but bc it was expected of me somehow, that was what I felt. I did quite ok. I continued to tinker with the piano off & on in church choir and playing for church, but never quite practising again, except to play for fun.

After the kids were born, I didn't get to touch the piano much, until my kids asked to learn music themselves. Thankfully, even after not playing seriously for a good 6 or 7 years, I managed to pick it up quite easily - like how you can't forget how to ride a bike. I've mostly forgotten how to play the guitar which I used to perform alot on in my younger days though.

Interestingly, 2 of our kids seem to do well in music.

[piano24]

Blobbi:

piano24, I'm not sure if I'm reading you correctly - you're concerned about your son's perseverance and discipline in the face of difficulty, and you'd like to look for a way to foster this attitude?

If this is what you're asking, then I think it's what all parents would love to inculcate! Playing a musical instrument is one way of fostering this attitude, although it's not the only way. If you're sure you want him to learn about perseverance through piano playing, based on what you've written, be prepared for a long drawn battle. But so long as you've got your plans drawn and you're prepared to dig in (I think quite a few parents here have advised that slowing down may actually re-ignite interest), it may just work.

Otherwise, you may want to switch tactics (or even work concurrently) with something else that your son likes. For eg, if he likes building Lego - you can dig out complicated projects and encourage him to complete, or go for robotics classes etc.

Either way, he will need lots of encouragement (sounds like you're doing a great job on this btw).

I'm one of those who took my grade 8 exam and never played a single note again if I could help it. There were years when I loved it a lot, but the last mile became too much of a slog, and when it came with coercion, my need to rebel took over :roll:.

Yes, you are quite right , I am really not looking for his pass of the exam , what I want him to learn are perseverance and discipline, at the same time, enjoying the experience. Giving up the piano is fine to me if he finds that he really does not like it and he would like to do something else. But I can not see any sign that he is ready to take the perseverance yet in anything else as well.

I heard that some kids passed their piano exam and then never touched the piano again, I can imagine they should not really enjoyed the playing, but if you love it so much before, it is really hard to totally imagine the hardship of the last mile.

[piano24]

phankao:

I personally did not like classical music and lessons were a drudgery, but I managed to finish g8, not bc my parents forced me to, but bc it was expected of me somehow, that was what I felt. I did quite ok. I continued to tinker with the piano off & on in church choir and playing for church, but never quite practising again, except to play for fun.

After the kids were born, I didn't get to touch the piano much, until my kids asked to learn music themselves. Thankfully, even after not playing seriously for a good 6 or 7 years, I managed to pick it up quite easily - like how you can't forget how to ride a bike. I've mostly forgotten how to play the guitar which I used to perform alot on in my younger days though.

Interestingly, 2 of our kids seem to do well in music.

I think my son does not like classical music so much as well, seems he is more interested in the popular songs , Jazz or something which is loud, :lol:

[Blobbi]

piano24:

I heard that some kids passed their piano exam and then never touched the piano again, I can imagine they should not really enjoyed the playing, but if you love it so much before, it is really hard to totally imagine the hardship of the last mile.

Thinking back, I wonder if it was the piano exam itself that became onerous for me. I must have been in sec 1 back then and adjusting to a different perception of myself - older person with more independence, at least that was how I felt back then!

[corneyAmber]

piano24:

I think my son does not like classical music so much as well, seems he is more interested in the popular songs , Jazz or something which is loud, :lol:

Not sure if you are aware, the school by Yamaha next to Yamaha showroom in Plaza Singapura, offers jazz piano courses for kids. They mentioned that many kids who dropped classical and went to them blossom well. Perhaps you can speak to them and look for a switch for him to continue to cultivate the interest.