Daughter wants to stop learning piano

[Funz]

My girl’s (6yrs old) interest fluctuates as well. I started her on piano this year. Typical of kids, when she first started, she was very excited and will be at the piano every chance she gets. I have warned her teacher that she is a girl who needs to constantly learn new stuff. If the lessons get too repetitive she loses interest. But learning the piano is not just about recognising the notes and knowing where the keys are. There are the beats, and the nuances, etc and therein lies the challenge. To be able to master that, it takes practise. So far, her teacher has been pretty good at recognising signs of her getting restless or losing interest and she will start introducing new materials the keep DDs interest afloat.


Recently I saw that DD’s interest is waning again and when I told her to practise, she does but without interest and she keeps grumbling that she already know the pieces. So I searched youtube for videos of children playing piano and the next time the teacher came by, I requested that the teacher show her the different variations to playing that 1 piece of music. That kinda sparked her interest again.

By showing DD the possible outcome of what she could do if she manage to learn the skill that the teacher is teaching her now helps to motivate her. I acknowledge that what she is trying to learn now is challenging and it is ok to feel frustrated but I am sure that she will be able to get it. And imagine the music that she can play and create if she acquires this skill.

That said, your kid must have some interest in music lah. If not, her time and your money will be better spent in things that is of interest to her.

[mowmow]

tamarind:

If my kids say they have no interest in learning piano, then I am more than happy, don't need to spend the money.


Actually why does so many parents think that learning piano is essential ? I never have the chance to learn piano because my parents could not afford it. I may learn piano when my kids grow up. It is never too late to learn anything. I have no regrets. In fact, I am more than happy to just listen to music.

Only reading and writing is both English and Chinese, as well as all the subjects they need to study in school are essential and non-negotiable. For me, computer skills, not just knowing how to use the computer, but know how to write software using a programming language, is more important for earning a living. For me, piano is purely for pleasure only.

Learning piano is good to have but not essential. But if one can afford, it is a good interest worth investing and cultivating because I believe it enhances right-brain development as well!

[watmekiasu]

Funz:

That said, your kid must have some interest in music lah. If not, her time and your money will be better spent in things that is of interest to her.

Exactly! As parents, we try to expose our children to as many activities as possible including learning music. It is not an essential skill like reading, writing and Tamarind, may I add, swimming. Learning music is an enrichment. It is an activity that should be enjoyed. If interest is lost, it is not too late to take it up again at a later stage when interest returns.

My dd too, lost interest in learning the violin for a while, so I stopped her lessons. When her interest returned more than 6 months later, she appreciated the music much more than previously. Some changes were made to the way she practiced - practice on her own with minimal interferance from mummy, short practices 3 - 4 tmes a week. Practice time is no more a pain for both parent and child.

[Emelyn]

My 2 cents’ worth…


I don’t think there is anything to "regret" about if you don’t learn piano at a young age.

2 examples…

My nephew did his JMC when he was 4yo. but didn’t finish the 2 years. My SIL didn’t press him to learn since he has no interests. When he was Sec 3, he decided that he wants to take up piano. He did. And did very well in his exams…and my SIL NEVER had to remind him to practise. Also, he picked up Er Hu during the same time too.

My SIL just started learning piano at the age of 35.

I believe that if the kids have no interests in the classes, then don’t force them. Otherwise, u will be v frustrated with her/him for not practising, and he/she will be frustrated with you for always nagging…

Regards

[schellen]

red_ryder:

I'm in a chicken & egg situation. Some people have also told me that I need to get a proper piano to sustain interest. I bought one of those $300 Casio keyboards at home, and my daughter practices on that.

My DD has been learning piano for more than a year already. We only have a keyboard for her to practise on at home. She has not lost interest even when DH is very strict with her during practices. So I believe that sometimes, it may be the person and not the equipment.

[corneyAmber]

schellen:

red_ryder:

I'm in a chicken & egg situation. Some people have also told me that I need to get a proper piano to sustain interest. I bought one of those $300 Casio keyboards at home, and my daughter practices on that.

My DD has been learning piano for more than a year already. We only have a keyboard for her to practise on at home. She has not lost interest even when DH is very strict with her during practices. So I believe that sometimes, it may be the person and not the equipment.

It is never the equipment, always the person. Lang Lang started in modest way with a cheap piano but his aspirations took him far.

[metz]

ks2me:

It is never the equipment, always the person. Lang Lang started in modest way with a cheap piano but his aspirations took him far.

He did start with a cheap piano. But I read in his http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Thousand-Miles-My-Story/dp/0385524579/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256818507&sr=1-1 that his father was the driving force when Lang Lang was just a young child.

[corneyAmber]

chamonix:

ks2me:

It is never the equipment, always the person. Lang Lang started in modest way with a cheap piano but his aspirations took him far.

He did start with a cheap piano. But I read in his http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Thousand-Miles-My-Story/dp/0385524579/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256818507&sr=1-1 that his father was the driving force when Lang Lang was just a young child.

Yup no doubt he was because Lang Lang could not see the vision then and certainly to fulfill his parents'(both musicians) unrealised dreams. So was Mozart's and Beethovan's dads but it was not the daddies who became famous and well-known.

Nevertheless, it is still people, never equipment. No doubt they were the driving force but I don't think they forced-fit their boys to learn music, their boys had demonstrated special talent.

[watmekiasu]

ks2me:

[


Yup no doubt he was because Lang Lang could not see the vision then and certainly to fulfill his parents'(both musicians) unrealised dreams. So was Mozart's and Beethovan's dads but it was not the daddies who became famous and well-known.

Nevertheless, it is still people, never equipment. No doubt they were the driving force but I don't think they forced-fit their boys to learn music, their boys had demonstrated special talent.

No doubt Mozart and Beethovan had special talents but there were in fact forced by their dads, with huge negative consequences. Mozart's health suffered deeply as he was forced to travel all over Austria to perform, he was not close to his ambitious father and never lived up to his father's expectations. Beethovan's father was an alcoholic and physically abused him and his siblings. He was sometimes dragged out of bed to practice music till the early hours of the morning. His father wanted his son to be another Mozart. The physical abuse he suffered under the hands of his father may had been a contributing factor to his loss of hearing later in life.

[watmekiasu]

ks2me:

[


Yup no doubt he was because Lang Lang could not see the vision then and certainly to fulfill his parents'(both musicians) unrealised dreams. So was Mozart's and Beethovan's dads but it was not the daddies who became famous and well-known.

I find these words \"to fulfill his parents unrealised dream\" chlling. Apart from Mozart and Beethovan, I've personally met 2 young men whose relationship with their parent totally broke down because of this unrealised dream. One of them is my friend's husband. He despices his mother - all because he can never forgive her for years of mental and physical abuse when he was learning the piano. The other person was this young man that I met, helping out with a music prog. at the Esplanade He said he suffered through years of classical piano lessons and the day he passed his Diploma - handed the cert to his parents and told them he would never touch the piano again.