Few days ago, I had a piano teacher voicing out her problem to me, she always used to assume that there was a piano in the house when she signed up a new student. She never even thought to ask the question when a parent was calling to enroll their child. Then after a few weeks of struggle, she might stress again that they should be practicing at least 5 days a week. And she start to ask how they plan their practice time out of the day and ask them to fill out a practice chart.
Much to her surprise, every now and then, a student would tell her, they didn't have a piano. They might say that a neighbor allows them to go over whenever they want to play their piano or they can play when they go to grandparents house. Believe it or not, once a student told her, "Well, I don't have a piano, but I have been practicing on a PC keyboard." I think at that time my jaw dropped to the floor. Infact she had the same reaction like mine, she told me when she got her composure back. She went into a long explanation of hand position, body position, learning where the keys are, touch and technique to the kid's parents. And what about hearing the music they were producing? She always wondered why these parents wanted their children to learn. Needless to say, She asked this child to come back when she could find a piano that she could afford.
Now there is another problem to deal with. The electronic keyboard , digital piano or a synthesizer. Although it does have it's purpose and is now considered a true instrument, unless a teacher knows what he or she is dealing with, it can be a problem. Yes, the keys look alike and they have the same names. And what about the damper pedal? If you have a professional model with the same touch as a piano it's not so bad, but it still is not a piano. And most people buy the cheaper versions for their children to start on, thinking if the child shows promise, they will spend more money next time. But how will they ever know if he/she has promise or not since there really is no way to compare the two instruments? I think the wonder of the piano is that you can control the sound without electronics. What a concept!! Something foreign to the new generation. You must put your soul into the music and then miraculous sounds and feelings come out through your fingers. It's just like caressing a baby's soft, warm, head or touching the face of someone you love. The feeling is incredible. Unfortunately, in my opinion, you'll never experience that through electronics.
So next time, you take on a new student, remember to ask if there is a piano in the house. If not, refer them to the nearest piano store. I might also suggest renting a piano for a few months until a decision is made. But after 6 months, a child needs the real thing, a piano.
Much to her surprise, every now and then, a student would tell her, they didn't have a piano. They might say that a neighbor allows them to go over whenever they want to play their piano or they can play when they go to grandparents house. Believe it or not, once a student told her, "Well, I don't have a piano, but I have been practicing on a PC keyboard." I think at that time my jaw dropped to the floor. Infact she had the same reaction like mine, she told me when she got her composure back. She went into a long explanation of hand position, body position, learning where the keys are, touch and technique to the kid's parents. And what about hearing the music they were producing? She always wondered why these parents wanted their children to learn. Needless to say, She asked this child to come back when she could find a piano that she could afford.
Now there is another problem to deal with. The electronic keyboard , digital piano or a synthesizer. Although it does have it's purpose and is now considered a true instrument, unless a teacher knows what he or she is dealing with, it can be a problem. Yes, the keys look alike and they have the same names. And what about the damper pedal? If you have a professional model with the same touch as a piano it's not so bad, but it still is not a piano. And most people buy the cheaper versions for their children to start on, thinking if the child shows promise, they will spend more money next time. But how will they ever know if he/she has promise or not since there really is no way to compare the two instruments? I think the wonder of the piano is that you can control the sound without electronics. What a concept!! Something foreign to the new generation. You must put your soul into the music and then miraculous sounds and feelings come out through your fingers. It's just like caressing a baby's soft, warm, head or touching the face of someone you love. The feeling is incredible. Unfortunately, in my opinion, you'll never experience that through electronics.
So next time, you take on a new student, remember to ask if there is a piano in the house. If not, refer them to the nearest piano store. I might also suggest renting a piano for a few months until a decision is made. But after 6 months, a child needs the real thing, a piano.
