I have enrolled him in a music conservatory last April. He knows 3 simple songs, and he also knows how to read music. The challenge comes in when he will not play anything new or he goes at such a slow pace that he cannot keep up with the class. In other words, he is currently 3 songs behind. I have tried the following approaches so far: 1) asking him to play what he already knows as a warmup 2) playing myself and asking him to join in 3) providing incentives like ice cream if he plays for 5 minutes 4) removing mindless activities like watching television until he has had his daily session. I know it's been a praticularly bad piano practicing week because he has not had any television since last Wednesday. In other words, I didn't allow him to watch any television until he had even one practice session. Another part of the problem is if he has a break between piano practice sessions it's like pulling teeth to get him back on the piano again.
Actually, the conservatory said the piano is the instrument he should stick with for two years. He does not have the dexterity to take on another instrument at this time. The piano is the cornerstone of all musical instruments. Many teachers have said this. He showed an interest in piano when he was 3. It was my idea to channel that energy into piano lessons. It wouldn't even matter if it was my idea or not. I know of parents who get there kids into hockey or ballet or swimming lessons, and the beginning was a struggle. My own hairdresser got her kids into ice skating (to prepare them for hockey) when they were 18 months. There were many frustrating moments for both the parents and the child;i.e : they wouldn't even go on the ice. Now they are 8 and 9 years old and they play hockey competetively, and love it. My son's godmother started her son off with swimming. When he was around my son's age he refused to put his head under water. Now he's 12 and has won several medals.
I am not forcing him to do anything! This is about commitment, and not giving up.
Of course I let him enjoy being a kid and letting him play. There is a different between unstructured and structured play activities. There is nothing wrong with having goals and trying to reach them! Music is good for the brain! This helps him be a good student at school. He does have the attention span for that. This isn't about that. It's about trying something new annd sticking with it. I find that it's the same things with swimming lessons, or anything new. 5 year olds don't even necessarily know precisely what they want or they quit before seeing something all the way through. He was enjoying it for a while and was even proud of himself. We have run over a few rough spots. Of course it's easy to just give up! Why not quit? That would be less work for me!
2nd grade? Are you kidding? He is in a class with eight other 4 and 5 year olds. He is not too young. He has the attention span for it. He knows how to read music. He can play quite well. He's got excellent finger dexterity. I want to encourage him to keep playing. Some of you people are missing the point!
I'm sorry, but as I said before the piano is the cornerstoine of all musical instruments. At nearly 5 years old he doesn't have the dexterity to play anything else. Another thing is cost. We have a piano. I'm not about to go out and purchase another instrument, just so he may change his mind again. Sometimes choosing activities is hit and miss. Sometimes you do have to take the parents into account. Piano is one of the more affordable structured activities.
Can you please give me an answer that will help me to encourage my son to keep playing piano? I need encouragement, not ways to give up. Some of you have given some details re: what approach to use. Most of you however are saying to give up? Why? Just because the going gets a little tough. When I was 13 years old I learned how to play the guitar. I gave up when the going got tough, and now I am living to regret it. I work in a capacity where I could have played guitar for many underpriveledged people. I would have liked to have something to put on my resume that I knew how to play guitar. The same thing with driving lessons. I started and never finished them I am living to regret it now.
If you want I can give you an even longer list of things I have given up on. It's so d*** easy to just quit. It felt good at the time. No more pressure to do anything. What do you think it does to a person's self-esteem in the long run? Our culture breeds it. Kids don't always know what they want. They can want something in the beginning and then change their minds at this age. They are fickle. My son did this with swimming lessons and learning to ride a bicycle. He hasn't been in a pool since a year ago, and the bicycle I got him at Easter is still sitting in the garage.
Many of you people are parents of multiple children. Well, I am a Mom of 1 child. It is in some ways a disadvantage. Why not turn it into an advantage? I can make it my personal life's mission to help him excel. This is easier to do when you have just 1 child. A good chunk of my social resources can be poured into my son.
I'm not grounding him from the tv. I'm putting it off until he has completed activities, not just piano. When I ask him to pick up his toys and he doesn't do it, the tv stays off until he does. There is nothing wrong with that. It's just a distraction. It doesn't have any real educational value.I still take him to the park, read to him, and do puzzles, drawing, colouring etc. with him. He is actually a very bright child. He has a lot of activities to do. I have more toys, games and books than a typical daycare classroom. TV has no place in learning. It's either too babyish or too violent. He has an excellent vocabulary. He is one of the top students in his class.
We have a recorder. It's actually my husband's. He likes listening to his father play, but he only has a fleeting interest in playing. My husband tried to teach him how to play that already, and let me tell you it's harder to teach a 5 year old recorder than it is the piano. The recorder is something my husband will teach him when he's older. Art lessons? That didn't take. My husband is very skilled in art. He weven worked in the field professionally. We thought our son would naturally take to the art more than the music. So far, no.
So far, you are the closest to answering my question. My son needs to finish the duration of the course too. I will not bribe him anymore though. I may consider private lessons some other time. That was already suggested. But understanding the material is not the issue. He is not keeping up with his class because he's not practicing. The same would go for private lessons. He would still need to practice before he goes to private lessons. Private lessons are more expensive than class lessons also. I disagree with you RE: recommended age though. Many children know how to read at an even earlier age. Reading music is also simpler than reading words on a page. If you look at famous muscicians, i.e: Mozart. He learned at 4 and look at how famous he became. My neice learned piano at 4, and now she's an extremely talented singer at 17! She's won several scholarships. I think the earlier, the better. The first 6 years are when the brain develops fundamental connections.
But you don't start things at 6. It's accumulative.
Traumatizing my child for helping with piano? That's ridicoulous! I'm not even forcing him. The expectation is there that he practice, but if he doesn't end up praciticing, that's his decision! I have very narrow windows of opportunity to sit one to one with him to do anything, including piano. There has been various gaps in his piano playing in the past. When I worked night shifts I hardly practiced with him at all. Stop insulting me!
Traumatized? Give me a break! I wish my parents did not allow me to give up learning how to play guitar when I was 13. I wish they encouraged me to take driving lessons. As an adult, I would say I am more traumatized by them having given up on me than a parent who put a little pressure on their child to follow through. Anything worth going for is worth the effort. I don't see recitals, concerts as being a stress inducer. Music is enriching. It makes life worth living! My son does love music, but sometimes he just doesn't want to put in the effort, and that could apply to anything else. Not want ing to dress himself, take a bath, practice his letters,. Even when soemone enjoys something it could require a great deal of time and effort.
Oh, and BTW, when I turned off the tv my son didn't even miss it. He didn't complain about it because he enjoyed going to the park instead.
Oh, so your two sons play piano. At what age did they start? Yes, I also disagree with you too! I don't believe you. Why wait until later? Have you seen the research on how music affects the brain? My son is too old for pre-school music lessons. That's usually up to age 4. He has done something like what you said though already at an earlier age from 7 months until 2 years. There was dancing, and singing. The school went bankcrupt. . Why wait until 6 or 7 ? They start getting more homework at that age. It would be harder to get them into a routine. Piano actually improves study skills. The sooner you start the better.
The question clearly states how can I get my nearly 5 year old son to enjoy piano so he can practice more often? I never asked you guys to say "quit playing" did I? Some of you guys did answer my question. Thank you very much. I do like your answers. Keep them coming! As for the person who suggested I was rambling, I only added detail in response to other people's comments. It looks like you didn't even read my apparent "rambling" or you wouldn't have responded the way you did.
To those of you who said I am traumatizing my son or expecting too much I find that I need to keep adding more detail in order for you to get it.
Some of you guys make it sound like his life is filled with tons and tons of piano lessons and he has to practice for hours and hours each day. HE GOES TO 1 LESSON PER WEEK! I ASK HIM TO PRACTICE FOR 5 MINUTES PER DAY! WHAT THE HELL IS 5 MINUTES? THAT'S NOTHING! He is involved in many other activities, structured and unstructured.
To the writer who implied he is inactive: he has certainly got a lot of fun activities to do. He most certainly is not obese. He is far from it! He still wears size 4 clothing in the pre-school size. He is certainly not inactive! That is a pile of nonsense!
If he doesn't want to play – don't make him. For the love of God – Don't be that mom!