My Piano Journey

Piano recitals are a valuable tool for helping piano students to achieve their musical dreams. Too frequently, however, parents mistakenly believe their child's upcoming piano recital is some kind of an initiation test, and sadly project this attitude to their children. But nothing could be further from the truth. Here is the real truth about piano recitals parents need to know. Piano recitals helps children succeed in piano, because they establish a goal that gives students power and direction. What would it be like if your child could walk up to the recital piano and play their best simply because they know they can? Of course it would be wonderful! So why not let them? Here is the most common explanation parents give for not wanting their children to participate in piano recitals, and an alternative to this perspective. "I'm afraid my child will be embarrassed if they don't perform well." Okay, so you're afraid. That's understandable, but is it...

The advantages of taking summer lessons: Students are not in school, and there is more time to practice on the piano.  If summer break is only 2 months long, the improvement in skills on the piano should feel like 4 months. No worry about skill atrophy. The disadvantages of taking summer vacation: Skill atrophy during the summer.  Students typically fall behind by about a month from where they left off at the beginning of the summer.  Your teacher has to start from materials learned in May and slowly review them. The teacher will try very hard to bring the student back to their previous level of proficiency, but the experience will be frustrating for students.  The teacher has to help the student stumble through things that they used to play with ease, having to re-teach old things without demoralizing the student. Your piano progress will be 6 months behind those who stay for lessons during the summer months.  Those who stay are “+4”, those who take ...