Does my child need to practice every day?

Yes!

Do I need to pay attention to my child’s hands when they are taking piano lessons?

This question is less of a question and more of a chance for me to say that students MUST practice and attend lessons with short, trimmed nails. Long nails will make good hand position impossible and will frustrate students in the long run, and frustrate your teacher in general! Please check your child’s fingernails regularly while they are in lessons, or help teach them to maintain their nails. If you are unsure about what this looks like, let’s talk!

Does my child have to attend group lessons / the recital?

Yes! Group lessons and recitals are opportunities for low-pressure, low-stakes public performances and I consider them an essential part of music formation. Students get to practice not only mastering their nerves and presenting something in public, they also practice giving feedback and support to their peers.

Does my child have to play at group lessons / the recital?

No! Being an audience member and giving feedback to your peers are hugely valuable skills that they will need to call on in many other situations. Don’t miss an opportunity to practice these! Your child will play when they are ready to play.

I don’t want to fight about practicing! What do I do?

Developing a practice habit is an important aspect of learning to play the piano. I can try to teach your child something new every week regardless of whether they practice or not, but please trust me when I say that the more your child practices, the more they will enjoy piano lessons. Success builds on success. I can’t promise it will always be easy, but I can promise that I am on your side and I am here to help you find a routine that will work.

Should my child do an exam?

That depends! For some people, exams and other high-pressure situations are demotivating. On the other hand, some people thrive on challenges like that and enjoy having milestones to work toward. Exams can be beneficial to list on resumes and higher-level exams can count toward high-school credits.