Who Should Take Piano Lessons?
Like many people, I often thought that I was getting a little too old to think about taking any kind of music lessons. Learning an instrument always seemed to be a thing for the young. After all, once you get a little older, it seems like there isn’t any time to learn new things. But of course, I was wrong. Anybody with a passion for music, no matter what the age, should consider taking piano lessons. And for those that have children, piano lessons can offer lifelong benefits.
Is Your Child Ready for Piano Lessons?
Now that I have children of my own, I would like them to learn to play the piano. The problem is, it can sometimes be a challenge trying to figure out when a child is ready to learn. A few things can help someone figure out if their child is ready to start any kind of music lessons.
- Attention span. My oldest daughter is five. She has shown me that she can sit still for more than ten minutes and pay attention to something that I am trying to show her. My other daughter is three and can’t sit still for more than a couple of minutes at a time. Children need to have the ability to focus, at least for a little while.
- Letters and numbers. Both of my daughters can recite their alphabet and count. This is important for learning music. Unfortunately, my youngest daughter cannot recognize too many letters, but my oldest daughter can. It’s important to remember that children are not just learning to play; they are learning the language of music.
- Love of music. Both of my daughters love to sing, dance and nod their heads to music. If a child does not show any joy of music, then starting them on music lessons might teach them that joy. However, it might also backfire.
Given these things, I know that it’s safe to start my oldest daughter on piano lessons. My youngest daughter may have to wait a while.
Are You Ready for Piano Lessons?
In the end, you just have to want it. My own personal path towards wanting to learn to play the piano started when I was young. I grew up with a piano in my home. One of the biggest upsets of my life is that I never learned how to play it. Now that I know that I still can take a short time out each week to learn, I’m going to go for it. In addition, learning with my daughter will create a nice bonding experience. Here are a few things to consider if you should ever question your own desire to learn.
- Play the songs you want. Some people really just want to learn to play a song or two that they love. I’m looking forward to learning a few of my favorites, so there’s some of the motivation right there.
- Relieve stress, have fun. The piano is a soothing instrument. It can help you get through or enjoy even more any mood that you are in.
- Wanting to learn. You have to want to learn. If you don’t go into it wanting to learn, you will likely not get any of the benefits out of it.
- Learn something new. I like to always strive to learn something new when I can. It keeps the mind sharp and broadens horizons. Some people pick up a sport or a skill, but I’m choosing to learn to play the piano.
There are any number of reasons you might want to learn. I want to learn for nostalgia’s sake. I want to learn to be closer to my daughter as she learns. I want to learn because I’d like to have a piano in my home that I can actually play. You have to find your reasons. Why do you want to start taking piano lessons?