Quit piano?

[Anonymous]

At what age did you let your kids quit something they didn't love? They are pretty good at it, so I'm having trouble letting go.

[Anonymous]

No specific age but in general I don't force my kids to do something they hate (but those things have been few and far between)

[Anonymous]

10.

I let kids quit when they have ho early relief something and don’t want to do it anymore. We finish the session/season if relevant, but that’s it.

My kid who hated piano has now switched to trumpet and loves school band and his private lessons. I want him to love music, not be good at it, and quitting piano helped him love music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10.

I let kids quit when they have really tried something and don’t want to do it anymore. We finish the session/season if relevant, but that’s it.

My kid who hated piano has now switched to trumpet and loves school band and his private lessons. I want him to love music, not be good at it, and quitting piano helped him love music.

[Anonymous]

I was on the verge of letting my 5th grader quit (he has been playing since kindergarten). He doesn’t hate piano but he does hate practicing, whereas his sister has grown to like practicing or at least not hate it. But then he decided that he wanted to continue. Now he’s back to hating practicing and regrets not taking my offer to let him quit, but the tuition has been paid for the year. We will continue this year and then quit if his attitude toward practicing doesn’t turn around. He has other meaningful activities now, and I’ve tried my best to provide a strong foundation in music. He’s not interested in trying another instrument. I understand the reluctance to let go when you have invested so much, but it’s a sunk cost.

[Anonymous]

I never wanted to quit until just after 9th grade, myself.

If a kid wants to quit, let them (reasonable to ask them to push through paid lessons or seasons).

I never ever remember wanting to quit piano for a second. Like I said until 9th. Embarrassed that this older boy had to drop me off back at home for my piano lesson.

[Anonymous]

Maybe let the teacher be the guide, as to: is the student practicing enough? Is the student making enough progress? At this time. If interest was there before, but has dropped off, maybe it's still ok to continue. In some cases some involvement in the activity may be better than none. Trick is, the teacher has to agree that the amount of effort and progress is ok. Under no conditions can the teacher berate the student. It has to remain a positive experience.

[Anonymous]

OP, DD who quit piano after taking for many years, then joined band. Chose an instrument rather randomly. Due to years of musical training, once she mastered technique, she advanced in one year from Beginning Band to Symphonic Band (the highest HS level).

Never would have happened if she hadn't had her piano training to start.

[Anonymous]

decrease the frequency of lessons?

[Anonymous]

Whenever they want, provided they finish what we've paid for, and they can tell me how they'll productively use that newly free time.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the kid. One I told to keep at it until 9th grade and then they could choose, and they chose to continue. The other just flat out refused at a much earlier age and I ended up choosing not to fight that particular battle.

[Anonymous]

I guess I don't understand why it's worth to push a teen to do something that they hate. We have to push them in other ways--homework, standardized tests, college readiness, chores, waking up early for school--why should they spend their free time doing an activity they actively dislike? At this stage, is it worth the battle? Not saying they get to give up and just play video games after school but maybe let them choose another activity that they will enjoy and may gain a new skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10.

I let kids quit when they have ho early relief something and don’t want to do it anymore. We finish the session/season if relevant, but that’s it.

My kid who hated piano has now switched to trumpet and loves school band and his private lessons. I want him to love music, not be good at it, and quitting piano helped him love music.

This. My kids played since they were 3 and I told them when they can sight read easy pieces they can quit. It happens around 10 for kids who don't like it and don't practice very much. Plus in middle school there are so many more things to occupy their time. I don't force my kids to do or be good at anything though. I'm not caught up in the excel at everything competition that seems so prevalent these days. My kids are good but not great at lots if things.

[Anonymous]

I am great at a lot of things I don’t enjoy. If it were me, I would let my kid quit. Kid learned how to play, that’s an accomplishment. Why force anyone to do an extracurricular they don’t enjoy. Life is too short.

[Anonymous]

They are not going to be a musician, so what’s the point of continuing?