Are you glad your parents made you take piano lessons?

[Anonymous]

Do you still play? DD, 7, of course says she hates it.

[Anonymous]

I don't still play but my children do. Why do you want them to learn? I want my kids to a) be able to read music b) understand the way that sounds work and c) have a foundation so if they do want to pick up an instrument they have the basic conception of what it's about. They are little so I don't make them practice, they play fun music games (I can give you some links if you're stuck) and they like it. Their teacher is laid back and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I would also never make them play/want them to play in a recital at a young ago, if a teacher said "they should practice more" I'd ignore it (they are too small), we're not on the exam track and the only thing I do try and 'socially engineer' relates to playing lots of good classical music - not the moronic "dumbed" baby versions - so that they hear it.

The other day they were downstairs playing "piano lessons" and having a whale of a time on our long suffering family piano. I was actually very surprised at how good some of the stuff they were doing sounded. And I'd hardly put anyone in our family in the "gifted or even vaguely talented" category.

[Anonymous]

Not exactly the same thing but I know people who were made to take lessons or learn skills they didn't want to as kids. When they grew up, they were able to rely on those skills when things got tough (underemployed health care worker playing violin as a street musician; unemployed attorney giving tennis lessons; unemployed engineer doing plumbing). You never know how those skills will help you in the future.

[Anonymous]

Yes and yes.

[Anonymous]

No and no. It was the source of a lot of stress and arguing in our house when I was small, because I hated it. I never took to it, don't miss it, etc.

Are you laid back about it like 1:21? If not, maybe you could try that approach. If your dd already has a lot of flexibility about it maybe she needs a break and you can try again in a year or so.

[Anonymous]

Look how helpful they were on the Goonies.

J/k. My parents started me in lessons at 4 and I played until 13 or 14, when I finally won the years-long battle and quit. It was fun at first, but there waas too much pressure with recitals, some competitions, my teacher yelled at me for not practicing for hours every day, my parents yelled at me for not practicing at all, it became a source of constant pushing by my mom (on top of everything else, they accused me of wasting their money and threatened to make me quit if I didn't practice more, which I kind of wanted but I wanted it to be on my own terms), and I couldn't stand the pressure as I got older. I am glad they gave me the foundation, and the early years were fun. I just wish they - and my teacher - hadn't made it into such a battle as I got older.

[Anonymous]

Yes., but I didn't hate them, and the thought of quitting never crossed my mind. It was just one of those things I was expected to do. I did it somewhat grudgingly at the time, but I've started to play again as an adult, and I am so grateful for that foundation now.

I wouldn't make a child who really hates the piano stick with lessons, but if "hate" really means "doesn't want to do it right now," I would try other fixes. Is the lesson too late in the day? Is it preventing her from doing something else she wants to do? Can she practice in the morning instead of after school? Can you try a different type of music? Give up a couple of days of practice but stick to it?

[Anonymous]

Yes - glad my parents made me take them.

No - I no longer play.

[Anonymous]

Yes and I still play. My kids play piano, as well as other instruments.

[Anonymous]

Yes & still play. My parents encouraged but didn't push practice. I'm the same with my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't still play but my children do. Why do you want them to learn? I want my kids to a) be able to read music b) understand the way that sounds work and c) have a foundation so if they do want to pick up an instrument they have the basic conception of what it's about. They are little so I don't make them practice, they play fun music games (I can give you some links if you're stuck) and they like it. Their teacher is laid back and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I would also never make them play/want them to play in a recital at a young ago, if a teacher said "they should practice more" I'd ignore it (they are too small), we're not on the exam track and the only thing I do try and 'socially engineer' relates to playing lots of good classical music - not the moronic "dumbed" baby versions - so that they hear it.

The other day they were downstairs playing "piano lessons" and having a whale of a time on our long suffering family piano. I was actually very surprised at how good some of the stuff they were doing sounded. And I'd hardly put anyone in our family in the "gifted or even vaguely talented" category.

I like this approach. Can you post the name of your teacher?

[Anonymous]

Not piano, another instrument. In part yes, I learnt a lot, about different instruments, notes, music, singing (I attended a music conservatory). In part no, cause I can barely now play 1 thing on it. I always felt that I had no musical ear for it, and just did not feel it. At some point in high school I flat out refused to continue. In total, had 7 years of lessons.

[Anonymous]

Yes, definitely. I don't play much anymore - but i do play when I go home to my parents' house (who still have the piano).
I like understanding music, being able to read it, and to be able to converse with some knowledge about that particular subject area.

[Anonymous]

no and no

it was a waste

[Anonymous]

Yes, and no.

I was horrible at it and never enjoyed practicing. While I would pass a hearing test, I watch TV with subtitles. I am glad I learned to read music, it's allowed me to enjoy and appreciate other performing arts more than if I had no background at all. And appreciate my friends who do play.