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[quote=Anonymous]I think how much theory kids learn is dependent upon the specific teacher and program.

For pianists, theory is practically built into the nature of the instrument itself. Some basic piano method books have theory exercises as part of the books, as a result.

For Suzuki students, theory, music history (the great composers and their works etc.) and ear-training are often part of the group lesson.

But I agree that individual private instructors may not give students a good foundation in theory and ear-training. This is one of the things that the ABRSM / ACM exam systems do better.

However, I think it's ridiculous not to make a 7-year-old piano student play scales. Scales are foundational technique and most pianists do routine scales and chord progressions, even at the beginner level. I would really question the quality of a piano teacher that did not instruct a child to work on these fundamentals.

In terms of practice time: 30 minutes every day is about the minimum necessary to make not-a-waste-of-time progress on an instrument. To make decent progress, an hour a day is necessary. Serious students will be putting in 2 hours a day. Students aiming for a pre-professional path will practice 3 or 4 hours a day.

You get the time by making it a priority and being efficient with time -- and often by splitting up the practice time rather than doing it all at once. For instance, if you need 2 hours of time: 15 or 30 minutes before school, to run through scales and other exercises (muscles are most limber in the morning, and this can be a great way to wake up the brain and body, just like a morning run). Another 30 minutes immediately after getting back from school. And then an hour in the evening, snatched 15 minutes at a time if need be.

Basically, a 2-hour-a-day student is making the decision to focus on just one or two extracurriculars (with music as one of those), rather than a bunch of scattershot things -- i.e. not four lessons in four different things that all have to be worked on.[/quote]

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