Three to four hours a day of practice is going to be typical for kids who intend to go on to a career in music.

I think it's advantageous for musicians to be able to play in different styles. However, the way to go about that is not to leave your current classical teacher. Instead, supplement with additional styles. You can do this in either a group or individual setting. Levine, for instance, offers classes in other styles. Many summer music camps will also offer electives in other styles. Your teacher may be able to make a recommendation, in fact.

Jazz improvisation is pretty typical as a first step for pianists. It's useful to be able to play rock keyboards as well, as this significantly expands possible opportunities.

Eventual auditions for university-level (conservatory) music programs are normally based purely on classical playing, unless the student is explicitly going to a school for non-classical -- for instance, if they are going into jazz studies, or attending a non-classical program like Berklee.

1. Music teachers don't make a lot of money, unless they have stellar backgrounds and have played for highly selective orchestras or other groups, or in the case of piano, have studied under renowned teachers and won international competitions (also valid for orchestral instruments). Teachers usually have several music jobs, for example, teaching at Levine, maintaining a home studio and occasionally playing for certain groups or in the case of orchestral instruments, being a member of an orchestra and taking students on the side. The mediocre teacher can make $50/hr on lessons, the principal of a major orchestra $400/hr.

2. The USA does a piss-poor job at educating kids in music. Some European countries like France subsidize local conservatories for after-school music education, where the elementary school kids start off with the three pillars of Western classical music: solfege (music theory), choir and an instrumental lesson. Which leads to my second point: I hope your child has started music theory and has spent a little while in a choir (since they don't get to be in an orchestra, they need to learn those teamwork skills). Or that they are shortly planning to. This is why inexperienced French music teachers are better able to teach than inexperienced American ones. A great player does not equal a great teacher, there is some serious academic knowledge and culture involved. Or should be! I have not been impressed by the average music teacher here.

3. Next stop: music summer camps (serious ones are usually sleep-away. A good one is Interlochen) and possibly AP music options in high school, or better yet, competitions, travel and recordings.

4. Finally: degree in music from a 4 year college, or music conservatory (push for college if you want a second degree as back-up, or anticipate a change of heart). Gigs around the area or around the world. Possibly Master's in music education, or related. The University of Maryland and Peabody are local stalwarts for that. My children's Strathmore Children's Choir director is getting a PhD in choral conducting. They are coached by someone who has a PhD in Musical Arts in Voice. The junior piano accompanist has a Master's.

This is serious prep, OP. Your child should know what they are getting into. Whenever you're at a concert, read the musician bios. Stay informed, talk to people.
As for the genre question, if they want to branch out, sure. It's a minor detail compared to the work they will have to put in to achieve excellence in technique, expression, rhythm, music theory and overall music culture (buy them a history of classical music for Christmas).

The kids I knew growing up who switched to teachers of different genres (jazz/blues, etc.) did so because the kids wanted the change, probably because the classical repertoire was not interesting to them. I'd let your child take the lead.

Anonymous wrote:OMG! I have an 8 yo who's finishing the third year of lessons and I am lucky when I can get half an hour of practice to happen!

Your kid will be fine. I have a 16 year old who has been taking lessons for 10 years, and almost never practices more than 45 mins a day. Usually closer to 30 mins. Your kid and mine will be competent casual pianists. The other kids are serious. There's room for them all!

If you're looking for tips on helping get your kid to practice, I was able to get more regular practice out of my son when I told him he just had to do 15 minutes with a goal of 30. It's the same thing I do for myself and exercise. I have to do 15 minutes on the treadmill, and once I'm there I typically do 30 - 45, but it makes it easier to get started if I know I'm just signing up for 15 minutes. My son could stop after 15 minutes if he wanted, and I'd consider that the day's practice. Typically, once he started, he did his whole practice.

Sorry for this tangent, OP. Sounds like you have some really dedicated kids!

Anonymous wrote:Our tween DCs have been taking (classical) piano lessons for 9 and 7 years respectively. We originally just intended this to be part of a well-rounded education, but the older one loves music and is thinking of becoming a music teacher. They've had two very good teachers over the years and occasionally place in fairly intense local competitions, but they study strictly classical repertoire. I'm wondering whether the older one would benefit from switching to a teacher who would expose him to other genres--would this be a good idea from the point of view of getting into music/music education programs later on or would sticking to classical be better?
In general, I'm also wondering whether it's better to stick with classical from the point of view of acquiring a solid base or whether diversifying is ok? The older one now plays stuff that apparently used to be considered college level repertoire but is pushed down these days onto younger and younger kids as long as they can handle it. Does that mean he knows enough classical to branch off? Or not?
The younger one is also acquiring other interests so I'm not sure about the feasibility of keeping up with the intensive practice routine their teacher requires, and I think she would enjoy learning other genres. At the same time, I would hate to cut short what has so far felt in many respects like a gold-plated music education.

Thanks for any input.

Would you be able to provide your instructor's info?


Thank you

As a musician who went to college on a partial music scholarship, I'm not sure why you would feel the need to switch teachers right now. I would let your children explore different types of music on their own and continue their present studies until a real for change becomes apparent. There's no reason they can't pick up sheet music or play jazz piano by ear, and that is in itself training of a different kind.

What kind of music teacher? A piano teacher? A school music teacher? There are many musical paths. You can't go wrong with continuing classical piano, but perhaps introduce exposure to composition and ensemble performance. Other genres might pique her interest then, and she can further explore those avenues.

I took piano lessons from early childhood through early college, and still play. Personally, I think that if you have a good classical background, you don't really need to cover non-classical stuff in lessons because nearly any popular song you'd want to play would be easier than the harder classical stuff. Any kid with classical training could pick up the sheet music for Adele or John Legend and play it. Jazz/blues would be another matter- the rhythm is different - but it's a smaller genre, and your child could easily take Jazz piano in college. I agree that you'd want to be covering theory, but again, this could probably be done in college.

I'm not a music teacher, but I was a serious student and had a friend who did apply for conservatory.

Switching teachers seems like a big leap. Is your current teacher unwilling to diversify? The biggest problem I have with genres other than classical is that a lot of it is adaptations and watered down versions. That's great for fun, but it doesn't add to the education. If you are diversifying with actual piano music, however, I can't see the downside of adding something else.

My friend's biggest challenge in applying to programs was lack of formal theory training. If you kid is really performing at the level you describe, however, I imagine that is part of the training. I be most concerned with making sure the theory is keeping up with the repertoire.

My five year old is studying with a pretty casual teacher. We have vague plans to move to her someone more serious in second or third grade. But even with just a fun, casual approach for less than a year, she's at the end of primer level. I don't think you can really tell which kids are truly committed and/or talented until you get beyond the lesson levels.

Curious what your dc's music teachers recommend?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a musician or teacher but I have a 7 year old who practices piano for an hour each day. He has been playing for a year and I was wondering what type of commitment is required for older students OP. He has a very serious teacher.

OP here. Our oldest practices up to 3 hours a day sometimes (like around competition time) with a few short breaks. He is now in middle school so when the homework load is too high practice time falls by the wayside. The younger one practices about two, but I figure even that isn't going to be sustainable with the other things she wants to do.

Thanks OP. Hopefully someone answers your question but I do thank you for answering mine and I will be following this thread too. Right now music is a novelty for our family. Neither my husband nor I have musical training and our son will finish both primer/ Level 1 shortly. Since my son is doing so well, teacher pretty much abandoned primer half way through the third set of books and moved to Level 1. He's learning one of the last songs in Level 1 for the recital. He hasn't yet been graded. In the fall, he will have his first graded performance. Everyone thinks he is doing great but sometimes it already feels like a lot of pressure so I wonder about the proper balance. I never wanted any of my children to do anything too competitively outside of school. I always wanted them to have enjoyable activities for enrichment but we feel like we are getting sucked into this world more than I would have ever imagined. I love that he is doing so well but I want to keep perspective as when he is an adult, I don't want him to remember his childhood as being " piano". Maybe as he gets older we will see that he is not as talented as we think he is now and that will be a blessing. I feel for you OP.

OMG! I have an 8 yo who's finishing the third year of lessons and I am lucky when I can get half an hour of practice to happen!

Anonymous wrote:Not a musician or teacher but I have a 7 year old who practices piano for an hour each day. He has been playing for a year and I was wondering what type of commitment is required for older students OP. He has a very serious teacher.

OP here. Our oldest practices up to 3 hours a day sometimes (like around competition time) with a few short breaks. He is now in middle school so when the homework load is too high practice time falls by the wayside. The younger one practices about two, but I figure even that isn't going to be sustainable with the other things she wants to do.

Not a musician or teacher but I have a 7 year old who practices piano for an hour each day. He has been playing for a year and I was wondering what type of commitment is required for older students OP. He has a very serious teacher.

Our tween DCs have been taking (classical) piano lessons for 9 and 7 years respectively. We originally just intended this to be part of a well-rounded education, but the older one loves music and is thinking of becoming a music teacher. They've had two very good teachers over the years and occasionally place in fairly intense local competitions, but they study strictly classical repertoire. I'm wondering whether the older one would benefit from switching to a teacher who would expose him to other genres--would this be a good idea from the point of view of getting into music/music education programs later on or would sticking to classical be better?
In general, I'm also wondering whether it's better to stick with classical from the point of view of acquiring a solid base or whether diversifying is ok? The older one now plays stuff that apparently used to be considered college level repertoire but is pushed down these days onto younger and younger kids as long as they can handle it. Does that mean he knows enough classical to branch off? Or not?
The younger one is also acquiring other interests so I'm not sure about the feasibility of keeping up with the intensive practice routine their teacher requires, and I think she would enjoy learning other genres. At the same time, I would hate to cut short what has so far felt in many respects like a gold-plated music education.

Thanks for any input.