Has anyone successfully taught their child to play the piano?

11 replies

tabbycat7 · 20/05/2010 17:52

DS1 is 4.8 and has said that he wants to play the piano. I think he might be a bit young for formal lessons, he's a September baby so not at school yet. He sings very well and we have a piano (I got to about grade 6/7) and I'd like to teach him without it becoming to much of a serious kind of thing. I want him to learn in a fun sort of way, learning things by ear to start with and not too much boring or methodical stuff (I know he will have to do this at some point, but I had issues with a teacher who was obsessed with grade exams and theory exams when I just wanted to play the thing!). I don't really know where to start. Any tips/ experiences please!

OP posts:

islandofsodor · 20/05/2010 18:47

Yes, I began teaching dd when she was aged about 6. I had been teaching her the recorder from about a year previously. I did it myself as she was already doing a lot of dance/drama activities including exams and I didn't want the pressure of formal lessons.

I did Grade 8 myself followed by a music degree (but with voice as my instrument). I used the Piano Time book by Pauline Hall but that would be too old for a year old. It is a touch on the young side, I would wait if possible until he has started to read fairly confidently.

sunnydelight · 21/05/2010 06:21

I'm hoping to do this (got a new piano today and it's being tuned as I type!). I have heard that the "Bastien method" is good for kids so that's what I'm going for (my kids are 7 and 11 though so older than your DS). I did grade 8 so it shouldn't be beyond me as long as I have the patience

thirtyfivepence · 23/05/2010 21:43

Hal Leonard Piano Lesson book 1 is excellent for young children as it teaches one thing per page, but has such fun accompaniments for the teacher/parent that children want to play the pieces again and again. It also keeps moving the hands so that the thumb isn't always on C which is great for later.

I have taught many a child, but sadly not ds who I think is so sick of hearing all the early piano pieces that he is already over it.

hatwoman · 27/05/2010 17:53

dd has pretty much taught herself - she had a few weeks of formal lessons aged about 8 which she hated. then after nearly a year or so she picked up the Pauline Hall book and started working her way through it. I've asked if she wants lessons and she's adamant she doesn't. I bought her the second Pauline Hall book and she's going through that now. she plays every day - without fail, completely of her own accord and totally for enjoyment. sometimes she needs a bit of help but I only give it if asked. and she's quite possibly picking up bad habits. but she's enjoying it and improving. doubt she'll ever do grade 8 (or any grades for that matter) but I expect she'll pick up a decent little repertoire of tunes she enjoys. at age 4 I'd just encourage "playing" iyswim.

UptoapointLordCopper · 15/06/2010 10:35

Very interested in this thread - I proposed to DS1 (6yo) that I should teach him to play the piano in the summer and he agreed. I'm going to try a combination of a piano book and learning by ear. Hatwoman - great to hear that DD teaches herself. That's the best way to learn, I think!

nickelbabe · 15/06/2010 10:45

there are a couple of really good books for children to learn to play - i had a Michael Aaron Piano Primer when i started, but it's out of print now.
if you look for books called "piano primer", they're the best. (then you go through it with him)
you can get ones where there are little characters telling them child where the keys are, what music looks like written down etc.
I'll try to find an example that's in print...

UptoapointLordCopper · 15/06/2010 10:47

I've got Chester's easiest piano book. But it looks a bit easy.

nickelbabe · 15/06/2010 10:47

i foudn the Michael Aaron one on musicroom wesbite

they'll have loads more on there, if you've got time to browse.

nickelbabe · 15/06/2010 10:52

Uptoapoint - you'd be amazed how "easy" stuff can be really hard when you get going! i'm learning again as an adult (didn't get any further than that primer when i was a child as the piano got woddworm and had to be scrapped), and i'm finding it really hard, especially getting left and right hand moving at the same time. i can read music, and have an RSCM red ribbon (which is similar to a music theory level 5, apparently - unfortunately you only have to learn your own voice, so i never learnt the bass clef!)
i'm learning from a very old book, that takes me through each key in turn, with progressively harder pieces. it's soooo hard!

UptoapointLordCopper · 15/06/2010 12:27

nicklebabe -

I'm just worried that pages of middle C will put DS1 off. But I think I'll combine it with tunes. So far they've both learned to play twinkle twinkle little star (with one finger), though they somehow resisted Mary had a little lamb. You never know what goes on in these mad little heads ...

nickelbabe · 15/06/2010 15:12

i think you have to let them set their own pace!
although, my favourite show off piece is called The March of the Middle C Twins (i showed DF when i first started again)

it goes Left, left, left, right, left (you use your relevant thumb and you beat it like the military march)
it's very silly, and the first time i showed it him i got it wrong!! the simplest piece in the whole world! (i did right,right, right, left, right instead!)

there was only one piece in my book that was just C - then they added other notes straight away.

Flip