Mom, I Want to Quit Piano Lessons for the Summer!

Quitting piano lessons for the summer? Not a good idea! Why? Repetition is the essence of learning. How many new skills have you learned recently? In the process of mastering these new skills, did you take three months off? You did? How was your attention level when you returned to it? Did you have the same enthusiasm at the end of that three-month hiatus as when it began? When that three-month period was up, did you remain at the same level of knowledge and manual skills as when it began? You didn't? I wonder why? As they say,“Out of sight, out of mind.” Children just do not have the same level of concentration as adults-- or the same level of devotion. Nor do they realize what is at stake: the possibility of giving up the chance to develop life-long skills in order to play soccer, watch more TV, have more play time, not be tied to a piano bench for 30 minutes a day or not to follow up on the discipline set forth by the past nine months of lessons.

In all honesty I have seriously considered taking summers off, but when I tried that a few summers ago, for many of my students it was almost like starting from the beginning. If your child would continue to practice daily they would probably remain in fairly good stead, but this is not what happens. All of their (your) good intentions just don't usually come about and piano is lost for 3 months. Even my best students that take the summer off and continue practicing show signs of loss and have to review for one or two months before continuing at their appropriate level.

I usually do have a little less regimented classes in the summer and I have even been thinking of trying some different things, like maybe one lesson a month being a group game/theory class. I hope to go to a teacher's seminar this summer to help me with some new, more innovative ideas on how to keep my students and parents interested! We must remember: music is one gift that can never be returned or taken back. I try very hard to work with my students and parents for a viable schedule to accommodate their other interests as well as time for lessons and practice.

If any of you have considered quitting piano lessons for good, please take serious deliberation. If your child quits now, when will he resume piano lessons? When they have mastered the soccer game? And when he is 50 years old, will he still be playing soccer? Will she be in Girl Scouts at that age or using what she’s now watching on TV?

The point is, when setting our priorities for a well-rounded childhood, we need to balance our children's activities into immediate and future applications and benefits. I can speak for the time involved with piano study you will have to fill in the blanks on the other activities.

Generally, beginning students spend about 30 minutes every day practicing. Lessons normally last for 30 to 45 minutes, one time a week. The benefits far exceed the time involved each week, they include improved study skills plus the development of communication, cognitive, organizational, multi-tasking, abstract and math/science learning skills. Music study encourages less disruptive behavior, develops creativity and cooperation, increases self-confidence, develops perseverance and determination, improves dexterity and discipline, fosters responsibility and self-esteem and develops pattern recognition. The special benefits of private lessons include one-on-one undivided attention with the opportunity to discover and develop one's own learning style, the opportunity for your child to be treated as a unique, valued person and to enjoy having someone who cares about her and sees her progress. Given the time involved (three to four hours a week, including a free day from practice), that's not a bad investment.

Parents, you have a pretty good case to argue here. Protect your investment and keep your child in music. Neither you nor your child will regret it 10 years from now!

Sincerely,

Miss Joy