Getting Your Child to Practice Piano

 

Many parents expect their child to love to practice piano all on their own, and find that usually that does not happen. At the beginning stages the material may seem simple, and not require adult help, but as weeks go on, the material will become more challenging, and your child may balk at practicing.  Now, that’s not to say piano won’t still be enjoyable, but it is important to remember that NOT practicing WILL lead to not enjoying the learning process and the lessons.

 

Children who even go one or two weeks not practicing can end up quitting lessons because it seems too “hard”.  Also, their teacher may become frustrated (and rightly so), so it is of the utmost importance for parents to make sure that practice is done every day.  (You don’t expect school Homework to be “fun” everyday, do you?)

 

Here are some tips you can use to help ease conflict and increase the amount of time that your child practices.

Use Encouraging Words - Take every opportunity to encourage your child when they do practice. Let them know how great they sound and how you think the practice is paying off. Praise them in front of relatives and friends.

Post a Schedule - Establish a specific time schedule for practice and post it where the child will frequently see it. Try the refrigerator, their bedroom, or maybe above the phone. You may even want to make a chart that they can check off or sticker each time

they complete a practice.

Set a Goal - Establish something special that the child will receive if they complete a certain amount of practices. Start out small and slowly increase the amount of necessary practices to achieve the goal.  Rewards are not bribes, they are positive reinforcements.

Follow Through - Establish with your child what his/her responsibilities are in your family. Perhaps they have daily/weekly chores that you require them to do. Explain that instrument practice is now part of that routine. Tell them they cannot do anything personal (play, watch TV, talk on the phone, etc...) until all their chores have been completed. Be warned...unless you intend to consistently follow through with this approach then your efforts will be in vain.

Good Luck—remember, musicianship requires discipline and you (the parent) will ultimately “set the stage” for your child to be successful  in learning to play an instrument.

If you are interested in enrolling your child in my Piano Program, please read this page carefully, then fill in form at the bottom of this page to Enroll for either Summer or Fall Piano.  Contact me anytime with questions!

Melissa Ayotte (415) 721-1929   m1@musicwithmelissa.com

The Piano Program

The Curriculum:  The MAYRON COLE PIANO METHOD has been lovingly developed at the Mayron Cole Houston Conservatory of Music over the past 20 years.  It is the Nation’s #1 group method for children.

In order to be successful at playing piano and reading music, your child needs to enjoy the learning process, but not use “shortcuts”, like playing by finger number. 

The Mayron Cole Method is a traditional music reading method, so you can be assured that the skills your child learns can be used later on to learn an orchestra or band instrument, or to advance his piano study.

 

 

Blast Off! With Piano Summer Program             Summer 2008 · 5 Lessons for beginning Kindergarten thru 3rd grade students. · A way to see if your child enjoys lessons before enrolling in the Fall. · Session dates individualized around YOUR vacation. · Class activities include piano games & Music Bingo! · Students learn rhythm notation & most of the white keys. · Enjoy the fun accompaniments on the Home CD. · $175 private / $125 each small group includes tuition & all materials!

For Beginners ages 5 & 6 “Menehune Music”           Fall 2008 “Menehune” means “little elf” in Hawaiian, and this is the perfect course for Kindergarten students who are beginning to read. MENEHUNE MUSIC easily takes students through the first two steps of piano playing readiness: mastery of rhythm counting and keyboard geography.  Your child will learn to play and count correctly two-eighths, quarter, half, dotted-half, and whole notes as they sing along with original compositions. All of the white keyboard keys are used, plus several sharps and flats! Dynamics and legato playing are introduced. Beautifully illustrated theory FUN SHEETS compliment each lesson.  For tuition fees, see below.

For Beginners ages 6 to 10 “Level 1A”                    Fall 2008 Level 1A is one of Mayron’s all-time most popular programs! The practice pieces, recital/performance pieces, and analyzing theory fun sheets combined so that the theory taught in each lesson is the theory that is relevant to the lesson’s songs.  Beginner students love the big notes because they are much easier to read! Compositions include staff notes from Middle C up to G and Middle C down to A as well as harmonic seconds, thirds, and fourths. Eighth note rhythms are introduced in the first lesson! Fingering numbers not introduced until about week 12 to ensure that these beginner students are really reading notes and not reading fingering numbers!  The original compositions ensure that children will read their music instead of playing by ear.  For tuition fees, see below.

Fall 2008—2009 Calendar: Piano will be in session from September 8 to May 22, except during the following  school holiday breaks:

· November 24 to 28

· December 22 to January 2

· February 16 to 20

· April 13 to 17

 

There WILL be piano on Veteran’s Day November 10 & 11, and Martin Luther King Day January 19.

 

2008-09 Tuition  By enrolling your child, you are agreeing to pay the total tuition fee for 30 regular weekly lessons (Sept to May) and 2 free make ups lessons in June.  Student may enroll privately, or with one or two friends (small group). 

· Small Group Lesson (30 minutes weekly)  = $675 total  or $75 monthly 

· Private Lesson (25 minutes weekly)  = $1035 total or $115 monthly

· Private In Home Lesson (25 minutes) = $1350 total or $150 monthly

There are 9 monthly tuition payments, September through May.

Each lesson meets once per week, except holiday weeks listed above. 

Mid-year enrollments are accepted with pro-rated tuition. 

Early withdrawl:   You may unenroll your child before May with a one month advance written notification.  (At the time you pay your last tuition installment.)  

Late Payments School Year Tuition payment is due by the 10th of the month, with a $15 late charge.

Credit Cards and Personal Checks are accepted for tuition payments.  

Materials Fees (Added to registration)  about $50 per school year.

Studio Location Address

65 Lovejoy Way, Novato (2 blocks from Hamilton Elementary School)

Directions: 101 to Nave Dr. Exit.  Nave Drive to State Access Rd. (1 block north of Main Gate Rd).  Take State Access Rd. to Lanham Dr. turn right onto Lanham.  Then right onto Martin Dr. and left on Lovejoy Way.  65 is on the right, look for the colorful music flag!

Fun Piano Recitals are given twice a year (Fall and Spring) and are open to all students. 

At Home Requirements

Parent must accept responsibility for the following:

· A Piano or Keyboard with full size keys at home for daily practice.

· A CD player set up next to the practice instrument for daily CD practice.

· Practicing is required 5 days per week by all students, no excuses, non-negotiable.  Parent must be available to help with practices. (5 to 10 minutes per day at first, building to 15 to 20 minutes.)

Missed Classes / Lessons  One make up offered in the Summer for GROUP students.  Make ups are not offered during the school year.  Students enrolled for 6 months or more are offered up to two make up classes/lessons in June.

 

Ready to enroll your child? 

 

Please provide the following information, I will contact you within 3 days to discuss setting up a schedule, or to answer any further questions.

 

Your Full Name

Email

Phone Number

Child’s Full Name

Grade for 08/09 School Year

Student Level Beginner Has had 1-2 years of piano Has had over 2 years of piano

Lesson Type Preference Private Studio Lesson Group Studio Lesson Private In-Home Lesson

 

Have you read all the information on this page specifically regarding tuition fees and at-home requirements? YES  NO

 

Is there anything else you want me to know, or do you have a specific question for me?

 

Click the button once to send, I will contact you soon!

Thank you!