Should My Child Take Piano Lessons?

Written By: Hilary on May 8, 2009 One Comment

pianolessons A quick survey showed that about 65% of American kids are athletic while the remaining percentage is split among those who are more into music and others who find a profound interest in neither. Some parents find it hard enough to get their kids to go to gym class—much less join a varsity team or a community sports league. If your child is not the athletic type, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t consider a healthy outlet for his/her creativity—try music. While there is a gamut of instrumental choices for your child to take up, this article will showcase the benefits of signing your child up for piano lessons. You could be saying to yourself right now, “Piano lessons? Why not something more masculine like electric guitar or the bass?” Fret not. If you haven’t seen “School of Rock” then I suggest you go and grab a copy of it because you’ll see that the piano is a serious music machine and can unleash the artist in your child. Alright well, Jack Black may have teetered on the brink of desperation for rock fame by getting together a band of pre-teens to form a, well, rock band. Nevertheless, your child’s endeavor into the world of music may very well broaden his/her horizon and develop a healthier well-being.

Aside from teaching your child to build character like Beethoven did (he continued his love for music despite growing deaf), there are also numerous benefits to taking piano lessons. Below are some benefits worth chewing on.

Discipline and Commitment

The old adage “practice makes perfect” may be a double-edged sword since we all know that nobody’s perfect. But your child will do well to learn the discipline of practice in every aspect of his or her life. Learning a musical instrument will plant and instill that discipline in your child’s life and eventually mold them into embracing discipline as second nature. Commitment is also another thing that your child will learn as they go along. You can’t learn to play an entire musical piece in just two weeks (or maybe you can—if you’re a prodigy). It takes time and practice which translates to commitment. Many piano instructors suggest that children take 2 years of instruction as introduction and those two years will prove beneficial if your child is receptive and willing to learn. The time that comes after that is where commitment is learned and refined. This will also teach your child the value of following through with their decisions in life. Much practice and commitment could produce an impressive reservoir of musical acumen that will bring joy and delight to every family gathering or presentation.

Intellectual Development

Studies have shown piano instruction to enhance a child’s math skills and overall academic potential. Learning to play music is not just about listening or mimicking the instructor—it also involves ratios, fractions, proportions as well as factoring in space and time. It develops spatial and temporal reasoning in your child’s brain which are skills that prove valuable for higher-level math. Learning to be calculated in decisions and actions at an early age will also help develop a healthy decision-making process in their adult life.

Good Springboard

When your child has learned to play the piano well—including reading of notes and musical improvisation, this provides your child a wonderful springboard for learning other instruments. Notes are a bare essential in piano playing and will come in very handy in learning other types of instruments like the guitar or violin. It also trains their ear to what “good music” consists of and teaches them the basics of musical composition.

Marinate on these pointers and take that wise step to signing your child up for piano lessons. You might have the next Martha Argerich (she had her orchestral debut at eight years old) living in your home—or not. Either way, you and your child stand to lose nothing by providing a healthy outlet for your child’s creative juices. It’s also an avenue to teach your child about confidence and boost their self-esteem.