Music Lessons: Part 2

Our kids started taking music lessons when they were about 6 years old. I love classical music and (before pandemic) I made sure we went to hear the orchestra and that the kids got a chance to hear and see the different instruments up close (Philly orchestra has very nice family programs). My husband and I were on the same page – it would be good to start kids with piano lessons (or, maybe, violin) and then see how things would go and, potentially, support and encourage a switch to a different instrument.

E. would listen to the same track on one of my old CDs over and over again: 1^st movement of Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata (violin and piano). When we asked him what he liked better, violin or piano, he would say “violin” (but he seemed open to piano, too, to be fair). Because we thought Kindergarten would be stressful enough, with new teachers, classmates, and expectations, we waited until the summer before 1^st grade to start lessons. I found the names of a couple of teachers – both violin and piano. I talked to them. One violin teacher preferred older kids and felt it worked better if kids started out learning piano, first. Then, there was a husband and wife team, one teaching violin and the other teaching piano. I took E. to their students’ recital (I wanted to get a feel for the teachers and see the dynamics between teachers and students). The piano teacher did not have any openings at the time. The violin teacher did – E. and the teacher talked and they seemed to have a good rapport going. So… I signed him up. He’s been with that teacher for the last 6.5 years. It may not be perfect, but it is good match right now.

Then there was H. Strong-willed, sensitive, and difficult to parent. She wasn’t particularly interested in violin, but, when my parents came to visit, she seemed to enjoy informal piano game-lessons with my mom. I figured piano would be a good place to start (and I admit, I secretly hoped she would play duets with her older brother). The piano teacher we knew (the one married to E’s violin teacher) had an opening, but… I was so worried it wouldn’t work out. She seemed like a very no-nonsense person, not particularly gentle, very strict, and with a strong personality. I was worried they would clash a few months into piano lessons and then that would be the end of it for H. So, after looking around some more, I found someone else, and she is amazing. H’s piano teacher is very caring, strict enough to not let H get away with subpar work but wise enough to not push H. too much. They get along really well and respect each other. They tried different music styles and found something H really likes (jazz and blues). H. talks about quitting piano from time to time… but at the moment she seems content taking lessons and practicing (almost) every day. She definitely loves performing for others and the praise she gets showered with.

C. just started piano lessons this fall. She has the same teacher as H. I don’t know if that’s ideal – but having 3 different music teachers feels a bit overwhelming right now. My main concern is that C. could use someone who pushes her – and I hope that that her piano teacher is willing to do that. I love her teaching style, I am just not convinced it is the best one for C. We are going to see how things go – C says she wants to switch to learning guitar at some point… Or maybe she’ll want to play one of the strings or one of the band instruments in a couple of years. Or, maybe, she’ll end up loving piano and will stick with it.