To Inspire is Better than To Require

Do I think that parents should require daily practicing if enrolled in piano lessons? My answer is yes. In my experience, it is rare for a child to have the discipline and initiative to maintain a daily practice routine without the help of a parent, even when they truly enjoy their lessons and enjoy playing the piano. Therefore, I strongly encourage parents to take responsibility for making sure that practicing happens every day. In a way, daily practicing falls in the same category as brushing teeth. Kids rarely would do it on their own, but because you know how important it is, it is required.

But, please do not stop at the level of merely requiring. Requiring is important, but even MORE important is to INSPIRE.

I'll share a personal story to illustrate the power of inspiring. When I was a freshman in high school, I decided to drop piano lessons. Not that I didn't enjoy playing the piano, I simply wasn't enjoying the music I was being assigned by my teacher, nor was I feeling challenged in the right ways. In short, I was not being inspired.

Then, at 16 years old, during my junior year of high school, something happened which changed everything for me. I was driving in my second-hand grey Chevy Cavalier, and I was listening to the classical station, as I often did. I still remember where I was on the streets of Carrollton, Texas when I heard for the first time in my life the opening of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. The music stirred something deep inside of me and awoke in me this amazingly powerful desire to be able to play that song someday. In that one moment, I realized how deeply I loved music, and what music had to offer me. Almost immediately after that experience, I asked my parents if I could start piano lessons again. I found an amazing teacher at a local university. I started practicing literally 4 hours a day, much to the agony of my older sister, whose bedroom was nearest to the piano, which is where I would start practicing at 6am sharp every day.

Now, that was my unique story, and I'm certainly not trying to suggest that you should all go sit your child down to listen to Tchaikovsky, expecting to see dramatic results. What I am suggesting is that "to inspire is better than to require". When a child is inspired, practicing has purpose, and they progress at a much faster rate than a child lacking inspiration. Without inspiration, you can still require, but it will feel like a drag, rather than a joy.

Finally, to the practical: How do you inspire a child? Here are a few ideas:

• Listen to GREAT music together. It doesn't have to be classical--I think it is wonderful to expose children to great music in all genres. That's the wonderful thing about music--so many wonderful flavors and styles to explore. When choosing music, don't go for long 60-minute symphonies that are going to bore your child, find shorter pieces, or just listen to a part of a longer piece. (For example, just listen to the first 3 minutes of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1--the whole thing is very long, and for myself, I don't care much for some of the later parts!)
• Watch great performances. Find performances on YouTube. Go to concerts. Again, be careful of bringing younger children to a long concert. Classical concerts are almost always geared to the attention span of an adult, so look for special concerts that are designed for kids--many symphony orchestras do an annual children's concert or event. I remember actually getting pretty bored sometimes when my parents brought me to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as a child.
• Find role models. It can be very helpful and inspiring for a child to see other older children, who are excelling at piano. The role model could also be the teacher, or you!
• Use positive language and sincere praise. Remember that we want happy and positive associations with music and with piano, so always avoid scolding, criticizing, and power struggles. Look for things to praise, and tell your child what he is doing well.

Please share your own ideas by leaving a comment below!