Are you frustrated because your student has been taking piano lessons for months or years and is progressing very slowly or isn't progressing at all? Here are the 3 most likely reasons:
1. Taking breaks from piano lessons.
When
lessons are resumed after a break, students do not pick up where they left
off. Regression happens very quickly
with piano playing. If you take lessons
for 9 months and then take a 3 month break, when you start again, you will be weeks or months behind where you left off. So if you've been taking lessons for 4 years
but taking the summers off, you're probably close to the same level as someone who
took lessons for only 2 years, year round.
2. You come when it's convenient.
Piano
lessons CANNOT be a "come when it's convenient/when there's time"
activity. Even on days off school,
holiday breaks, special occasions, illnesses, etc. a lesson must be scheduled
sometime during the week. If you're
going on a 2 week vacation, you should attend one extra lesson during the 2
weeks before you go, and one extra lesson in the 2 weeks after. You should be attending at least 50 lessons a
year. Students need to see that piano is
a priority, not an "if there's time" activity.
3. Practice is not consistent/and or
meaningful. Students should practice the
piano every day. At a very minimum, your
student should be practicing 4 times a week.
Practicing 3 times a week or less will result in little to no progress,
frustration, decreased motivation, and wasted time and money.
However, if students are practicing frequently but practicing
incorrectly, they will see little progress.
Students are given specific instructions each week on HOW to practice
their songs. This may include learning songs
one section at a time, learning hands separately, using a metronome, playing
along with their CDs, counting out loud, saying notes out loud, etc. It is very important that these instructions
are followed. If not, the student will
have to spend another week on the same material, which slows progress.
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