How to Keep Children Interested in Piano Lessons: Insights from 15 Years of Experience as a Piano Academy Owner
As a piano academy owner with over 15 years of teaching experience, I’ve seen how essential it is to keep children motivated and excited about learning. Music can become a lifelong passion, but it’s important to nurture that excitement from an early stage. Here’s how I do it, and how you can too!
1. Make Fun Songs the "Dessert" and Hide the "Vegetables" in the Method Books
Children love dessert, and they’ll happily eat it after a meal – this is where fun songs come in! They’re the sweet, exciting pieces that make kids eager to play. The trick is to slip in the "vegetables" (the method books and technical exercises) first, so that once it’s out of the way, only dessert remains. Pairing the method books with songs they truly enjoy is the key to a great lesson. The method books build their technical skills, but it’s the fun songs that spark joy and make them want to practice more.
Think of it like this: the method books are necessary to develop proper piano technique, but the fun songs keep the excitement alive and are what make piano lessons something they look forward to. The balance between these two is key to long-term success.
2. Offer Incentives to Keep Them Motivated
Reward systems can work wonders in keeping young students engaged. I like to offer small, instant rewards like popcorn or a lolly (always with parental approval and checking for allergies) as immediate motivation when they have cleared a satisfactory amount from the method books. But I also believe in rewarding effort over the term with something more substantial. For instance, my top 10 students each term receive rewards that can be worth up to $150. You can adapt this to your income and policy, of course, but this system makes students excited to do their best for the big prize at the end of the year, ensuring a win-win scenario for everyone.
3. Encourage Parents to Build Consistent Practice Habits
No amount of in-class fun can replace the importance of consistent practice at home. Encourage parents to help establish a daily practice habit for their child, even if it’s only for a few minutes a day. Regular, short practice sessions are far more effective than long, infrequent ones.
One practical tip for parents: place the piano somewhere central, like a living room, rather than in a tucked-away corner. When the piano is somewhere they naturally spend time, practice becomes a part of their everyday routine rather than a chore.
4. Create a Fun and Engaging Learning Environment
Children thrive in environments where they feel happy and comfortable. Although professionalism is key, it’s just as important to be light-hearted and fun in your teaching approach. I make it a point to build friendly, supportive relationships with my students. Treat them like you would a niece or nephew – close and approachable, but always within the bounds of professionalism. By creating a positive atmosphere, lessons become something they look forward to.
5. Be Flexible with Song Choices
Giving students the freedom to learn songs they’re excited about can make all the difference. Whether it’s printing their favorite piece from Musescore or using my perfect pitch to write the music for them on the spot, I make sure they can learn songs they love. And if using simple tabs or alternative notation helps them learn more easily, I go that route. The goal is to make learning fun and accessible.
Conclusion: Keep Passion Alive Through Engagement
The key to maintaining a child’s interest in piano is to strike the right balance between fun and foundational skills. By pairing method books with fun songs, rewarding effort, and creating a joyful learning environment, you’ll help foster a lifelong love for piano in your students.
All the best,
Steve
Achieved all 8 grades of AMEB Piano Performance; 3x AMus Diplomas; Founded the International Academy of Music [Guildford]; Founded Piano Glory