PPP050: What NOT to do as a Piano Parent

10Jul 2017 by Shelly Davis

Sometimes parents just don’t realize the piano mistakes they make. By listening to the Piano Parent Podcast, you can save yourself some embarrassment and save your teacher much anguish by avoiding these common problems.

Listen to the full episode

What NOT to do as a Piano Parent:

1. Show up early – Try to arrive as close to your lesson time as possible, no more than five minutes early. Early arrival can catch your teacher unprepared or cause a distraction for the student before you.

2. Show up late – Don’t expect your piano teacher to babysit your piano kid. Manage your time wisely if you run errands during your child’s lesson.

3. Make yourself at home – Don’t rummage through shelves or cabinets or wander around other parts of your teacher’s home.

4. Expect too much from your piano kid – Trust your teacher’s judgment about repertoire that is appropriate for your child’s skill level. Don’t think that your first grader, no matter how talented, will be playing Fur Elise within the first few months of lessons.

(And approach the subject of Fur Elise very cautiously with your teacher! Some teachers have heard it played poorly so many times they just can’t listen to it anymore. I think that is sad so I happily teach it to my students who request it.)

Enjoy listening to this lovely rendition of Beethoven’s masterpiece:

5. Expect too little from your piano kid – Seriously, they can carry their own books. Children need to learn to be responsible for their books and assignments. It is your job to help them learn to be responsible.

6. Think that your teacher can or will arrange a makeup lesson for last minute cancellations – This does not teach your child responsibility or commitment. You can’t assume that your piano teacher has another time available for you to have a lesson when you miss your appointed time. (Learn more about my position on this in Episode 12: What About Makeup Lessons?)

7. Overbook your child – Children have many, many opportunities for after school activities like sports, dance, gymnastics, etc. When you have your piano kid participate in too many activities, they don’t have the opportunity to excel in any of them. Parents are concerned about limiting screen time; they should also be diligent about saving some downtime for their children. It is okay for your child to be bored and have to come up with their own creative entertainment.

8. Wait until the last minute to re-enroll for the coming semester – If your teacher is worth their salt, their lesson times will fill up quickly. There is likely a waiting list of students hoping to be added to the schedule. The same is true for tuition payments; be sure you pay your teacher in a timely manner. They depend on this income to take care of their own families.

9. Ask to leave early from a piano recital – You aren’t getting off that easy!! Leaving early shows disrespect for your teacher, the other performers, and their parents. If you have heeded my caution from Number 7, then you have not overbooked your child and you will be able to arrange your schedule so that you are free on the day of the recital.

10. Be shocked when your piano kid doesn’t want to practice piano – This doesn’t mean that they hate piano; it just means they’re a kid. They don’t want to bathe or brush their teeth either. It is the parent’s job to insist that those things happen, to teach their child responsibility and how to face challenges.