PPP090: 10 Positive Messages You Give Your Child When You Attend Their Piano Events

30Apr 2018 by Shelly Davis

Every tenth episode is a list of ten music-y things

Previous lists of ten music-y things include 10 things to watch for when you sit at the piano, 10 books to read with your piano kid, and 10 ways to encourage a love of music. To see the full list of tenth episodes, click here.

Every year private piano teachers host piano recitals

My studio recital is the cherry on top of the previous school year. I use it to recognize all the accomplishments my students have achieved throughout the year. To learn more of what I value in annual spring recitals, read this blog post.

Recitals offer students an opportunity to showcase their newly acquired skills, listen to other students play interesting music, and share their love of music with the most important people in their lives – their parents.

That is what our topic is today. You are the most important person in your child’s like. The things you do and say has a profound impact on their self worth.

Listen to the full episode here

Ten Positive Message You Give Your Piano Kid When You Attend Their Piano Recital

I am smart. My work on the piano is valuable and worthy of attention: attention from the audience and attention of my best effort to learn and polish the piece.
I can do hard things. Yes, piano recitals are difficult tasks. The music you learn for a recital is challenging, a step above your normal music. You are able to face this challenge.
I am not alone. My family will always be there for me. They are my biggest cheerleaders.
I am important to my parents. They will set aside other important things (job, meetings) to be at my piano recital with me.
I am valuable to my family. My mom and dad are in my corner. Even if they don’t live together anymore, my parents are able to put aside their differences to celebrate my accomplishment for one evening.
I make my parents proud. More than must saying they are proud of me, my parents show their pride by their actions.
I am worth listening to. People want to hear me play. Musicians often battle mind games that tell them the audience is bored and isn’t interested in their music. Parents can offset that negative talk by attentively listening to their child play music.
I can bring joy to people with my music. I can serve others with my music and bring them joy. So many of the audience don’t know how to play the piano, they wish they did. Remind your piano kid of this fact. Encourage your child to use their musical talent to bring joy to others. Play at church, play in school, play at grandma’s house, play at the local retirement center.
I can share the things I love with my family. My family cares about something I care about. Make the recital an event to be shared with extended family. Send out invitations. Go to dinner afterward.
I AM LOVED. We parents often wonder if we are doing the right thing for our children. We protect our children from dangerous things. We push them to overcome challenging things. When it comes to quality time versus quantity time, I say it is ALL quality time. Driving down the road with just you and your child can open up wonderful conversations and insight into their thoughts and worries.

Many thanks to the wonderful piano teachers in the Piano Teacher Central Facebook group who offered their insight into this topic. Thanks to Becki, Miriam, Rick, Nicole, Dawn, Marcia, Cara, Emily, Tara, Jeann.