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What is the youngest age at which one can begin piano lessons?

Ideally, the best age to start piano lessons is age 6. I have had 5 year olds do very well in piano lessons but not all 5 year olds have the attention span to sit at a bench with me for 30 minutes. A child should be able to practice independently at the piano bench for at least 10 minutes at a time, since regular practice is a necessity for learning the instrument. A parent is ultimately the best judge of their child’s focus ability. I will not accept students age 4 or younger.

When am I too old to take piano lessons?

Never! My oldest student is 88 and he plays beautifully! I have taught a large number of senior citizens in my career and they do very well in lessons. It is important to remember that piano lessons require regular commitment to the instrument. If regular practice is not feasible for you this may not be the time in your life to commit to lessons. Generally, adults are impatient with themselves. They can be their own worst enemies when it comes to learning a new instrument. Often, older adults have the most time and the strongest commitment to studying the instrument.

What, specifically, do I need at home to enroll in piano lessons?

Basically speaking you need a piano or a keyboard, a bench and a stand if you have an electric keyboard. Make sure the room you pick to practice in has adequate lighting (or a piano light) and that it is in a location in the house where others will hear the student practicing regularly. Music is a performing art and the art of performance is a skill in itself. Students who practice in solitary do not show the progress or confidence that those who practice in the center of a household show. Here you can find examples of a basic (88key weighted) keyboard, bench and stand.

How often should a student practice?

Beginning students should practice 10-20 minutes a day (depending on age) and practice a minimum of 4 times a week. As proficiency on the instrument increases a student should devote 30-45 minutes a day, 4-5 days a week practicing the assigned lesson plan followed by reviewing pieces from his/her repertoire. Learning an instrument requires a regular practice commitment. Without regular practice, a student will lose interest and lack progress on the instrument. Learning the piano is not just a study, it’s an exercise and exercise must be repeated in order to be effective.

Help! This student has lost interest and doesn’t want to continue. What can be done?

The study of music is a journey that lasts a lifetime. It’s understandable that children in particular would grow weary in the journey. A change of approach is necessary but giving up is not. When students miss consecutive lessons interest wanes and frustration grows which is why attending lessons even when no practice occurs is imperative. Communication between teacher and parent and teacher and student can be the key to a “reset” for practice. Studying music is a series of plateaus and breakthroughs. It always gets easier and it always gets harder. Every musician has wanted to quit a hundred times but perseverance is something that not one of us regrets. Attend lessons regularly regardless of practice schedules and make sure to talk to your teacher if interest/practice is waning. There are different ways to approach this and change things. The worst thing a new musician can do is “take a break”. What is gained will be lost and is often never regained.

I want to learn to play the piano but I’m not interested in performing. Can I still take piano lessons?

The short answer is no. If you are dead set against performing you won’t do well at Studio 3 but please let me explain the “why.” Music is a “performing art”. It is very difficult for someone who does not perform to stick with the study of the instrument because most of the enjoyment in learning to make music is sharing that gift with others. Everyone participates in a performance including the performer and leaving that part out of your study deprives you of much of the joy. If you have a fear of performance maybe your performance looks different from the usual for a while. Maybe you play for a friend or your parents or your spouse. Maybe you go to the music store and play on a piano when you think no one’s shopping. Maybe you submit a video performance for the studio website and to send to friends and family. We can get you there slowly but a good teacher doesn’t want his/her student to miss out on the best part of studying an instrument and my opinion is that it’s definitely performance.

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Jenniffer Maragia | Founder/Teacher
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