We’ve already reach number ten in our Teaching Tactics series!  Each week we bring you a quick idea that you can incorporate into your teaching.  This week’s idea might sound strange at first, “make the piano fit the child.”  Of course pianos are all the same size, at least the keyboard portion.  Many other instruments do come in child sizes, specifically string instruments, but for piano we are stuck with one size!  So how do we make the piano fit the child? The best way to do this is with an adjustable bench, footstools, and a pedal extender.  We can make them as comfortable as possible while they sit at the piano.  For footstools, I love this simple Ikea stool.

These are affordable and do the job perfectly.  I have four in my studio so that I can stack them and adjust the height as needed.

If you have small children who begin to need the pedal, the PE-2 pedal extender is considered the best on the market.  It’s a little pricy but worth the investment.

The last thing you’ll need is an adjustable bench so that your students can sit at the right height for them.  For an inexpensive option this bench works.  If budget is not an issue a duet artist’s bench would be ideal, like this one here.

Creating a space in which your students feel comfortable is important.  It helps your students build a good foundation of technique for a lifetime of piano study!

Author: Spring

Spring Seals, NCTM, teaches 60 piano students ranging from age 3 to 70 in Fort Worth, Texas. She also serves as the Director of Certification for TMTA. She is passionate about helping teachers become more effective in their studios through professional development, new resources, and fresh ideas.