Happy Tuesday!  Have you ever thought about how little choice kids have in their lives?  They’re told when to get up, what to wear, where to go, what to eat…you get the point!  Kids need a lot of direction, but they also enjoy being able to make some choices of their own.  We can give them little choices in piano lessons that help them to feel a sense of ownership.  The key to offering choices is you must be okay with whatever they choose. This can be simple things like –

• Which color sticky tab do you want?
• Do you want to try right hand or left hand first?
• Which piece would you like to work on first?
• Do you want to play with me playing with your or with the accompaniment track?

Or they can be bigger things like –

• Choosing out a piece to learn next
• Choosing which piece to perform on the recital
• Deciding if they want to move on from a piece or continue polishing it

Children enjoy feeling valued and involved in decisions.  They may be more motivated to work on a piece if it was their choice.  Giving choices is a simple step that can make a big difference in your lessons.

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.