Parent Focus 6

(part 6 of 6 from the article Parent Focus)

Do I still attend lessons when my child is in college?!!

Of course not!!  Your role will change over time as your student matures and as his/her musical skills develop.  Normally around the ages of 8-10, your child begins looking for more independence.  At this stage, you and the teacher will focus more on helping your child become more responsible for his/her own learning.  You will still attend lessons, but may fade more into the background and observe from behind rather than next to the piano.  You will continue to help your child practice, but may do so more through asking questions and offering reminders rather than sitting with the student for the whole practice session.  Eventually, somewhere in junior high, you will become the encourager.  Your student will come to lessons on his/her own and will practice independently.  You will help your student arrange his/her schedule to include time for lessons and practice.  You can listen to your student play and enjoy the fruits of many years of hard work! 

“Children learn to smile from their parents.”  —Shinichi Suzuki