Sarah Nelmes Piano

My Non-Traditional Approach to Practising the Piano

Wednesday, November 1, 2023 by Sarah Nelmes | Uncategorized


I would like to invite you to explore the reason for my non-traditional teaching approach





What benefit do you think learning to play the piano will have for your child? 



  • my child will experience personal growth 
  • they will learn a new skill increase their confidence and self-esteem 
  • it will have a positive effect on their mental health and well-being



What does success look like? (It could be any or all of these!) 



  • my child is happy, enjoys going to lessons and wants to continue
  • they can play all the pieces in their student book 
  • they have passed piano grades 
  • they like to play the piano at home



What does not succeeding look like? (Maybe something like this?)


  • my child doesn’t want to practise 
  • they don't want to continue piano lessons


So ask yourselves this: 


Are you measuring the success of your child learning the piano by how much they practise or sit and play the piano?


Or do you measure the success based on the fact they are enjoying their lessons and want to continue.  


Now, think on this. 


Would you answer the same if you were to apply these questions to the other activities your child may take part in - sport or  dance for example? 


Here's a super blog post I found about teaching football written by a professional football coach. This table somes it up but you can read his post here. However, read it as if he were talking about playing the piano instead of football! 


Can you see how this relates to learning the piano? So why do we measure the success of learning the piano differently to that of other activities that your child takes part in? 


Would it bother you if your child didn’t practise their dance routines or kick a football in between lessons? Would you think they weren’t succeeding or getting anything out of their lessons?   


If you want - or they want to - become proffesional/concert pianists and take part in competitions, then that's another thing entirely. How many parents or children start activities with expecations of becoming elite at whatever they do? 


Here are some questions that I would actually like you to answer







What does progress look like for my child having piano lessons?


It could be: 

 

  • sitting at the piano and playing music they like
  • *passing exams 
  • playing in concerts and recitals
  • **being able to take over as the church pianist when Mrs Wouterz becomes too deaf to play  


* I am not against piano grades if a student wants to 

( I have one who is desperate to do so!) 


**That was the REAL reason my parents insisted I kept on with my piano lessons for ten years even though I hated practicing!) 


Do you think piano recitals would be a good way to hear how you child is progressing?

 

You may have your own feelings about when you had to perform in front of others. I know I hated it.

I'm going to post another blog about this once I get some of your answers. 


SO that's it dear parents. All this holds true to my teaching philosophy. And I stand by it even if it goes against the norm and may not be what some people think learning the piano should look like. 


I have received nothing but support and kind words about how much your children are enjoying their lessons. And for me, that's what it's all about.