My 7-yr-old just had his first piano lesson. I'm the teacher.

[crim son]

He's the only one of my three kids to actually beg for lessons and he did remarkably well, considering he's a rough and tough, macho and aggressive little man. Twenty minutes and he understands and can demonstrate with accuracy the concept of time in music (quarter, half and whole notes so far) and he's managing the fingering pretty well. I love it. Maybe he will actually want to play when he turns thirteen, instead of resenting every minute of it! I can dream, can't I?

[SPKrazy]

1. cool!

good for you and him!

:hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. My little guy started lessons in September...

I gave him a couple of lessons; but then he started reading the book and taking off on his own. So I have him studying with a real piano teacher now. Sometimes he needs a nudge to practice, then a few hours later, he's playing of his own volition. And he occasionally balks that he wants to quit lessons; but once he's in the lesson, he has such a good time. I want him to stick with it at least a year.

He's playing his first recital a week from Sunday. :D

[crim son]

3. I remember when you told me that.

Good for him, working on his own. You two are both professional musicians, right? He's going to have the talent naturally.

Henry did well at his lesson. Then after dinner he left the table early and started playing the "piece" he's been assigned. He already has it down. Oh, he just came in and is playing it again.

My other son is thirteen and getting him to go to his lessons is like pulling teeth but I make him go. Good for your little guy! Isn't it fun?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. I can't count the number of times an adult has come up to me and said

"If only my parents had made me continue lessons!"

Your 13 year old is going to thank you one day, even if he gives it up eventually. The discipline of learning to play an instrument carries over into all other areas of study.

You go, Mom! :thumbsup:

[crim son]

12. Thanks, GOG.

I'm a whip-crackin' Mama. They will both continue :pals:

[BarenakedLady]

14. Hiya Hot Stuff!

How are you doing tonight? :hug:

[crim son]

16. I'm doing well. My day wasn't too bad although I did something

terrible: bought myself a new top and lacy sweater. I'm going to go bankrupt but I'll do it in style. How are you? :hi: Did you get any interesting pics last night? :evilgrin:

[BarenakedLady]

19. Nice!

You deserve something nice for yourself. I'm doing ok, I suppose.

Hmmmm pictures....of what? ;)

[crim son]

21. hehehe.

I can't remember.

[hfojvt]

4. dang it. He's already ahead of me.

I just hold the note down until it's time to move my finger to the next note. I forget how many years of lessons I had. Either 3 or 4 I think. Then I started up again in my 2nd senior year of college, about (hack, wheeze) 23 years ago, and have been playing ever since. If you want him to keep at it then let him play what he thinks is fun. If my piano teacher had given me Clementi's Opus 36, and in that vein, I would have kept going.

[crim son]

6. You may be right, though

I tried that with my daughter when her interest began to flag (at thirteen) but she just didn't want to play. I quit as a kid because I was terrified of the recital. I was ten or eleven and I've played on my own since.

[youthere]

5. I teach all three of mine...

and it's gone pretty well, although it's always a battle to get them to practice, but if I say "then why don't we just stop" I get a resounding NO! Then they'll practice without being told...for about two days.
I'm glad your guy is taking to it well.

[crim son]

7. Me too. I taught the two older kids too. When they got older

I decided to send them to a different teacher - I thought it might make them more enthusiastic. It did not, but the teacher was so impressed by my kids' abilities that she offered me a job as a teacher :)

[Redbear]

9. That's wonderful that you teach them that.

Even if doesn't want to play, it will do him a world of good for the rest of his life.

[crim son]

13. If nothing else, it will make him popular with the ladies.

As if he isn't already. A seven-yr-old Romeo he is.

[VelmaD]

10. I still remember my first official lesson

I don't remember learning the notes...my momma taught me when I was so so little. But I couldn't take "real" lessons until I learned how to read. I remember walking down the street to the neighbor's house who taught me that first year when I was 5 or 6. I remember the color-coded books that I worked my way through. I loved all my teachers. I paid to go to college with a piano scholarship.

[crim son]

15. I think that's truly marvellous.

My mother was an excellent pianist but for some reason (perhaps it was money) she did not argue when I decided to quit after about eighteen months of lessons. She has chided me ever since! I would love to hear you play.

[VelmaD]

18. I'm not nearly as good as I once was

I won a couple of medals in international competitions when I was in high school. But that was a long time ago and I don't have a piano to practice on where I'm at now. Plus I kinda had a nervous breakdown halfway into college, changed my major out of piano pedagogy, and didn't play for a long time. When you immerse yourself in it to the extent that I did for my teens and early 20s...it can eat you alive.

I do play for fun now when I go to home to visit the parents.

[crim son]

20. I'm sorry about what happened in college.

I've never had the discipline that would find me being eaten alive. :hug:

[VelmaD]

22. It was for the best

I just couldn't handle 16-18 hours a day focused almost entirely on music. My first few sememsters I didn't take any outside courses and when I wasn't in class I was sequestered in a practice room into the wee hours. You either learn to cope or you wash out...I washed out. And found something else to do with my life that make sme relatively happy. :) But thanks for the hug...hugs are always good. :)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

11. Cool!

[crim son]

17. He thinks so. He sat down and played three times after dinner

and he thanked me several times for his new piano books. He's a good small man. :hi:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

23. I used to play piano when I was his age, too.

Gave it up soon after. :P

[crim son]

25. So sad. I'm rather fierce as a Mom. Nobody's quittin' nuthin'.

I would have whupped your ass. :7

[Starbucks Anarchist]

27. I bet you would have.

:D

[CaliforniaPeggy]

24. My dear crim son........

What grand news!

Congrats to both you and your son........

Sounds like you won't have to dream at all...... :toast:

[crim son]

26. We'll see. My daughter was the fastest learner and

a perfectionist when it came to technique etc. But when she wanted to quit she made it very difficult to say no. The boys are more malleable! I hope you're right. :toast: