Piano Methods for Teenagers
Whether your child started piano lessons before his feet could touch the pedals or your teenager is just admitting an interest in playing an instrument, piano lessons provide a wide range of benefits from improving fine motor control to boosting confidence. If you̵7;re helping your teenager̵7;s piano instructor or teaching him yourself, it is important to find the appropriate method.
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Choosing a Method Book
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If you walk into a music store and ask the proprietor to direct you to piano methods, you will see books with bright-colored covers and a cartoon drawing for each song in the book -- your teenager will likely be unimpressed. There is hope, however, because many piano method publishers also offer an ̶0;adult̶1; version of their methods. These methods often include more text for a teenager to read and learn about music theory as well as the technique for playing the piano. This information also helps you as you aid your child̵7;s practice.
Teaching Methods
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Since there are no funny pictures to entertain your child in his ̶0;adult̶1; method book, piano methods for teenagers need to include some element of fun, or you will likely be seeing your child quit in a matter of weeks. It̵7;s important for your child to learn the classical repertoire found in the method books because it teaches proper technique, but your teenager might not be familiar with these tunes. You should also purchase a book of popular music or transcriptions from your teenager̵7;s favorite music artist or band. This way, your teenager can balance what he ̶0;should̶1; learn with the music that interests him the most.
Practice
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Your teenager can̵7;t expect to just pick up an instrument and play complicated songs straightaway -- it takes practice. You might need to do a bit of hovering over your teenager̵7;s shoulder to make sure he practices daily because sticker charts and prizes are typically not as alluring to teenagers as they are to younger children. Some piano methods do include some one- or five-minute pieces that help your teen gain skills through limited practice.
Benefits
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Since piano playing requires movement of all the little muscles in your teen̵7;s hand and fingers, it improves fine motor strength that can be applied to other skills like typing or handwriting. The sense of accomplishment gained from learning a new piece of music or generally improving skills is a great confidence booster, which might also translate to other areas of your teenager's life. The discipline gained from practicing daily and the attention needed for lessons and focusing on the music are also valuable life skills. With the right piano method, your teenager can learn an instrument and acquire a whole new set of abilities that will serve him the rest of his life.
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