The world has changed – and so must the way we teach piano!
By Max Filkins/Family Piano
Waukegan, IL. – Music is perhaps one of the most personally meaningful subjects for people to learn. Everyone has dramatically different goals, preferences, even drastically different ideas on what sounds good to them! When teaching such a dramatically personalized subject, you simply cannot use a one-size-fits-all approach.
The goal of a music teacher in our new age is to properly equip their students with the tools necessary to appreciate, construct, and create music by helping them draw inspiration from the full breadth of musical history.
Every student begins lessons with their own set of musical goals, ambitions and often come with misconceptions about how to attain the skills they would like to have. An important realization for a student learner is the understanding that all aspects of music are connected to each other. A good teacher seeks not only to teach their students how to play chords and scales, but how these concepts apply to music of all different styles and most importantly: why it all matters.
A good teacher allows the student to continue down the musical path they identify the most with but also helps them to appreciate new styles of music and understand what can be learned from them. A teacher who does this can earn the trust of the student that is vital for them to stick with it through challenges and frustrating moments of learning.
In modern times we are exposed to a more diverse palette of music than ever before. And today’s young learners growing up in this rich musical environment are not only looking at how to physically play an instrument, but what to play, why to play, and how differing forms of music can be understood.
From ages seven to twenty-two, I had seven different long-term piano teachers. Thinking back, they were quite the diverse group of people. They came from many different cultures, different professional backgrounds, constituted a large age range, and most importantly each represented new brands of musical philosophy.
They presented me with unique but interrelated conceptions of music. And although I absolutely credit each and every one of them with making me the musician I am today, in a greater sense they helped shape the person I am today through their diversity of instruction and a genuine wish to see me succeed.
What’s the advantage of taking lessons at Family Piano Co? We have a dedicated School of Music with seven beautiful and inviting studio rooms, a dedicated lesson coordinator who goes the extra mile to personally get to know all of our students and families, and a qualified team of instructors who want to help your student realize their full musical potential.
At only $99 a month for 30 minute weekly lessons, you can give us a call at 847-775-1988 and start learning right away!