Perceived limitations and piano lessons
Piano lessons are a really interesting educational setting to me.
On the one hand, with the vast history of music to explore, students objectively have the greatest choice of options in terms of what they could learn, compared to other educational topics.
And yet, out of all the educational settings I have taught in (a lot!), piano learners feel the most limited in what they are allowed to learn because of their expectations of what piano lessons are supposed to look like.
In short, they expect that piano lessons are supposed to follow a curriculum. Piano lessons are supposed to be gruelling. Piano lessons are supposed to be a painful, necessary evil that must be endured in order to eventually uncover the burgeoning musicianship that’s inside them somewhere.
This belief is why, when I try to get to know my students and ask them what they want to learn, most of them ask me what I think they should learn! They think they don’t know what’s good for them!
I respect these students so much because they’re demonstrating their willingness to push through and do whatever it takes to learn piano, but I gotta say, if your curiosity and confidence as a musician isn’t being utilized during your piano lessons, you won’t magically find it at the end of your piano lessons.
“But what about the curriculum?” you might be wondering. “Surely there’s a method that can help us gain musical knowledge the most quickly and efficiently!”
Yes, that is the promise of curriculum. But try to remember, that promise is a marketing tactic. It’s made up.
There is no true curriculum for music.
You can make your piano lessons anything you want it to be!
That’s what makes piano lessons such an amazing form of education! It’s one of the few educational settings where curriculum is truly optional.
This is why I always try to start lessons with songs that are meaningful to my students. In fact, I even encourage students to pick their songs before we even meet! We can start from anywhere in learning the basics of music! I’ve started beginners with everything from Happy Birthday to Christmas music to classical music. The sooner these students feel music is relevant to their lives, the sooner they embark on a journey of confidence and curiosity with their piano.
I share this today because I want to help aspiring musicians who are feeling burdened by piano lessons that are getting to be a drag. Not only is there room for you to open your horizon, but it can be personally beneficial to do so!
Bring the curiosity and confidence you hope to have one day to your piano lessons today. You won’t regret it!
Good luck :)