Mum Needs Help: My child started learning piano since age 3.5. All along he doesn’t have interest, but I made him do it for development reason. Just want him to have a base in music. He has been asking me to let him quit since age 5 (he is 7 now). Some people advise me not to force him to do what he doesn’t like, but some (music teachers) say I shouldn’t give up and just let him carry on. What should I do?
Sharon Teh: A change of teacher may help. One of my piano teachers used to hit my back or my knuckles with a metal ruler if I did not sit straight enough or my fingers did not curve the way he wanted it. The way I type on a computer keyboard now looks like I am playing the piano (!!) but with the benefit of hindsight, I do not agree with his method of … See Moreteaching. A teacher instills love for the subject (whether it be an academic subject or a non-academic one) in the student and should not make the child turn away from it.
Chong Leng Li: My nephew dislike piano lessons, sitting thru without absorbing anything, but he loves his art classes and will ask his dad to enrol him in art classes or competitions in shopping centres etc. And there his creativity shines! Finding out what he really like will help to make him confident and happy. Don’t force him to live your dream for you. I don’t think my son is musically inclined too, even if I think a guy playing a piano is so cool! There is only 1 childhood, and lots of time for him to pick up piano as an adult if he really likes it later in life. If he is a music protegee, it would had shown after all these years invested in him.
Shirley Soh Sally: I would prefer him to enjoy the lessons..initially he does not enjoy as he is an active boy..after a few lessons, he started to enjoy..he wanted to continue the lessons after I asked him. It was juz like abacus, his skool teaches abacus n i asked if he is interested to learn extra and he said no, so i din enrol him any… the most impt point is ur … See Morechild muz be able to enjoy n able to absorb wat he learns if not, it will be a torture for the child as well as for the parents…and a waste of time & $
Find out what your child is interested in and then nurture it by letting him/her better him/herself in that area.
Interest and passion in whatever you do is of utmost importance.