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• Types of Programs

What will your child learn in piano lessons?

Technical piano skills. Kids in piano lessons learn sight reading, understanding the musical scale, maintaining tempo, understanding major and minor keys, harmony, composition, and more. The scale on the piano itself is structured differently from any other musical instrument. Techniques learned ultimately enhance kids’ musical knowledge and can inspire an interest in other musical instruments.

Hand-eye coordination. Playing the piano requires concentration. Left and right hands are often playing different melodies, music must be read as it is played, and the pedals are used to modify the sound. As kids transition from beginners to advanced piano players, they improve in both coordination and concentration.

Independent learning. While other extracurriculars involve a more collaborative approach, piano is independent. Students practice pieces on their own and develop an understanding of how they learn and practice best. Some may find that practicing for a half hour at a time works for them, while others may like to practice for hours with breaks in between. Kids begin to recognize who they are as learners both in general, and as musical learners.

Resilience. Like most skills, piano takes time to perfect. Practice includes making mistakes and learning how to deal with those. Hitting a wrong note may mean having to start over. Kids reflect on mistakes and learn from them. Persevering through frustrations and challenges builds patience which they carry over to other areas of their lives. 

Responsibility. Although piano teachers guide kids through musical pieces and help students get started, the onus is on kids to practice at home. Whether it’s on a piano, electric keyboard, or a piano app on an iPad, kids learn responsibility, as they maintain a healthy practice schedule.

Good listening skills. Piano lessons teach a plethora of unique technical skills such as sight reading or listening to pitch and tone. As kids master these techniques, they heighten listening skills and learn to discern increasing detail of what they are hearing. 

The benefits of piano classes

Encourages creative expression. Our culture generally favours technology and science over the arts, and children may internalize this early, undervaluing artistic expression. Piano lessons are a great way for children to develop creativity, though, and it has the added benefit of being a stress reducer. Piano is an ideal means for kids to indulge in the rhythmic articulation of music.

Develops and improves courage. Performance may not always come naturally to young kids. In piano class, kids showcase their skills to their teachers, peers, and family, as part of examinations and recitals. They deal with stage fright–a natural thing–at a young age, building confidence in their abilities.

Helps strengthen memory. In piano class, the child’s developing mind works with the musical scale and notes, as well as the keys on the piano. All of this takes time to memorize. They also memorize musical pieces and more, developing their memory and related skills.

Explores musical appreciation. Kids are typically over-exposed to pop music, but piano class helps them appreciate classical, jazz, folk, and other formats. Through exploring different genres and composers of classical music, for example, kids understand and appreciate the intricacy of this form of musical expression.

Personal discipline. Discipline is important to many aspects of life including school and work. Through piano lessons, kids are expected to practice for an allotted time regularly, before the next class, where they will be required to demonstrate their personal progress. This discipline will carry over into other areas of their lives. 

Questions parents should ask about piano classes

Before selecting the best place for piano lessons, parents are asked to consider the following questions:

1. Are there books to be purchased before classes?
2. Will there be performance dates or examinations?
3. What specific guidelines or expectations are in place with regard to practice throughout the week?
4. What is the instructor’s experience and credentials?
5. How much exposure is there to writing and composing music? At what stage is this implemented?

Related programs, classes, lessons, and camps

OurKids.net lists scores of different types of kids’ lessons, classes, and camps. We want to offer kids unlimited learning and personal growth opportunities. For kids interested in piano, here are some suggested camps and programs that can help deepen your appreciation for piano and related pursuits. 

Music lessons for kids include many different kinds of instrument training. Types of classes on our site that are more focuse include piano lessons and singing lessons.

Music summer camps include programs offered by conservatories and other specialists. Here, kids have a week-long (or longer) immersion in various forms of music, surrounded by friends who share their enthusiasm.

Performing arts camp is the right place for expressive, creative kids who want to explore various types of performance, including acting, dance, and related arts. Musical theatre camp is related but more focused on this specialised art form. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Piano lessons are there?
There are 12 programs specializing in Piano. In addition, there are 15 programs offering piano as an activity. Use the filters to narrow by age and program type, then click on matched programs to see daily activities, dates, rates and registration information.

What are the fees to attend Piano lessons?
Fees for Piano lessons range from $25 to $1,501 per program (program types and lengths vary). Use the filters here to narrow programs by age and type.

What age do Piano lessons start at?
There are programs available for children aged 3 through 19.

Where can parents meet with Piano lessons?
Meet with program directors and staff at the Our Kids Camp & Program Expo. The Expo is held annually in February, and is a fun and informative day for parents, kids, and teens. Find event details and free tickets here.