This tops the list as one of the most-asked piano teaching questions; “How can I keep the parents of my piano students involved?”
While this answer may not work for every single instance… I have found that inspired, invested and involved piano parents are informed piano parents.
Piano parents typically aren’t as involved in the piano lesson process as they are in other extracurricular activities. Do you ask your parents to cheer on their child as they play piano in the pouring rain every Saturday morning? Are they selling pop at a concession stand in your piano studio? Do they flog chocolate almonds door-to-door to raise money for the newest equipment or the latest uniform? Are they keeping track of the latest belt, badge or time score from the latest inter-club competition? I’m guessing not. And this might just be the problem…
The Missing Link in Piano Parent Involvement
The very nature of piano lessons means that it “appears” as though parental involvement is not necessary. Their child arrives at lessons – we say a quick hello and we shut the studio door. We don’t ask much from our parents, and so they do exactly what we’ve asked them to do. They drop off their children, they attempt to make practice happen at home, they come to piano recitals.
But the catch is, we as piano teachers really do want more! We want enthusiastic involvement in piano practice at home that is on par with a cheering for a soccer goal! We want a team of piano parents who are as passionate about piano lessons as they are about ordering the correct gymnastics leotards. We want parents to know what book level, what pieces and what goals their child is currently working towards… and chocolate almonds wouldn’t hurt 😉
Piano Parent 101
We are up against a huge obstacle when it comes to encouraging piano parent involvement… the majority of our piano parents don’t know the first thing about the piano. They know when to cheer at soccer because it’s clear when a goal has been scored. If someone doesn’t fall in cheerleading, it’s clearly a job well-done. Piano can be a mysterious thing for non-musical parents, and it’s up to us to change this.
If you are doing these 4 things in your piano studio you’ll be well on your way to piano parent paradise:
1. Clearly communicate what is happening in your studio – You absolutely must have some sort of online presence be it a blog, a Facebook page or a way of texting your studio as a group. If you haven’t yet embraced social media, then at the very least send home a hard-copy newsletter monthly.
2. Invite piano parents into the lesson frequently – You don’t need parents to stay for the entire lesson, but a sneak peek at what their child does in lesson time with you is always appreciated. What are theory games anyway? How do you compose with an 8 year old? Show them…often!
3. Don’t just encourage practice… encourage family practice – Ensure that at least one task for your piano students’ weekly practice involves some, if not all, of their family. Give piano parents the opportunity to be involved by making it very clear exactly what they need to do. If they have instructions they’ll rise to the occasion.
4. Give piano parents bragging rights – Find meaningful ways to frequently recognize their child for musical accomplishments. Piano goals reached are not as flashy as are karate belt levels, national swimming records or a really great back flip… but they should be celebrated as largely. Piano parents can’t be enthusiastic about something unless you tell them what that something is.
Involved, invested and inspired piano parents make all the difference to a child’s musical education. If you’re feeling frustrated about the lack of commitment, enthusiasm or interest, remember that you likely haven’t asked for it! Find effective ways of informing your piano parents and you’ll likely see a very positive shift.
More Creative Ways To Encourage Family Music
Stuck for ways to involve the whole family in practice time? Our book “Pssst…Your Piano Teacher Thinks This is Theory” includes tonnes of printable pages that reinforce theory concepts and encourage everyone to get involved in the fun. Print a page per week, hand it out to everyone and watch your parental involvement in your studio change!
Ruth Michaelis says
I actually require parents to attend class with their students as part of my studio policy. I ask parents to sit on practice a minimum of 3 x’s a week. I do this for a number of years. If a student shows the self-motivation and skills and understanding to go solo we make a decision together. I teach grade school age students.
I teach group lessons and everyone is involved. More success, less turnover. I love your blog! So many great ideas!
Barbara says
What a great post. I’m always trying to think of ways to have more involvement of family and friends so I look forward to using these ideas. Also, I love when you highlight previous posts because some of them are from before I knew Teachpianotoday existed so it’s very helpful to have related posts cross-referenced. (I know I can go back and read them ALL but, you know, it’s that “time” thing:)
Jane Lumkin says
Thanks for these tips. I started a facebook page but have lapsed and need to update it more often. Your ideas for using text and email to communicate more than just invoices to parents are excellent and I now have a smartphone partly so that I can start to use it when teaching! Thanks.
Josie says
I regularly invite parents and younger siblings, granny, aunt, cousin from overseas etc. into our piano lessons, for “mini recitals” and, when they are there, I take every opportunity to get the parents and siblings joining in – clapping along, singing the chorus, younger brothers and sisters joining in the games. The whole family leaves the lesson buzzing – the piano student feels great that mum cared enough to stay and listen and younger brothers and sisters want to come back to join in… great for boosting studio numbers!
Barbara says
Josie, thanks for sharing this wonderful idea. This gives the students experience playing in front of others without the intimidation of a whole sea of people watching. I also love that you get the audience involved. Great, great stealth marketing idea.
Jahn Crews says
In my recent Fall info to parents I wrote: Parents are ALWAYS welcome, even urged, to attend lessons or parts of lessons as often as possible to get a feel for your child’s progress & where they might need encouragement. I expect a minimum of 10 to FIFTEEN minutes practice 5 or 6 days a week for beginning sutdents, progressing in length of practice time as they move forward. It will be more fun for us both if they coome prepared for the lessons by having practiced often and long enough to at least iron out most of the kinks from the prior lesson. Most students need parents to help them obtain this by discussing & setting realistic practice goals TOGETHER at the beginning of lessons each year. A little reward for meeting those goals from time to time is like a treat at the end of the ball game! Parents usually need to serve as the reminderer. Not always an easy job when you have to get supper fixed, head out to other activities, put a much needed load of clothes in the washer but the end results are great! Most parents will say it’s worth it. I meet soooo many adults who have said to me, “I wish my mom had not let me quit piano!” I often wonder why it is always the mother’s fault that they quit! : )
Don’t forget to remind your child of that goal setting you did together. Sometimes you might say, “Do you want to practice now or right after supper?” Giving THEM a choice is usually very helpful rather than “Get in there & practice !” Get behind them with as much excitement & energy as you show at the ball game they are playing. That is usually filled with more “way to go” than criticism. Take a few minutes to just sit & listen then maybe a pleasant, encouraging comment as you go about the other things you must get done. IF you can help you might ask “MAY I help you on that tough spot ?” If you have a chores list add practicing to it. “Why don’t you try that again a little slower.” Please don’t let the TV interfere with practice time or maybe I should say PLEASE don’t let the practice time interfere with the TV. Sometimes the pian/keyboard/clavinova needs to be moved to a quieter place so your child can concentrate on the music w/o TV background noise.
I have no idea how many, if any, read these comments. All I can do is suggest. Good luck with your parents! Maybe I will give them all a quiz with a treat for the children who’s parents get all the answers right….meaning they must read the letter. : )
Esther says
What would you include in a blog that would be read by parents? I have a blog where I talk about how I’m discovering methods and my own personal growth as a piano teacher, and different difficulties, but it’s not something I would necessarily want parents to read as it’s more private P;
Andrea says
Hi Esther – you can share answers to all of the questions that you find parents typically ask you…. finding a home instrument, how much time their children should spend on the piano at home, how do you know if your child is ready for lessons, ways they can support their child’s learning, why recitals are important etc. etc.
Cathrine says
What kinds of “musical accomplishments” do you report to parents, and how? I’d love to do this more. . .
Tonya Statler says
I have a facebook page that only has information about piano lessons (who I teach, when, where, cost, etc.)
I have no idea what else to post. I’m not good with social media and would welcome any ideas. I’m not on facebook often. Would I be better off with a website? or a blog? How would I go about that? Any advice here would be welcome! I love teaching young beginners, but also love when they progress a bit and really begin to catch on to expression, technique, etc. I taught my first lessons 46 years ago. I took a break of about 10 years, while my kids really needed me in those after school hours. 6 years ago we moved to a new location, and I started teaching again. I’m amazed at the resources available to me now with all the blogs and internet sites out there! But it’s a new ballgame! I’m looking to pick up more students, but I also need a lot of updating on my communication methods and skills!
Angela Traynor says
Following to see replies to Tonya!
Drina says
This is a great post, thank you Andrea! It got me to thinking now about student/parent duet literature.
I also send out regular emails to let parents know what the goals are studio-wide, then those pertaining to each child after every lesson. I ask parents to help them loosen their elbows and wrists by randomly interrupting the phrase, lifting the elbows/wrists to check for looseness. The interruption may be unmusical, but it gets the kids laughing and taking technique in a positive stride, having fun with it instead of seeing it as duldrum. The parents like to feel involved. Thank you again for this wonderful post, very thoughtful.