Last week Trevor and I took the girls on a mini-vacation… part of which involved a beautiful ferry ride through the Gulf Islands of British Columbia.
Given that we both spend a good amount of our working lives in front of a screen, we are obviously very passionate about the online universe, but nonetheless, we were still shocked by the hundreds of passengers who were glued to their smartphones as the ferry sailed by some of the most incredible scenery anywhere in the world.
No doubt these passengers were engaged with a smartphone app of some sort. It seems we’re in the midst of an app explosion. From flashlights to babysitters to language learning… there’s an app for that.
And piano education is right on board. As am I… sometimes…
Why My Piano Apps Play Second Fiddle
My iPad is loaded with many fantastic apps to help facilitate my piano students’ learning. And as much as they drool over the opportunity to put their face in front of a screen, I don’t ever turn to the iPad first when I’m looking to motivate my piano students during lesson time.
And here’s why…
My piano students need to move! They spend enough time sitting on a bench playing through repertoire, that when it’s time to shift activities… I’d much rather get them up and moving with physical games and piano exercises instead of having them sit in front of a screen (and this isn’t simply a matter of principle… the benefits of movement and exercise on brain functioning is well documented).
And if there isn’t a physical game to support a skill, then I’d rather have my piano students interact with me (not a screen) using something like a board game.
Now I’m not telling you to completely ditch your iPad for simpler times, but I am suggesting that before your students interact with an app, first ask yourself, “Can I teach these same skills through physical exercise or social interaction?”
If the answer is “YES”, then put the iPad away until it can be of real benefit to your piano students (or have them use the iPad outside of their lesson time).
When To Pull Out The iPad
We recently chatted with Tim Topham in a podcast that discussed how the iPad can be used in innovative ways in your lessons beyond just playing piano-related games. Apps that provide a collaborative playing atmosphere (like NoteStar), apps that make publishing your students’ music a snap, or apps that can support your students’ learning at home when you aren’t there (to enhance sight reading and ear training, for example) give piano students opportunities that would not normally exist. I wish I could be at my students’ homes to provide ear training drills or that my piano kids could play along with a band at the drop of a hat… and with these apps they can!
Decide When The Time Is Right
I’m all for “keeping up with the times” and incorporating technology into a piano lesson setting… but everything has its time and place. It’s easy to be lured into the flashiness of technology…but sometimes there just simply shouldn’t be a substitute for learning through physical play or good ol’ human interaction. Sometimes there isn’t always “an app for that”.
If you’re inspired to get your kids up and moving, then our crazy, zany, and educationally sound activities from Pssst… Your Piano Teacher Thinks This Is Theory or Shhhh… Your Piano Teacher Thinks This Is Practice are just what you need!
Leia says
Phew… I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks this way! I love my iPad and am probably a technology addict. But I know that too much screen time can be bad for us – especially kids – and I only whip out apps a couple of times a month. I like to use worksheets on the iPad, as they are paper savers! 🙂 But I MUCH prefer spending face-to-face time with the kids, using board games, movement, and so on. I am appalled at people who are glued to smartphones at all times and I am saddened when I see kids turning out the same…
Michelle says
I wholeheartedly agree. It has only gotten worse over the last 2 years especially. I teach group lessons where the parents are there to learn too. For the first time last September, I had to put “Turn off cell phone” signs next to the keyboards… What’s worst is having to tell the parents the parents to turn off their cell phones while I’m teaching or they’re supposed to be working with their kids. Technology is wonderful… but like candy, too much of it will give you a belly ache! :o)
Joanne says
I’d love to know the names of great IPAD apps kids can use at home for ear training and sight reading.
Andrea says
Hi Joanne – if you click on the link for the Tim Topham interview we listed all of the recommended ones in that post https://www.teachpianotoday.com/2014/03/19/how-to-use-an-ipad-in-your-piano-lessons-podcast-episode-15/
Jennifer Foxx says
As much as I LOVE the iPad, I totally agree that it comes 2nd. And because they still get “tech” time before or after their lesson during lab, the actual lesson time usually gets very little tech time if at all.
Jolene says
Good thoughts. I don’t use one during lessons and I don’t fault those who do. Just isn’t my cup of tea.
Nancy says
I don’t have a tablet yet. Are the apps only for iPads, or can they be found on Android tablets or on the computer?
Drema says
Totally agree!
Heather Korn says
I partly agree – you should obviously be using it as a supplement to your “traditional” teaching. We teachers in the “transitional” age need to remember that when parents put a screen or device in the hands of a small child THEY are wiring their child’s brain for high speed interaction and learning and once it starts there is no going back. The addiction centers of the brain are activated at a young age when this happens and therefore when you pull out a book or a piece of paper with just black and white type you have instantly lost the interest of that child and the “learning zone” shuts down. It’s boring to their brains.
They are sponges in this modern age and they live in a much faster world than we grew up in – the kinesthetic/aural/visual learning modalities are so strong now that you have to be fast and furious to teach even piano. I am so thankful for my iPad and my Apps that have allowed me to reconnect music teaching to a generation that I was losing before and in my studio music apps now count as part of at home practice. The transition and improvements in all students has been amazing this year. Students, parents and teacher are happier.
I can no longer be a teacher (and I’m only 40) that expects the average student to go home and sit at the piano for 30 minutes a day looking at a bunch of boring piano books – not gonna happen. The modern age is here and they are sitting on your piano bench – I was resistant and wanted to stay “traditional” but moving to the ‘tech side’ has been one of the best moves I have made in my teaching. If you find the right Apps, you no longer have to bang your head against your keyboard in frustration on “how can I get through to this kid?” More Apps!