It happens to me at the start of every teaching year. One of my adorable little piano students returns to lessons and is all of a sudden… not so little!
I don’t know how it happens, but over the course of a summer a “kid” can turn into a “tween”. And that tween can bring an entirely different attitude to piano lessons than their former “kid” self.
Fortunately, this isn’t my first rodeo and over the years I have become a bit of an expert at breaking down the barriers that tweens can carry with them into piano lessons.
In today’s post I’m sharing 7 barrier-busting tips to help you teach students who left lessons as a child and returned as a tween 🙂
7 Tips For Teaching Piano To Tweens
I consider tweens to be an “at risk” student demographic. They are often encountering many difficult social and emotional challenges that distract them from piano lessons and put them one step closer to walking away.
Ironically enough, the tween years can be when kids need music the most. I know this first-hand… and so I go many extra miles to keep my kiddos in lessons. Below are my 7 tips, learned from experience, for helping tweens out:
1. Tweens love to be silly… if you let them.
I used to be guilty of treating my tweens in a more mature way than they actually needed to be treated. Underneath those tough tween exteriors and baggy hoodies are kids who, if given the opportunity, are desperate to “get out”. With a good dose of humor, a teacher who is willing to get goofy, and materials that encourage a bit of fun, your tweens will love the opportunity to let loose and just be themselves.
Avoid shying away from a good dose of “play”. Use your manipulatives, your off-the-bench activities, and your practice incentives just as you would with your younger students. Remember, you can still have a goofy and good time without treating them like the little kids they used to be.
2. Tweens need to be given the opportunity to be responsible.
Once my piano students reach the age of twelve, I stop “going over their heads” when it comes to parent communications. Giving your tweens opportunities to be responsible and to take ownership over their own lesson experiences is essential in helping them identify as musicians.
Deal with your tweens directly when it comes to laying out practice expectations, giving lesson reminders, and debriefing weekly or monthly progress. Show them that you trust their abilities to be responsible and conscientious. Obviously parents should be kept in the loop, but your tweens should be made to feel as though they are the ones in charge of their learning experiences. Most will rise to the occasion and find a sense of pride in their ability to do so.
3. Tweens crave connections with peers.
Piano can be a solitary activity (which is one reason why sports can often win out over piano when tweens are given the choice). Be sure to include regular opportunities for your tween students to network with same-age students. Duets, piano parties, group classes, and community events are all great ways to bring a sense of collaboration into your studio that will make your tweens develop that all-important sense of belonging.
4. Tweens still need guidance when it comes to time management.
As much as I try to treat my tweens as young adults, I’m well aware that they still need assistance in learning to manage their practice time. Tween schedules can get really busy; homework demands increase, extracurricular activities become more serious… and friends vie for any scraps of free time. While you’ll want to give your tweens responsibilities, you’ll also want to provide guidance when it comes to effective practice.
Helping your tweens find a predictable practice time ensures piano practice can happen no matter how busy schedules might become. I encourage morning practice with all of my tweens as the “after school hours” are often completely taken up with other demands.
5. Tweens are sensitive and need to feel valued.
Choose your words carefully when teaching tween students… their sensitivity is heightened at this stage in their lives. Teens are hyper-aware of what they believe others may think of them and this can affect their willingness to participate in recitals, to “put themselves out there” in exams and competitions, and to accept challenges in lesson time.
A good dose of understanding, and the patience to wait for them to feel ready, is often needed… but so is the ability to create opportunities for success. Seek out ways for your tweens to be successful at the piano in environments that boost their confidence and their self-perception.
6. Tweens love to play music that sounds more difficult than it actually is.
In fact… who doesn’t?! But tweens in particular crave instant gratification and the approval of others. Seek out repertoire that has the “wow factor” that this age group appreciates. This enables them to feel proud of their accomplishments at the piano.
Encourage your tweens to have a list of memorized pieces that they can play “anytime, anywhere”. A strong connection to the repertoire that they are playing is the best way to keep tweens practicing and progressing and motivated to continue to take lessons.
7. Tweens need small, attainable goals to keep their attention.
While your teenage piano students often have the patience to work towards long-term goals, tweens need short-term goals in order to keep their motivation levels high. Teens may happily work towards an upcoming performance that is four months away… but your tweens need to be setting small and attainable goals regularly.
If you would like to add to our list of Tween Teaching Tips please share in the comments at the very end of this post.
Were You Swimming When These Popular Posts Came Out?
Learning to teach tweens is one of many things you will need to keep in mind as another year of lessons ramp up. During the past few months we have shared some great posts that will help your studio run smoothly this year. If, over the last few month, you were on an exotic vacation, swimming at the lake, or running through sprinklers here are a couple of helpful articles you may have missed:
What To Do When Parents Expect More: A 4-Step Process
Why Do Piano Students Quit? Karen King’s Research Provides The Answers
With These Piano Parent Stickers… Home Practice is Sure To Improve!
A Super Swirly Trick To Help Teach Expressive Piano Playing
Eight Tiny Tools That Make A Big Difference When Teaching Accidentals
This just happened to me this week! One 12 year old took the summer off, and when he came back, he’s taller than me and I think his voice is changing. It really threw me for a loop!
It’s an odd feeling isn’t it Amy! So much can change in just 2 months!
This is great! I have not accepted many teens in the past, but sure enough, my little darlings have grown-up this year and I habe dedicated the summer to getting ready for it. You guys are always helpful AND ON TIME!!!
Hi Barbara – so glad it was helpful and timely for you! Enjoy your start back into lessons 🙂
My “littles” are also growing and 50% of my studio is 7th or 8th grade this year!! Even though I’ve taught lots of tweens, this is a great reminder—especially music that sounds more difficult than it is and keeping those attainable goals in front of them. They get so busy so with many activities they need those pieces that don’t take 3 months to learn (at least my students!) and can play for friends at a moment’s notice.
Hi Karen – yes, exactly. This is one of the most important things I try to remember (and one of the big reasons we include teen repertoire with this goal in mind with PianoBookClub). They really, really need awesome sounding music that is at their fingertips ready to play for anyone, anytime 🙂
Agree wholeheartedly! Most of my students are tweens/teens and there is certainly a big change during the summer!! The two points I feel most strongly about are 1) Keep it fun and silly a lot of the time. At this age they are very serious about themselves on the inside and knowing they will have “a good time” will keep them looking forward to coming…even if they drag in the door after a long day of school. More than not, my teens come to their lessons after school pretty ragged-looking, but they leave smiling and in good spirits.
2) Small goals and shorter, more difficult-“sounding” pieces. It may not teach them as many new technical tricks at this time, but I think the more new music they learn improves their reading skills and if it keeps them coming to lessons, those skills will have them ready for bigger goals soon enough.
Thanks for commenting Linda! I totally agree with both points you make and yes, if they are playing pieces that are not necessarily “teaching pieces” and yet they are enjoying them and are practicing then we have got them over a huge hurdle and the other things will fall into place as they mature.
Please re-release Awesome in 8 Minutes as one of your bonuses for The Piano Book Club—I have used Stellar and wanted to see the other pieces in that book.
Hi Jan! Our new release this month (Cob Webster: Launching Off With Lead Sheets) was like our “volume 2” of this book – same concept with a new twist and even more music. Hope you get great use out of it! 🙂
Where can I find ideas for pieces that sound *WOW* but are quite easy?
Hi Esther – we specialize in this kind of music through the books we release with http://www.pianobookclub.com 🙂