Virginia Piano

There are things I’ve observed in my studio, teaching piano lessons since the 1990s. I’ve seen kids learn how to play the piano of course, but I’ve also observed so many other wonderful benefits to students.

It kind of goes without saying that learning the piano helps with all cognitive functions, including increase in math and reading abilities. One of the reasons for this, is because when students are figuring out how to play a song, they have to use “puzzle solving” techniques, at times.

Sometimes, a student is able to “sight read ” piano music, that is easy enough for them. This means that they can read it easily, without having to stop and take a closer look at it.

But sometimes in their music, they need to stop for a moment and “figure it out”. During our weekly lessons, I teach students how to be able to do this.

First and foremost, we choose a small section of music, so that it is not overwhelming. Such as, 2 short measures, or about 8 notes. This teaches students to tackle things in small achievable amounts.

Then, I ask the students, what do you notice? Sometimes the student will notice that some of the notes are the same as each other. So I will have them circle all of the notes that are the same, within the section. This simply helps some students to learn how to pause and look closely. 

Sometimes I have the student evaluate the distances between notes, or recognize patterns. 

Sometimes I have the student “start with what they know”. Such as one of the notes that they know within this little section. And then put the puzzle together from there.

These things allow students to have a repertoire of tools that they can use to figure out the “hard parts”.

This technique for empowering students to be able to figure out their piano music and how to play it, is something that students can apply to all of their academics and problem-solving.

After a lesson, student feels confident that they were able to figure it out themselves. The student is more equipped to be able to figure out piano music when they need to, on their own.

I teach kids as young as 4 1/2 years old, up through adult. I use this technique in an age and level appropriate way, for all students.

Students that are empowered in this way, show increased confidence in themselves, after the lesson.