Virginia Piano

I’m Virginia Smith and I teach private piano lessons to adults and kids 4+, since 1996. My professional piano studio is located at Randall Rd. & Rt. 20, on the far west side of Elgin, Illinois. I enjoy giving my piano students a gentle, motivating, rewarding, and perfect-learning-curve-every-time piano lesson!

Here are a few thoughts on beginning 4-6 year olds, and how I help the parents to assist their child in the very beginning, at home. 

For new students that are 4-6 yo in beginning level, and are getting parent assist at home, I check to see if the parent wants to come in to the piano room for a few minutes. For example, see where middle C is so they know how to show their kid.

I create independence in my students from very early, so this consultation at the beginning of the lesson is usually only 1-2 times when they first start.

Then after that, rather than quickly greeting the parent and starting the lesson, I will take a good minute when they first walk in (or as long as the parent needs) to see if they need any guidance in what they are doing at home “how is it going, with home practice?”

Also, the parent is able to hear our lesson from the adjoining room, which helps them pick up on how to help at home. It’s pretty simple to instruct the parent because the kid is just playing by finger numbers at first, or pre-staff (Faber Adventues Primer).

At the end of the lesson I remind the parent that, anything they do with their kid on a daily basis at the piano as a routine is great and, to LMK if they have any questions just text me.

Anything over 6YO or the first level, I would strongly recommend the parent does not give academic assistance, but simply rewards and encourages. The teacher can create a student that is able to sit down independently at the piano.

My very young students, as young as 4YO, are able to play independently at home without parent assistance, sometimes as soon as a few weeks, if they begin with, and continue a daily routine.