Top 10 parenting tips for successful piano lessons

Photo: istockphoto/robcruse

By Julie lind @http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-18722-Minneapolis-Piano-Lesson-Examiner~y2009m8d17-Top-10-parenting-tips-for-successful-piano-lessons

Here are my top ten parenting tips for successful piano lessons:

1. Find a good piano teacher. Keep in mind that each child has different needs. For some children a friendly piano teacher is the most important. For others a strict teacher is best.

2. Invest in a piano. You can not expect to get successful results from piano lessons if you are not willing to provide a quality piano for your child to practice on.

3. Make practice time a priority. These days it is hard to find time to practice, but without practice there can be no progress.

4. Take away any distractions during practice time. When your child is practicing make sure they are not distracted by siblings, friends, cell phones, or televisions.

5. Check your child's assignment. Most students will try to avoid practicing songs they don't like. It is your job as a parent to make sure the student is practicing all of their assigned songs. Also make sure your child is making all of the corrections the teacher suggested at the prior lesson.

6. Help your child practice. Many children don't know how to practice. Explain to your child that practice means working slowly through songs until they are able to play through the songs without mistakes.

7. Bring all of the lesson materials to the lesson. Children will often "forget" a book if they don't want to play a song for their piano teacher. Be sure you check to see that all of their music, theory and assignment books are brought to each lesson.

8. Limit after-school activities. Many parents make the mistake of over-scheduling their child. Piano lessons are more than a half hour commitment each week. Students should be committed to practicing at least a half-hour every day.

9. Keep the communication lines open with your piano teacher. If there are any circumstances which are making piano lessons difficult for your child, let your piano teacher know. Perhaps there is a divorce or death in the family, or maybe your child dislikes their method book. Surprisingly many children will not offer this type of information during the lesson.

10. Expect to have good and bad times. It is normal for a student to feel excited about piano one day, and dread it the next. Try to work through the bad times by purchasing piano pieces the student is passionate about such as popular, jazz or Broadway tunes.

By Julie Lind

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-18722-Minneapolis-Piano-Lesson-Examiner~y2009m8d17-Top-10-parenting-tips-for-successful-piano-lessons

More About: piano · piano lessons · music lessons · parenting

How to Get Your Child to Tell You What's on Their Mind

I'm sharing this from my personal experience raising two wonderful boys on my own. Have you ever wanted to know what was on your child's mind but there seemed to be a block with the child in really telling you what was bothering them. Maybe your child had a bad day at school, or something one of their siblings is doing that is bothering them. Maybe for whatever reason they just don't know how to express what's on their mind.

Raising two boys at times I could tell something was bothering one but when I asked they would say nothing. Now I'm talking about children that were between the ages of about 4 to 7. So one night I was putting them to bed and and all three of us would lie there in bed with me in the middle and arms around them and I knew something was wrong between them so I thought why not start singing a tune like we always did at night but this time I made it a game.

I said to them hey I'm going to sing a song but instead of singing exactly as the lyrics go I'm going to put in stuff that made me happy or that bothered me that day. So I'd start signing along and then somewhere in the song I might sing I was happy that Travis picked up his clothes this morning. Maybe next time I'd add Travis made me mad today because he left the door open. Whatever the point is to use your imagination and make a game out of what is bothering you in the song. Then when it was their turn to sing they can do the same thing. What I found out was because they were thinking of it as a game and the lyrics to the song distracted them to I guess they would add in what was bothering them.

It's not an exact technique I know. I'm not some Child Doctor but it worked for me. Get creative I think the point is if you add an activity that helps distract the child a bit and make it fun and they are more willing to share with what's on their mind.

Hi Folks,

Nothing special about me. My greatest claim to fame is being a single father. I raised two wonderful boys on my own since they were 5 and 6. Now they are 27 and 28 grown men. I'm very proud of them. Since I'm semi-retired well I work online at home when I want to, I thought I'd start sharing some of the good things that I have experienced to those that might be considering them. Hope this article will be of help. If you ever want to know more about my experience you can always get a hold of me at http://www.whoispat.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pat_Olds

Parents - Your Solution to Motivating Your Middle School Teenager in School

Parents - Your Solution to Motivating Your Middle School Teenager in School
By Pam Golden
Pam GoldenLevel: Basic PLUSPam Golden is an author, educator, parent, and grandparent. As an elementary school consultant, she has worked with over 15,000 children, 700 teachers,

"When your child enters middle school - it is one of the most painful times of life and it's hard on the kids too!"
Amy's mom was at her wits end when her daughter's grades took a nose dive soon after she entered middle school. Amy had always done so well in elementary school, what happened?

Amy's mom tried to solve the problem by "laying down the law." Insisting that she come home right after school every day and do her homework immediately. She even checked Amy's work daily. That backfired causing a huge rift in their relationship and endless arguments

Difficulty at school and with parents is a common theme for middle school kids. Yet when you realize the changes a middle school child is going through,it can make sense:

• Bodies are changing (raging hormones)
• Brains are undergoing changes becoming more mature but still lack judgment.
• Desperately trying to becoming independent - to stand on their own.
• Going to a much bigger school.
• Now have lots of different teachers who don't have time to help them
• Many choices about which classes to take, activities to join.

Having gone through that years ago, it's easy for parents to forget just how painful, scary and difficult all those changes can be.

You want to let them go, yet there is no way they are ready to be on their own. In fact, they need your guidance more than ever. They just need a different type of help

It turns out there is a powerful technique for supporting your middle school child to do well and achieve in school. It's called "Academic Socialization." When I first heard that word I immediately thought, "Huh, what's that?" Happily, it's much simpler than it sounds

Academic socialization is making the shift from "telling" your child what to do, to "advising and consulting." By making this change you maintain your ability to influence your burgeoning teen, while respecting their growing independence, and teaching them how to make wise decisions.

Here are the basics:

• Sit down with your middle schooler and gently communicate your expectations for education.
• Explain why education is important.
• Listen to your middle schooler carefully so you can understand their point of view
• Set educational goals together.
• Discuss what he or she wants to do in the future
• Take some time each day or week to show the connection between schoolwork and what's happening in the real world.
• Have regular friendly, open meetings to go over how it's going.
• Make it an enjoyable time together.

It may take some energy to get started, but once you make a ritual of sitting down together and going over the agenda, both you and your teen will be thrilled. You will connect in ways you've never done before.

Also, did you know that one type of praise can produce self-defeating behavior and anxiety, while another can move your kids to positive action? Changing a few words can make a night and day difference in your child's life.

If you like to get started learning how to give praise that motivates positive action while building self-esteem and confidence in your child please download my FREE Report on "The Amazing Impact of Effective Praise" at: http://www.basiclifeskillsforchildren.com/amazingpraise

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pam_Golden

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