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The Piano Whisperer
The Piano Whisperer shows you how to make your teaching manner delightful. This will inspire children to try things that they are sure they cannot do. Like the film, “The Horse Whisperer,” I believe I have found a way to gently nudge kids towards success at the piano by simply talking gently.
The central point of "The Horse Whisperer" was his use of the rope. “I don’t yank on the rope. I put the rope on the horse and then lay it on the ground so he knows that I’m not going to pick it up until he’s ready. Then I pick it up, but I don’t yank on it. I let the horse feel the slack in the rope and if he pulls away I just let the rope drop. The horse has control of the rope.”
Adopt A Comical, Warm Manner
The piano teacher’s manner is warm and comic, as if the last thing you really wanted to do is teach them a piano lesson. You’re just some affable guy that happens to be there at 3:30 PM every Thursday. First, go to the piano and play something funny, to break the ice and let them know that we are here to both learn and have fun today. Look at the child’s face at the beginning of the lesson. Are they smiling? That child better be smiling when you’re done, or you’re fired.
Piano Is Easy
Teacher As Friendly Leader
I sit on a chair next to them and always talk quietly while they play, praising every small victory, a fingering remembered, a note or three memorized. I offer them the option called BQWIP (Be Quiet While I Play) but we always both end up talking anyway. They know that I speak the truth to them, either good or bad, and that both good and bad news is delivered to them with the gentlest of velvet comic touches.
If they make a mistake I smile and say, incredulously, like a jolly English butler, “Deeply sorry, sir, but that was completely wrong!”
Laugh At Mistakes
Laugh at mistakes, and the child’s fear is defused. They will want to try again. I’m serious about this. Laugh in a friendly, non-derisive way and they will listen to everything you have to say eagerly. But this mock bad news must be accompanied by a genuine smile, and often an explanation.
Kids need to know that a mistake is not bad, but a good thing. Mistakes tell you where you can make it better, usually easily. Say this again and again to them, like a mantra. If they stumble, make it easier. If they still stumble, make it easier still.
Find The Comfort Zone
Find the child’s comfort zone at the piano and guard it with your life. In that zone they are really able to learn. No matter how inept they may seem at piano acrobatics, find something at which they are succeeding. Concentrate on that skill, clone it, add to it, embellish it, make a game of it. Find a way to base your entire curriculum on that one strength they actually have, and have exhibited to themselves.
With time, every damaged and reluctant, fearful “horse” will respond. First they’ll walk, then trot, then gallop, when they are confident and ready to go. I know. It works. I’ve whispered to these “horses” and all they ask is patience and understanding.
REFERENCES
Piano Teaching Style
If It’s Fun For The Teacher, It’s Fun For The Kids
Piano Methods and Children’s Personalities
The Backwards Piano Method
Reverse Psychology and Children’s Piano
Help Your Child Enjoy The Piano
Ten Rules for A Pleasant Piano Teaching Atmosphere
If You’re Having Fun, You’re Not Learning
The Difference Between the Worst and Best Piano Teacher
A Piano Teacher’s Emotions
A Pleasant Piano Lesson Atmosphere
The Use of Humor in Piano Lessons
Make Use of Your Student’s Sense of Humor
Fitting the Piano Method to the Child
Soft Piano vs. Hard Piano
Why I Teach Piano
Advice To A Young Piano Teacher
Teaching Children's Piano
Guilt Is The Wrong Way To Buy Attention
The Piano Teacher’s Tone of Voice
Knowing When To Back Off
Piano Candy: The Case For Bribery
Why Nagging Your Child To Practice Won’t Work
How To Make Your Kids Love The Piano
Teaching Kid’s Piano Is Like Herding Cats
Repeated Victory Will Make You Invincible
Ratio of Talk To Activity in Piano Lessons
On Which Side of the Piano Do You Teach?
Setting the Mood Of Children’s Piano Lessons
Why Kids Succeed At The Piano
Child Pianists Are Like Guide Dogs
The Purpose Of The First Five Piano Lessons
The Real Goal Of Children’s Piano Lessons
The Philosophy Of Piano For Kids
How Simple Should Piano Lessons Be?
Piano Toys You Should Bring To A Lesson
Fun Kid’s Piano
Joyful Piano Lessons
The Invisible Piano Method
A Patient Piano Teacher
Make Beginning Piano Simple
The Reverse Piano Method
Nurture Your Piano Students
Against Disciplinarian Piano Teachers
