Piano Lessons: Traditional vs. Let's Play Music

Perhaps you've long believed in the importance of piano lessons for your child, just as you did over 30 years ago. But now, you've discovered Let's Play Music! This program prepares children for piano lessons while developing their musicianship skills. Established in 1998, Let's Play Music is a relatively new approach in musical education.

Now the question: Should you enroll child in 3 years of Let's Play Music foundational classes or opt for a traditional piano teacher immediately? Let's compare!

Note-Reading and Keyboard Technique

When you think of piano lessons, you think of learning to read music notation and playing correctly. Private piano teachers excel at teaching these skills with their experience and expertise. No doubt that in private lessons, you will get lots of help with this!

So, how does Let's Play Music teach note reading? Let's Play Music teaches note reading naturally and nurturingly: starting with musical notation, understanding note relationships (steps, skips), learning melodic patterns, and connecting reading with singing. Students grasp white keys and anchor notes as needed.

Let's Play Music focuses on developing foundational music skills, including piano basics. However, for specialized training in finger dexterity, strength, and technique drills, an instrument-specific teacher would be more suitable.

BUT WAIT! For children aged 4-5, there are many years ahead to focus on technique. Let's Play Music won't compromise technique but there's something else important for this age group, so keep reading...

Musicianship

In private lessons, there can be a heavy focus on notation and technical skills like reading and playing accurately, often at the expense of rhythmic, tonal, and creative abilities.

How can children become musicians who can improvise, write songs, and transpose? Dr. Chad West advises that classes emphasizing movement, singing, chanting, listening, and creativity build a strong musical foundation. Skills like audiation, pitch matching, and rhythmic consistency may not yield immediate measurable outcomes, but they cultivate deep musical understanding and creativity over time. These skills enrich musical interpretation beyond mere notation reading and playing.

Traditional piano lessons may not always prioritize these foundational musicianship skills. In contrast, Let's Play Music emphasizes them through comprehensive class activities.

Playfulness

At Let's Play Music, one of our core values is PLAY. Fred Rogers captured this sentiment perfectly by stating,

"Play is often talked about as if it were relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the 'work' of childhood."

Our curriculum emphasizes play for several critical reasons, which you can explore in detail in our blog post. Traditional piano lessons may not always provide the playful and engaging experiences that young children thrive on. In our experience, most 4-year-olds prefer interactive and fun activities over extended periods at the piano bench.

One challenge of private lessons is their one-on-one nature, which can sometimes limit opportunities for playful learning and trial-based exploration. Research supports the benefits of group classes in fostering a playful atmosphere conducive to effective learning at this age. Let's Play Music incorporates these insights into our approach, ensuring an ideal environment for young learners.

Relationships

At Let's Play Music, we emphasize the value of relationships. Our classes are designed to foster strong bonds between parents and children through engaging, wholesome, and enjoyable experiences. In the first year, you'll attend class with your child every other week, and in years two and three, about once a month.

Parent involvement is crucial in nurturing young musicians, whether in Let's Play Music or with a private teacher. The difference lies in the intimate, hands-on participation you'll have as your child learns. You'll always be informed about what your child is working on, their favorite songs, and any challenges they're facing. These early musical experiences shape attitudes and feelings that set the stage for future musical endeavors. We believe creating joyful memories around music with parents is key to cultivating a lasting love for music.

Another perk at Let's Play Music is that parents can learn music theory alongside their child in a fun and effective way. Whether you've wanted to transpose, compose, or harmonize music, attending classes with your child offers you valuable lessons as well.

Long- Term Growth

In this article, my goal is to show you why participating in three years of Let's Play Music (which you'll love) is the best way to ensure your child's long-term musical progress.

While I encourage you to consider Let's Play Music as a foundational step, I also value private piano teachers. You'll find a fantastic teacher to help your child excel after graduating from Let's Play Music, supported by our transition plan, Connections.

Whether you choose Let's Play Music or private piano lessons, you're making a great decision to enrich your child's life with music education. Thank you for prioritizing this important journey!

If you're ready to jump in, find a teacher near you now!

Find a Teacher