Pupils learn best when they are intrinsically motivated to play.

🌱Sometimes, we as adults need to nurture this intrinsic motivation.

🧐If a child doesn’t see the potential in piano playing, or isn’t captivated by the sound in the first place, there will be no inner yearning to play. They might think, “This is hard work. Why am I doing this?”

🙌On the contrary, if a child has fun exploring the world of piano music, by means of watching & listening to videos/recordings/concerts, and is encouraged to simply sit and “play”, carrying out self exploratory activities independently at the piano, their natural instinct to engage and deepen their understanding will grow. It won’t even feel like hard work.

🤘Have the piano in a central area of the house where it can be frequently played. Have the lid open at all times during the day. Or switched on if digital!

🙌Allow play! Any kind of playing - including slapping hands wildly on the keys for very young children is a must! It’s all valuable experimentation & learning.

👌Always show encouragement, but don’t over praise. Over praise can lead to the motivation shifting from intrinsic to extrinsic, as they become focused on your reaction rather than their own internal thoughts.

🥎 Pupils who play games and are encouraged to have fun whilst learning, will learn more deeply. Music reading, correct techniques and posture at the piano can be intertwined with games from day 1.

🏅 Following a formal exam route can be motivating, but this doesn’t suit everyone, so teaching should always be flexible. Your child may not require this kind of motivation. Some of the very best musicians in the world did not follow a formal exam route. Music colleges have their own audition methods, and although it can be seen as evidence for achievement, tutors at these institutions are able to see talent and hard work whatever the route.

🎹 Encourage participation at EVERY performance opportunity possible, including concerts, competitions, and festivals. I strongly believe in empowering pupils to overcome obstacles such as performance anxiety, which is very common but not commonly dealt with.

🌳 The holistic approach to my teaching gives children life skills that go beyond simply piano playing.