The gift of music is a wonderful thing to give, and to be a part of . As a teacher, that gift can be very rewarding. Most children who take music lessons do not go on to become famous musicians. Over- enthusiastic parents and teachers often lose sight of this fact. Music is a gift, a hobby, something to be enjoyed, whether you are playing or listening. The most important thing is to have fun, and enjoy making music. 

     Retention of piano students is a concern for most teachers. Some teachers blame the parents or the student for the child's lack of progression in their music studies. Whereas this is part of the problem, it is a small portion of the entire picture. As teachers, it is your responsibility to inspire and encourage these children and parents. How many concert pianists have you personally taught who are playing in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition? While that is a wonderful goal, a better goal would be to pass on the gift of music. We all want children you are teaching to play piano to continue with piano, even in their adulthood. 

How to inspire a child

     It is easier to point out where some teachers go wrong than to put into words how to inspire a child. Observation of successful teachers have shown that they keep music fun, but not at the cost of teaching and challenging a student. For the majority of people who play the piano, the ability to play the piano is a hobby, for self enjoyment. Watching a successful teacher explaining a problem the child is having with a particular area is inspiring. Johnny was having problems with his left hand keeping up with his right hand, and when explaining this to the child and the parents, this is what was said:. "Johnny has truly worked hard and has excelled with his right hand. Doing so, he's sure got his work cut out for himself on his left hand. Great work!, Johnny, I bet when you come back next week, if you spend just half as much time as you did on your right hand, you will have this piece mastered. I am very proud of you, and I know your parents are too." NEVER negative feedback to the parents or the student, no matter how poorly the student has done, find the one thing the child has done right, and praise that. If the student and the parents stay encouraged, that alone will keep that student coming back, hopefully the magic of inspiration will take over. 

     How many students do you have who do not own good pianos. How many parents resist making the investment of a piano, or resist spending the money to maintain that instrument once it is purchased? Digital pianos are not exactly the same as a grand piano, when that day happens, there will be no need to make acoustic pianos. The advancement in technology makes today's digital pianos feel and play like real pianos. It may not feel like your piano at home, but I dare you to find an acoustic piano at a piano store that feels exactly like your piano at home. You know that every piano feels different. That doesn't mean just because the acoustic pianos at the piano store do not feel like your piano at home, that they don't feel like pianos. The technology to replicate the physics of an acoustic piano action in a digital piano is upon us. The sound of a digital piano is a digital recording of a real piano. So when hearing a digital piano and an acoustic piano on an audio CD, even the most discerning ears can now be fooled. The pedals on a digital piano work like an acoustic piano pedals with all the same functionality. 

     Have you ever heard a student say to you that they had this piece perfect at home, but when they play it on your piano, they struggle? You also hear them say the piece sounds different on your piano. This is due to the fact that the student is playing on a good piano at your studio, and/or their piano at home is badly out of tune. Digital pianos are always in perfect pitch. Children's ears become more developed using a digital piano, because their piano is never off pitch. Digital Pianos can cost as little as a used piano, but sound as good as a concert piano through speakers. The technology of Generalmusic RP 120 pianos (and above), unlike most other brands, have all the nuances of a real piano acoustic grand piano, even all the sympathetic sound of the strings. Nothing is lost, not even the ability to half pedal. 

Advantages of Digital Pianos

     Besides sounding and playing like concert pianos, the digital piano has the ability to plug in headphones. this allows the child to play without the distraction of things going on around them. A digital piano never needs tuning. It can also play other sounds, like harpsichord, pipe organ, and other instruments to help the child hear their music the way the original composer meant it to sound. 

     Lets face it, children these days are bombarded with stimulation of the senses, and the piano, when learning, can sometimes be dry and boring. With the Digital Piano, the student can spice things up, playing with some of the other sounds available on the instruments. 

     All of Generalmusic's Digital Pianos can record. This recording faction is an incredible tool. Students can simply record themselves to listen to their progress. Record one hand, after mastering it, and slow down the tempo while playing it back to practice the other hand. This allows them to hear both together while practicing. Those instruments with floppy disks can play the accompanying orchestration, as well as one hand of the musical composition. Now how exciting is that?!?