Do many other teachers' piano pupils practice on a keyboard at home?

Some of mine do and it really holds them back when trying to learn a piece as a whole, with expression etc.

I have said that as they reach and pass grade 1 they should be thinking about a piano; even an electric one.

But I know its a huge expense, and it takes up more room.

There must be other in the same boat....?

Hi, yes, lots of mine are/have been in the same boat, mainly pupils I teach at school. To be honest, though it's not ideal long term, lots of mine have graduated onto a piano in time, and having a keyboard gets them started on instrumental lessons. I know individual teachers have their own policies; I am happy to take students with a keyboard to make lessons to start off with. I feel that there's lots of other factors that make even more of a difference in the early stages, such as parental support and regular practice at home.

QUOTE

I am happy to take students with a keyboard to make lessons to start off with

Same here. I make it clear that I don't regard it as an ideal substitute for a piano long-term, but it is sometimes a useful way of getting started.

I am reluctant to enter a student for any piano exam while there is only a keyboard at home, as they can not properly prepare their pieces with expression and dynamics.

Maggie

one of my teachers pupils is 11 and practises on a keyboard but when she plays on the piano in her lesson she really leans into the notes and puts so much expression into the music!

I have students that are learning piano skills but practise on a keyboard. As everyone has already stated, at least they have keys that make a pitch. My husbands grandmother said she took piano lessons when she was a child and for the first two years of lessons all she had to practise on was a cut out piece of cardboard with the keyboard drawn on it!!!! No joke. Apparently the whole family would use it to practise (Mum and three kids). Now THAT's doing things the hard way!

I've convinced one of my keyboard players parents to buy a second hand piano, and have convinced the mother of another player that she needs a piano - but the father is hesitant. This student and another student I have entered in exams, but they're only at grade one.

They both have great potential. But how do you try and convince parents to part with so much money just because their teacher thinks they could go on and be very good piano players? I think the parents are just thinking well as long as they're happy now, everythings just dandy the way it is. Perhpas that's true for grade one and even grade two, but grade three?

What do others think? And how would you convince 'unmusical' parents of the importance.

I also teach keyboard as a valid instrument in itself - using all the rhythms, intros, ending, voices etc. But these kids are beyond that and aren't interested. They prefer playing piano music! All ten fingers! And I don't blame them.

For those who have successfully converted a keyboard player to a piano player, how have you done it, and what type of parents were you dealing with in the first place?

The reason why one of the parents of my students bought a piano was because it was so cheap! Only $200(AUS), $110 for tuning, and now he's got a great piano to practise on. But you just don't come across bargains like this every day.

Most of my pupils have a piano or electric piano - the one that doesn't you can really tell, she really struggles with crescendos and diminuendos. She is doing the prep test and then if she gets a good report she will have a piano as a reward!

I just make a point each lesson to the student and the parent that the way they are practising isn't really working, that they do need a proper piano. It really does need a lot a nagging but they do get there in the end, especially when you start pointing out things like the lack of strength in their fingers, and asking them to practise whilst imagining the dynamics. The price is an issue I know, but you can get pianos relatively cheaply in the local free-ads, it doesnt have to involve buying new from a dealer and spending vast quantities.

This is actually one of my major bug bears as you wouldn't find any other instrument gets this problem, any of you violinist teachers get students saying they can only get an electric one, will that do? And trying to explain the subtle differences in touch between a "good" electric and a real piano can really take some doing.

QUOTE

What do others think? And how would you convince 'unmusical' parents of the importance.

It's perhaps more difficult if the keyboard has been already established as an instrument in its own right first. The parents have seen some (often fairly quick) progress and are content with the status quo.

If the family siged up for "piano lessons" and the keyboard was accepted as a temporary substitute in the beginning you have a stronger case. I don't actually teach keyboard as an instrument (no hidden agenda here - it just didn't happen that way ) and I make several points clear right at the start if parents want me to take on their child .....

I will do an introductory course without a piano or keyboard at home. This is only half a term's lessons and helps everyone concerned to assess the possibilities. A piano - or almost any kind of keyboard - will help at this stage, but is not essential.

I make it clear at the same time that if we continue past the first few weeks, some sort of piano would be necessary eventually. A keyboard will not be suitable long term. Some parents look into the cost of a piano or digital piano and decide not to continue beyond the intro course. Most families in fact have some sort of keyboard already, and it is generally reasonable enough to take the pupil through the first few terms or so. Sometimes there is a cousin or friend within useful distance with a piano, so the keyboard can be "topped up " with a session on a piano from time to time.

As Lynne said, if it drags on, sometimes you need to nag a bit. If parents have a good quality keyboard and can see the child making fair progress on it, they do sometimes make excuses to delay the decision (and it isn't always a question of funds, although obviously it can be a big investment). Mostly though parents want to feel that the child is serious about learning and isn't going to give up after a year or so, which is fair enough if they are going to spend a decent amount

Keyboards are not the only problem though. I have had families with children using an old piano that hasn't been tuned in years (but spending loads on private lessons of all kinds).

I won't generally enter a child for exams (beyond prep test that is) unless they have access to a traditional or digital piano. This might seem very tough - but it has worked in a couple of cases where the family is keen for the child to do exams ! Of course if they don't care either way that won't work. I agree it can be difficult to explain to a non-musical parent why a real piano is different.

I find in most cases if the family can see that the child is keen and enjoying their lessons, eventually they will upgrade.

And in the last resort, in cases of genuine hardship I will find a compromise if it is the only way of keeping a keen and talented child playing.

Maggie

The finger strength issue is important, I have a pupil who cannot play a piece accurately in her lesson and she says she can play it fine at home because the keys are easier to play.

The piano used for exams has quite stiff keys, so pupils with keyboards find it difficult to have dynamic contrast because they need to put in a lot of effort just to play the notes.

I like the idea of putting off exams until there is a piano in the house, but I suppose that could hinder and discourage the pupil if their parents won't buy one.

Second hand, cheap pianos are not always a good choice either, especially if the parents don't know what to look for.

I think I will keep mentioning pianos to my pianoless pupils and state that no pupil does a grade 3 exam without one.

I teach both piano and keyboard and agree that the technique required for each is quite different.
Some piano pieces can be played successfully on electronic keyboards - e.g. Baroque music and jazz.
It is a problem teaching an instrument which - as yet - has no serious repertoire.

Whilst on the issue of keyboard teaching, what good tutor books are there for keyboard?

QUOTE

Do many other teachers' piano pupils practice on a keyboard at home?

I have one student who is working successfully towards grade 2 and I knew she practised on a keyboard but assumed it was a decent one. I kept asking her to bring it to my house so I could see it, and she finally remembered last week, and it is a really tiny low grade Yamaha one. I just can't believe how good she has got using this keyboard, but it doesn't seem to have held her back at all. It seems that enthusiasm has made up for the instrument. The strange thing is that on her keyboard there is no difference if you play loud or soft, and yet at my house she puts loads of expression into the playing!! I have managed to persuade to parents to buy a bigger one with semi-weighted keys and a pedal - they were not keen on the full-blown digital piano, because they are only in this country for a couple more years and back home they have a piano.