No matter where you go in the world, the piano is a familiar instrument that can be found everywhere. With the positive results of research on music education, we’ve witnessed a wave of interest in music education, and the piano has been able to keep pace with this trend. The white and black keys arranged in a row, producing a "plink ♪" sound when pressed. Starting with the excitement of encountering this beautiful and new instrument, learning is always fun and enjoyable at first. However, I've noticed that after reaching a certain point, many students tend to give up along the way. I’ve always wondered why this happens. How can we keep students interested in the piano for longer? The answer is simple. It’s about playing the piano well.  "But wait, I want my child to enjoy playing the instrument, not struggle. Doesn’t that sound difficult? Doesn’t it mean they’ll have to practice a lot?"

 

Let’s recall: Why did children enjoy Beyer Book 1? In an 8-bar piece, students didn’t need to play both hands together, and the time it took to go from reading the sheet music to playing it was relatively short. This allowed them to feel a sense of self-efficacy, such as “I think I’m doing well right now.”, and this quickly connected to a sense of achievement. The fact that they never said they wanted to quit piano is evidence that their interest was well-maintained (laughs). 

 

Now, let’s look at a higher level, such as Czerny.

• How does the process of achieving the same sense of achievement differ between these levels and Book 1?

• What do students find difficult at this level?

• What parts do they find interesting and enjoyable?

• What elements need to be added in order to maintain their interest?

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As we answer this question, it becomes clear that while the sense of achievement remains the same, the time and difficulty needed to experience it vary between the beginner and advanced stages, naturally leading to the realization of the importance of tailored instruction. If the instructions for the beginner and advanced levels are the same, such as practicing measures 15 to 20 thirty times (repetition is important, but what I'm referring to here is simple, mechanical repetition), students will likely become overwhelmed by the parts they need to practice and feel frustrated, leading them to lose interest and give up, especially at critical points often referred to as 'hurdles,' which must be overcome for skill growth. 

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At Lisa Hong Piano Studio, we encourage students to experience and value the emotions related to a sense of achievement, such as ''I think I can do this!'', ''Isn’t it possible?'', ''It’s a bit challenging, but I think I can play this awesome part if I practice!'' Despite the increasing difficulty, we strive to create a safe yet empowering learning environment where students can continue to feel these emotions, even when facing challenging pieces, through more detailed physical, theoretical, or psychological approaches from the instructor.

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As students continue their journey, they express a healthy desire to tackle more challenging pieces, and by developing the corresponding skills and musicianship, they are able to express and enjoy music freely. At Lisa Hong Piano Studio, we will be with them every step of the way, helping them feel empowered to face each new challenge and continue to nurture their passion for music.