Looking for a simple way to get better results in your homeschooling program?
There is one subject that has a massively positive impact on the whole learning process, but it is often overlooked. Playing the piano is a powerful educational tool that will boost your kids’ academic performance, increase focus and attention, and make learning more fun.
The good news is:
It’s never too late to start and you don’t have to be a professional musician to teach piano to your child. With the right approach and some helpful resources, any parent can set their kid on the path to experience the life-changing benefits of music.
What We Will Cover:
- Why Piano Is So Effective In Homeschool
- The Incredible Brain-Boosting Benefits
- How To Get Your Kids To Enjoy Practice Time
- Piano-Friendly Learning Environment Hacks
- Integrating Piano Lessons With Other Subjects
- Resources That Make Teaching Piano Easy
Why Piano Is Such An Ideal Fit For Homeschooling
Music is a great subject for homeschoolers because it fits so easily into the day. In traditional school settings, music lessons and practice time have to be crammed into a tight schedule. Homeschooling families can choose the most convenient times for practice when kids have the most energy and focus.
There are now 3.7 million homeschooled students in the United States alone, so many homeschooling parents have discovered the benefits of incorporating music into their program.
Think about it:
Traditional schools usually have a 30-minute music class once a week at the most. Homeschool parents can fit in 20-30 minutes of practice every day, which means much more progress in a shorter time.
Best of all, you don’t have to start with complex classical music or compositions. You can start with easy piano sheet music, so your child can play full songs as soon as possible. Arrangements for beginners help students get the taste of success early on in the learning process. It will boost their motivation, build confidence and keep them interested.
Simple pieces for beginner students also lay the foundation for proper piano technique. You don’t want your child to develop bad habits that will be hard to unlearn later on.
The great thing about homeschooling is that you can move at your child’s pace. Some days they may be able to breeze through a new piece, other days they may need more time.
The Incredible Brain-Boosting Benefits You Should Know About
One of the most exciting things about piano is that the benefits are backed by extensive scientific research.
When kids play piano, they get significant improvements in:
- Memory retention, both short and long-term
- Hand-eye coordination as the brain forms new neural connections that benefit other physical activities
- Focus and concentration, as practice trains the brain to maintain attention over longer periods
- Mathematical abilities as counting beats and understanding rhythm strengthens math skills
One study by the University of Bath found that adults who took piano lessons showed increased audio-visual processing abilities in just 11 weeks of learning. If that’s the case with adults, imagine what a consistent practice schedule can do for the brains of developing children.
Playing piano directly translates into executive function skills. Kids need strong executive functioning skills to learn other subjects effectively. Piano practice sharpens kids’ ability to plan, maintain focus, remember instructions and multitask.
Making Practice Time Something Your Kids Will Look Forward To
Truth be told:
Practice can be a tough slog, but homeschooling has some distinct advantages that traditional music schools don’t. You can use these to motivate kids and make piano practice enjoyable.
Break practice sessions up into smaller chunks throughout the day:
- 10 minutes in the morning to warm up with scales and technique exercises
- 15 minutes after lunch to work on a new piece
- 10 minutes before dinner to review and play a fun song
This way, practice won’t feel like such a daunting, overwhelming task. It also helps to prevent burnout and keeps practice fresh.
Another big help is letting kids choose their repertoire. Did you know that piano courses anchor 39.3% of revenue because people want to play songs they like?
Kids these days want to play popular music from the radio, movies, and video games. When practice time includes songs they recognize and love, motivation soars.
Creating A Piano-Friendly Homeschool Space
Learning environment is more important than you might realize.
You don’t need a fancy grand piano and a formal music room to teach piano at home. A simple digital keyboard is perfect for beginners and has some serious advantages over acoustic pianos:
- Volume control and headphone jacks
- Recording features to track progress
- Built-in metronomes to help keep a steady rhythm
- Much more affordable
Place the keyboard in a common area, so your child practices it as part of their daily homeschooling routine. Make sheet music easily accessible with a simple folder system organized by difficulty level.
Integrating Piano With Other Subjects
Wait, there’s more…
You can actually connect piano to almost every other subject you teach your child. This makes learning piano more interesting and also reinforces their understanding in other areas.
Subjects Piano Connects To Naturally:
- History: Study composers and the eras they lived in
- Geography: Discover different musical styles from around the world
- Math: Count beats, use note values to practice fractions
- Science: Sound waves, acoustics
- Language Arts: Lyrics analysis, musical terms
For instance, if your child is learning about the Renaissance period in history, you could incorporate piano compositions from that era. If they are studying fractions in math class, show them how whole notes, half notes and quarter notes work.
The more you can integrate piano with other subjects, the more interesting and meaningful both subjects will be.
Resources That Make Teaching Piano Easy For Parents
A common concern among homeschool parents is feeling underqualified to teach piano. The good news is:
You don’t have to be a professional musician to guide your child’s piano journey in the early stages.
Online learning platforms can provide structured lessons with video instruction. Children can watch, pause, rewind and practice at their own pace.
Method books will take your child through a step-by-step progression of basic piano skills. Faber Piano Adventures or Alfred’s Basic Piano Library are popular and effective options for self-guided learning.
YouTube tutorials offer free instruction on particular techniques or songs. They’re not as comprehensive as formal lessons but are excellent for additional practice.
For parents that want a little more support in teaching their child, it works very well to hire a piano teacher for a monthly check-in. A teacher can assess progress and offer expert guidance while you manage daily practice.
Setting Realistic Expectations And Goals
Teaching your child piano in a homeschool setting means you need to temper expectations, both for yourself and your student.
Results don’t happen overnight and musical abilities will take time, months and even years of consistent practice to develop.
Start with small, attainable goals:
- Learn one new piece every two weeks
- Play hands together by the end of the month
- Perform a simple song for family by Christmas
Celebrate the small wins. Record videos, create a portfolio of mastered pieces, or organize informal recitals for grandparents via video chat.
Keep in mind the purpose of your child learning piano. If the goal is to have a concert pianist, you may become frustrated. The real goal is to give your child a rich, well-rounded education that grows their brain, teaches them discipline and brings them joy.
Conclusion
Adding piano to your homeschool curriculum is one of the smartest educational decisions you can make. The learning benefits cross over and improve performance in every other subject. The discipline of practice teaches important life skills. The joy of creating music is a gift that enriches your child’s life beyond anything that textbooks can offer.
Homeschooling offers you the flexibility to weave piano lessons into your daily routine. Start simple so your child can experience early success. Connect music to other subjects they are learning, and the skills they develop will last them a lifetime.
Your child’s musical journey begins with a single note. So why not start today?
