Piano Lessons - Reading Music and Playing the Instrument Are Not the Same

Piano Lessons - Reading Music and Playing the Instrument Are Not the Same

Despite how traditional piano lessons are taught, it's important to distinguish that reading music and playing the instrument are actually two completely different, and mutually exclusive, elements of music instruction. They are different skills, and in fact, have nothing to do with each other.

As a lessons consumer, particularly a parent, it's critical for you to understand that. Let's say you are a non-musician seeking piano lessons for your child and your are thinking "I want my child to learn to read music." What's really important to understand about this is that reading music happens in the brain in totally different parts of the brain than those that have anything to do with hearing and understanding music or playing the instrument as a tactile experience. Although reading music and playing music are related, they are absolutely not the same skill.

What it takes a student to learn how to play the piano is completely outside the domain of what it takes that student to learn to read music. Written music is a language, the same as any other written language and learning to operate in that language requires that it be taught separate from learning the instrument. This is despite the fact that in most traditional music lessons, particularly piano lessons and school band programs, the teachers try to combine playing and reading into the same task. This is why so few music students end up as proficient readers. Most children who really want to play will instinctively sacrifice reading skills to improve their playing skills.

This may lead you, the parent, to ask "Does my child really need to learn to read music?" Truthfully, it's not necessary in order to learn to play the instrument. There are many players who do not read music who are far better players than those who do read music. In fact, many of the household names in both popular and classical music do not read, yet are tremendous performers and artists.

However, there are significant advantages to learning to read music. If you are thinking "Maybe I don't want to put upon my child that they have to learn to read music" understand, if taught correctly, it will provide advantages.

Children who start piano lessons at very young ages are often taught to read music before they learn to read their native language, so it can be learned by anyone who applies themselves and is given encouragement and coaching in making it easier and fun. Understanding the difference between those two skills goes a long way in clarifying what is to be accomplished in studying the piano. It is also much better for both the parent and the student to understand that reading music is not the same as playing the instrument so that everyone, student, parent and teacher are clear about the goals of learning to read music.

If you have questions and you are now wondering what to do, contact me through my website at http://anaheimpiano.com and I'd be happy to give you some assistance that addresses the players in your house. There's not one solution that works for everyone, so I'd be happy to address any individual questions you may have.

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