Should I feel like a failure if I've played piano for 30 yrs but haven't yet taught my 7 yr old?

Question

I've played piano for a long time and I've tried to start teaching my daughter a few times. She really wants to learn but I'm not sure I'm very good at teaching at all. I can't seem to stick with it. I feel like a failure in that area. I've taught kids before but now it seems like I have so many worries (financial) on my mind I can't seem to focus. We can't really afford to hire a teacher either, but I'm thinking it might be a good idea.

Answer 1

I started lessons at age 12.  I went through 3 books 12 months.  It is more economical to wait when  paying for  lessons.

My son wants to play but does not want to learn.  I'll teach him when he wants to learn.   He learned guitar with a computer program and by 'jammin' with his friends.

Answer 2

If you've got other things on the go, then you need to be gentler with yourself. If your daughter really wants to learn, she'll come to you and ask for lessons.

You know, homeschoolers are always on the look out for piano teachers and the like. What about offering your services? It'd be a way to reduce some of your financial worries.

Answer 3

don't worry i bet your not a failure. its like my mom wanting to learn how to play the violin. why don't you just set up a time and do it then. and remind yourself with an alarm clock or something. good luck. and tell your daughter that its important to practice no matter what. good luck again. :)

Answer 4

Why not find someone who can teach piano who has a child who wants to learn piano. Exchange children for the piano teaching. Sometimes parents teaching their own children an  instrument is not a good idea as it can be too intense and place a strain on your relationship. "I'll teach yours if you teach mine. " seems a good idea to me.

Answer 5

no

Answer 6

nonsence you've played for 30 years you have plenty of experiance just try to teach your kid the same way you learned or if that was very difficult for you try to ease it up and make it easier. i'm sure you have the capability to teach.

this'll sound funny but just practice teaching you can do it i'm sure. just dont get impatient because what is easy or a breeze for you may be very hard for your child so just keep with it and i'm sure you can do it.

i've played guitar for 3 years almost now and i tought my girlfriend some stuff already so if i can do it you can

hope this helped

Answer 7

no you are not a failure you just need a starting point. Find some online lessons or something to give you a good idea on how to start and then off you go.

Adn don't worry about stuff, worry does not help your situations. They do not go away when you worry about them, they only become magnified.

Instead, concentrate on your daughter. Remind yourself, minute by minute if necessary, how blessed you are to have this time with her. Make the lessons short and fun, then once you finish have a snack.

It will go well.

Answer 8

What's so hard about alloting 30 or a 60 minute lesson once per week.  Let your daughter practice on her own and leave her alone to learn what's taught in the lesson.  I'm certain you can give this kind of time.  It almost sounds like you want/feel the need to be there every time she sits down at the piano.  I could be wrong, just a guess though.

Good luck!

Answer 9

i would just try to relax and think about the time that u are teaching your daughter as a time to relax and not think about financial worries.  i know it isn't a good stress no one likes going through it, but thinking and thinking about it won't make it better.  in the long run your daughter may be a great piano player and maybe you won't be as stressed and fix those problems.  hope this helped! good luck!

Answer 10

you sould what till the point in her life were she might stay with it and then you just teach her the way you learned.

Answer 11

talk to one of your friends that know piano ( that know you have financial isues. the kid will also be firmiliar with the person

Answer 12

She won't be hurt at all if she waits a year or two for formal lessons.  Unless she is pestering you to teach her, you might just want to let it go for awhile.

Answer 13

Absolutely not. She is still young. you see if she is interested. dont just decide to force her to play.

Answer 14

Teaching and knowing are two VERY different things.When she gets to middle school, she can take band and learn there.

Answer 15

well, are you a failure?  in the technical sense of the word, yes - you haven't taught her.  

now, imagine why that is - you've taught other kids before (were they age 7?).  have you taught your daughter anything before that required a lot of attention (does she practice/pay attention/ WANT to learn?).  

do you want to share your talent with someone else in your family, possibly someone who will steal your thunder?  or are you happy to pass along your gift?

if you like your music, and use it as a way to relax, turning it into a teaching arena, for your child (who you usually want to be the best at anything, so we have very high expectations for them and for ourselves) may seem so much more like work than teaching anyone else.

if she really WANTS to learn, then encourage her any way you can.  but, maybe she wants to learn to spend time with you (if finances are troubling you, maybe you're not paying her the attention you used to) so hiring a teacher for her would defeat the purpose.

good luck.