Teaching an 8 year old

[becca_s]

Ive been playing Piano for a few years now. I wish I had started at an early age but my primary school never pushed me in the direction of music. My 8 year old niece says she wants to learn so I am determined to teach her so she doesnt end up feeling how I do, does anyone have any tips on how to get her started?

Thanks

[bernhard]

Have a look at these threads where similar questions have been discussed:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,587.msg14335.html#msg14335
(How to teach a 5-year old to read music – Candida Tobin)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,1884.msg14708.html#msg14708
(Motivating children – joining the child’s model and using other children’s accomplishments to motivate)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2192.msg21823.html#msg21823
(How to teach very young students – the historical method, the pragmatical  x logical method and total exposure as the best way for under-5s)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2907.msg25589.html#msg25589
(how to teach chords to young children)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,143.msg35967.html#msg35967
(differences in learning/teaching children and adults)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4020.msg36635.html#msg36635
(What to teach a 4-year old in his first lesson)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,8399.msg85048.html#msg85048
(questions to ask a prospective teacher – reasons why payment should be monthly)


This may be too general for you, but then your question was too general. Make your questions more specific and the answers will be more useful.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[pianistimo]

i liked bernhards comment 'children have small attentions spans.  adults have small attention spans - but firmly believe the opposite.'

one thing i always believed is to take each child at the place where they are at (both in terms of vocabulary and piano skills) and not give too much information in one lesson.  it is always tempting for a newer teacher to say 'well, they concentrated this long - may as well give 5 more minutes of lesson.'  it doesn't always work out so well to give the extra five minutes, even though you are thinking the information will benefit them.  you have to have them wanting more at the end.  not saying to end the lesson too soon, either - but usually on time is good.  that way - the polite kids will not have to yawn and the others start swinging their legs and looking the other way (and asking questions completely off topic).

gradually add music vocabulary as well as adult vocabulary.  kids love it when you use a word and explain it.  don't just use a word and forget to explain what it means.  *speaking to myself.  it is tempting when teaching a combo of adults/children to forget that they are relying on you to help them take those steps up in many areas.  not just music, but grace, character, and professionalism. 

one of my younger students would occasionally forget pencil or book, etc. so i gave him a present of a music bag.  being that this student is your neice - i would suggest a similar gift.  it gives them a feeling of being professional. having a place for pencils, notebook, books - and they hopefully won't forget anything when they come to lesson.

[pianistimo]

you can also buy her a little music dictionary, some books on composers, a few cd's -- maybe on birthdays and special occasions. 

i like to spoil my nephews, too.  i think anything that you do will be nice.  even if you don't reach all your goals with your niece - just the fact you care and want to treat her well matters a lot.  don't worry about not being good enough or doing it 'the right way.'  there is no one right way.  there's a mutitude of ways.  and, when she is a little older - you'll see if piano is what she's about.

parents sometimes put off buying a decent piano, too.  go check out her piano and see what she's practicing on.  take a look at the hammers and see how much felt they have left on them.  how are the strings?  the general demeanor of the piano?  if it's on it's last legs - do her a favor and suggest to her parents to make a step up with the piano.  sometimes it's all in the instrument (how much the student wants to practice).

[pianochild]

8 years is not too young so you should be ok.
I would :
buy a reallllly easy starter book ( one that is ultimate beginer )
just go through the first couple of pages reading them through, and showing.
give the book the him/her and set like 2 or 3 pages to practice on untill you see them next.
You will have to see them quite often, not just occasionaly, but dont go tooo fast as they'll lose interest