student hates piano

[jenilyn]

I have a brand new student who is very talented, but hates the piano.  I haven't even given him a lesson, but when he auditioned for me, he frowned the entire time!  I usually don't like to take students who have a bad attitude, but he was truly gifted in his playing that I couldn't just turn him away (even though he didn't want to be there).  Does anyone have any suggestions of really "cool" pieces that I could give him?  He probably plays at level 4.  The pieces need to be eligible for competitions and festivals.  I just don't know of anything that is really cool to learn that isn't too hard.  He is 12 years old. 

[gyzzzmo]

i'd recommend talking to the lad. Ask him what he would like to play, or if he really does dislike playing the piano, or just likes frowning?

[cjp_piano]

level 4 what?

[jenilyn]

He plays in level 4 of the piano adventures by Faber and Faber.  I have talked to him, and he doesn't really want to play anything.  He really hates it, but is willing to do whatever I ask him.  I just want to help him love the piano again so I am just trying to find pieces that will get him excited about it.

[go12_3]

Don't use the level 4 Faber and Faber!  Just use the Janet Vogt Jazz 'n Rags book and
your student will love it!  Plus, the Literature compiled by Faber and Faber is good also.
And there's  Expressive Etudes in 6 books, complied by Suzanne W. Guy.  Your student might be in the Book 4 or 5 level.  nice pieces to learn.  I usually get my students out of the Piano Adventures after the 3A level.  I can't handle teaching from book 3A as it is, but then they will be more ready to learn from the Literature and Sonatina books and what I listed here.  Hope this will work.   
There is a whole bunch of music out there.  Take your student to the music store and browse around too.  That helps him to find something he'd enjoy. 

best wishes,

go12_3

[mcdiddy1]

They best thing you can do is to connect with the student outside of piano. Get to know him and who he is as person.
       Usually kids will connect the subject with the teacher so if they did not like the piano teachers they will not like piano. Try and get some insight into past so you will know what happened and what did not work for him as well as learning about how he thinks. Use humor and connect musical concepts with real life experiences.
       Smiling is contagious so be incredible positive regardless of what his mood is. He can't possiblly hate the piano because he has achieved some success in it so there was practice involved.
        Find out what type of music he likes to listen to and play and go after it. Its hard for someone not to enjoy playing pieces they picked out themselves. Also realize you can't read minds so what may appear on their face may not be about piano or anything dealing with music at all but a separate issues.
 Be honest and ask him what it is. If all eles fails you have done all you could and just continue to be the best music teacher you can be and do not treat him any different from your sunniest, happiest student.It's not as easy but your kid deserves to be treated well regardless or what is going on in his personal life.