How to motivate a student to learn when they only want to "play"

[figaro]

I have a few young students; currently, 2 of them have expressed a lack of interest in learning but simultaneously said they want to play.  I'm sure these students are not unique in how they're expressing their views about lessons and piano - and wanted to know how some of you may have addressed a similar student.

Student 1: 12-year-old student who had previous piano lessons on and off for 3 years with 2 different teachers.  In addition to not practicing, her previous teachers have skipped around in various method books (Alfred's, Faber, Suzuki) and her last teacher assigned a Grade 2 piece when the student hadn't yet learned 8th notes, 16th notes, 3/8 time, nor reinforced note reading.  This student is an early Beginner - she had difficulty learning a Grade 1 piece I gave her, complaining it was hard to understand (all quarter notes) and found it difficult to identify notes.  After speaking with her, she agreed to continue with lessons but I suspect she is still frustrated that I'm not allowing her to play the Grade 2 piece until she can read notes.  I made the piece a goal piece, but she's not happy about practicing and just wants to know what keys to press on the keyboard - nor does she seem to understand why note reading is important.

Student 2: 6 year old student.  On our first lesson, he had a tantrum, yelled, and pounded on the keyboard refusing to learn.  On our second lesson, he made it through 15 minutes before walking away and refusing to learn anymore.  I showed him some pieces in the lesson book that he will eventually learn to play and he expressed excitement to play the pieces but didn't want to return to the piano to learn the steps.  He wanted me to play and he copied what I did,  rather than learning the concepts and techniques to play on his own.

[lostinidlewonder]

Often it is a good idea to be able to just play the piano first without the drudgery of reading music. Once a student has many pieces under their belt then reading becomes more easier to connect with.

[figaro]

Often it is a good idea to be able to just play the piano first without the drudgery of reading music. Once a student has many pieces under their belt then reading becomes more easier to connect with.

Thanks for your comments. You use the word “drudgery” to describe learning and I suspect expectations of return from lessons are greater than efforts applied toward the subject.  For the older student, they have been learning from former teachers without learning notes and would act bored when given a simple exercise to play but complain if something is challenging and won’t practice because it’s hard. For the younger student, they’re not learning notes yet but how to play tunes in black keys and 2 fingers. With the younger student it’s about teaching the lesson in between his pounding on the keys or walking away.

[ego0720]

Hook them with songs they are proud of. Once they are in deep.. then they are forced to choose between giving it up (wasted time) or make something out of it. I know it's pretty evil...

My concern is with the older child (12?) who had teachers that did try. The only thing I can say is to meet in the middle. They can be fed what keys to play for now but they should also be given some challenges they have to try on their own. Maybe they are frustrated and can be given easier challenges to feel accomplished. If u want to retain them u can do what they want presently but eventually set up expectations that hey.. u can be better than u r if u apply yourself this way.. that kinda talk. Maybe penetrate and plant that seed without being too authoritarian but in a nurturing way.

[lostinidlewonder]

You use the word “drudgery” to describe learning and I suspect expectations of return from lessons are greater than efforts applied toward the subject.

I am saying that those who are early on their journey with piano generally would prefer to learn how to speak the musical language before they read. It is only once they have learned a number of pieces and can coordinate themselves somewhat that reading has a more solid platform to learn upon.

You could for instance (and I am going to be very simplistic here) teach pieces which have limited positions, define those positions and teach with finger numbers and think about ways to define rhythm without the need for sheet music. You could write note values above the numbers or just use dots or dashes to define time.

There are apps such as a new one PianoVision which allows users to play pieces without the need for traditional reading at all. It is important to keep students engaged and then you can build upon it. From my experience many do feel rwading music at the very beginning is full of drudgery so it is our duty as teachers to more comfortably introduce it to them.

[bryfarr]

Regarding the 12 yr old:  To be direct and a bit blunt:  Your methods are not the right fit for this student.
 I suspect this student is going to evolve into a pop/jazz musician, if anything.   You would be doing the student a favor by referring her to a good contemporary/pop music teacher.   A personal anecdote:  I played the Chopin Scherzo #2 when I was 16. It was over my head but I loved it and learned a lot and got a feel for my limits.  Did I play it well? No!  Can I play it well now?  Very much so!   The point is, it's good to look for the big picture in a student's life:  life long engagement with music making.  Sure if a student comes to you and says, "I want to go to conservatory", you know what to do.  But this is not that student...

[killsaved42]

I have had this problem, not on the piano but on violin, both as a student and a teacher. Personally I made it to around grade 3 before having a solid grasp of note reading, but it came naturally to me by rather re-associating what I'm playing to whats on the page. Similarly with students, often seperating the two (teaching them the basic concepts of a note, but not requiring them to read quite yet) worked for me, so that students learned by copying what I am playing aurally (I sent them videos for practice pruposes) then later learning how to read sheet music.