“I want to play the drums!”, “Piano is dumb!”, “Piano is for girls!”

We have all heard these comments from time to time, usually from early teens. What to do?


“I want to play the drums!”

Without blinking, I always start by asking a few friendly questions.

1. “What kind of music would you like to play on the drums?”
2. “Do you have friends who play the guitar?”

A statement “I want to play the drums!” often alerts us that the music we are teaching the student is becoming increasingly irrelevant or our approach needs a little rethink for this particular student. Remember they love music or they would simply quit. And, playing the drums really is fun.

“Piano is dumb!”

1. "What do you mean?"

Some possible causes of stress:

1. Overscheduled pressured student- hockey, band, piano, friends, homework, Facebook, etc. They love the piano; they just don't have time because of other commitments. Talk to the parents, quick.

2. Sitting still in a room by yourself, for extended periods of time, practicing music that you don’t understand when your friends are running around the mall, and having fun online is pretty hard to do when you are 13. Someone once told me that most kids quit piano when the music on their iPod doesn’t match what is sitting in front of them on the music stand.

“Piano is for girls!”

Believe it or not I’ve heard this.
My response, “I’m not a girl”.
He quit anyhow.

Cheers,

David Story