Tomoko knows that it often takes a family to raise a young pianist.
Not only does the family have to sometimes sacrifice to pay for lessons, but
they need to provide the home conditions to facilitate daily practice – and reinforce
its importance, not only to develop technical skills but also to develop
self-discipline and perseverance.
Not surprisingly, Tomoko started teaching her own daughter
Beata how to play the piano. Even though Beata does not perform professionally,
she has dueted with her mother at occasional recitals. And music is an essential
part of Beata’s life as she HAS performed professionally as an ice dancer,
where the choice and leverage of music is key.
Tomoko knows her students well, and works hard to match the
music with the specific needs and interests of each student. She observes and
interacts with parents in order to provide appropriate support for the family
so that the piano student will succeed. She What advice does Tomoko give to
mothers of blossoming pianists?
- You may think your child is gifted, but you are probably not the best judge. It is more useful to support the child’s hard work and self-discipline.
- Encourage your children to share what they learned in their lessons.
- Don’t judge by grades; they can be misleading.
- Don’t get too stressed or competitive; skill takes effort but it should also be satisfying and rewarding.
- Technical skills provide a strong foundation, and muscle development and muscle memory can start early. But technical is not enough; the player needs to bring personal interpretation and emotion, and that takes maturity so be patient.
- Let the teachers choose the music; they have a larger repertoire and they know what is appropriate for the child’s ability.
And piano students should thank their mothers for encouraging
and supporting their interest in the piano. Not just on Mother’s Day but every
day.
