March 2022 - The Value of Music Study

I read this post on Facebook yesterday, and it rang so true, I just had to share it. Even though the words are not my own, the sentiments are mine, and it reinforces all the more why I believe in the value of music lessons, piano lessons, music study of any kind. I am so honored to be your piano teacher, and I am taking every opportunity that I can to learn and grow along with your students, so that I can serve them better. What a tremendous responsibility it is! Thank you for entrusting me with your children.

"One of my friends asked "Why do you pay so much money for your kid to play the piano”? Well I have a confession to make; I don't pay for my kid to play the piano. Personally, I couldn't care less about what instrument they play.

So, what am I paying for?

- I pay for those moments when my kid becomes so tired they want to quit but don't.

- I pay for those days when my kid comes home from school and is "too tired" to do to their lesson but they go anyway.

- I pay for my kid to learn to be disciplined, focused and dedicated.

- I pay for my kid to learn to take care of her body and instrument.

- I pay for my kid to learn to work with others and to be a good teammate, gracious in failure, and humble in success.

- I pay for my kid to learn to deal with disappointment when she doesn’t get that recognition she’d hoped for, but still she goes back week after week giving it her best shot.

- I pay for my kid to learn to make and accomplish goals.

- I pay for my kid to respect, not only themselves, but their teachers and fellow young musicians.

- I pay for my kid to learn that it takes hours and hours, years and years of hard work and practice to play beautifully and that success does not happen overnight.

- I pay for my kid to be proud of small achievements, and to work towards long term goals.

- I pay for the opportunity my kid has and will have to make life-long friendships, create lifelong memories, to be as proud of her achievements as I am.

- I pay so that my kid can be creating something beautiful instead of sitting in front of a screen...

...I could go on but, to be short, I don't pay for piano playing; I pay for the opportunities that learning to play provides my kid with to develop attributes that will serve her well throughout her life and give her the opportunity to bless the lives of others. From what I have seen so far I think it is a great investment!"

—Mark Pritchard