Piano Homework
As a teacher, I want my students to learn as much as they can in a 45 minute lesson. As a former student, I know that my students aren’t going to practice dutifully everyday for 30 minutes. And as a parent, I could give a crap about my kids’ homework.
Homework is bad for kids’ health; haven’t you heard?
I’ve always (well, not ALWAYS, but since I’ve had my own kids) been pro-childhood, id est, making mud pies, climbing trees, practicing cartwheels in the rain, tasting dandelions, et cetera. Especially with the lower grade levels, homework, I feel should be kept at a minimum and, at best, avoided all together. And I’m not the only sociopath who believes such things. The Man of the House here believes it, too! funny haha. Seriously, Alfie Kohn has written a book on the subject (and other subjects including parenting and reward systems), and it makes a ton of sense. I don’t know what his credentials are – but Old Nick Copernicus didn’t have many credentials either.
But how can I expect my students to learn the piano when I don’t believe in homework? I know the solution: Kids need piano lessons twice a week. They have soccer practice twice a week, don’t they? They’re in school for 8 hours at a time, sitting around, waiting for Joey Snuffy to finish his addition paper, and standing in line at the water fountain. Then they get hours of homework. Well, no WONDER that they don’t have time to practice!! Between being shuffled from horseback riding to soccer to McDonald’s to CCD, who has time to play three notes??
I can’t expect kids to practice everyday. I can’t expect them to practice at all. I wish parents could focus on letting their kids be kids and stop pretending that they are little adults.
