Are you a mother looking to get your child piano lessons? Maybe you took them as a child as well, but stopped as you got older. Or maybe you always wanted to learn the piano and never got the chance. The good news is that helping your child learn how to play the piano can actually help you learn the instrument as well.

The most important thing to do is to participate. Passively watching your child practice or just listening while you do the laundry isn’t going to teach you anything. Though you may enjoy hearing your little one gradually progress in skill, without participation you’ll be the frustrated non-musician that you’ve always been. It’s time to step up, sit down and practice right alongside your child.

When your child’s instructor is around, ask questions. Throw your mind into the lessons as though they were your own. If you don’t understand a particular exercise, ask the teacher to explain it again. Your child might need to hear it again too, but might be afraid to ask. Ask about different composers and music pieces so that you understand the theories behind the music. The piano is a huge instrument, able to reproduce an unsurpassed variety of sounds, so ask investigative questions.

Practice alongside your child. By doing exercises on the piano together, you’ll bond over the newfound skill you’ve developed. You’ll strengthen the muscles in your hands and fire up unused synapses in your brain. When you’ve gained some skill and knowledge of a few pieces, play together. It’s a joy to be able to play a piano duet besides Heart and Soul.

By participating in your child’s instrumental development, you’ll know when they’re ready to be challenged. Consult with the teacher and discuss your child’s readiness. Hopefully you’ll be ready to be challenged as well. Don’t push yourself too hard, though. If you feel pain in your hands or wrists, see a doctor.

You’ll be gaining both technical skill and musical knowledge. You might find yourself exploring the classical section of your local bookstore with a new interest. If you only know Claire de Lune by Claude Debussy, you might suddenly be interest in the rest of the Suite Bergamasgue. Warm up your hands before attempting the Menuet at full speed to avoid injury.

Maybe you’ll hear jazz pianists in a new way once you’ve begun to understand what they’re playing. Or you’ll hear the Beatles Eleanor Rigby and notice the shifts between E Aeolian and E Dorian in the melody. When you start hearing music in a different light, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without playing the piano.

Remember that your child will probably learn the instrument much easier than you. The empty vessel of childhood is a blessing in this area, so don’t feel bad. Just learn to play for your own enjoyment. Find piano pieces that interest you and play them for your ears only. Of course, if you’re a bit of a showboat, you can always sit down at the bench at a party and impress your guests. Keep participating in your child’s learning and you’ll find yourself a new avenue of expression.

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