PLAY PIANO? MINAMIKARASUYAMA

My son is a university entrance exam candidate. This summer is the decisive battle of Sekigahara for us. The atmosphere at home is somewhat tense. As it is a university entrance exam, all we can do as parents is to provide the tuition fees for prep school and ensure he has nutritious meals. When it comes to junior high school or high school entrance exams, parents are often required to be in battle mode alongside their children, as demanded by the cram schools, making it a challenging time both mentally and financially for mothers. As you can imagine, the number one reason for quitting piano lessons is... cram school. This has been the unwavering number one reason for both past and present. I, myself, had to quit piano for this reason in the past. In my opinion, piano lessons are temporary for most people, and even if they overcome the entrance exams, a time will inevitably come when they have to stop. Therefore, if coming to lessons does not hinder exam preparation, I strongly encourage continuing the lessons even if there is little time for practice at home. Lessons are not just about showcasing the results of home practice; they are a place to learn how to engage with the piano during busy periods, how to tackle pieces you want to play in the future, and how to keep your fingers agile with minimal practice as an adult. It is crucial to learn how to maintain a relationship with music even after graduating from the classroom. Even for music students, maintaining a relationship with music after graduation is a significant challenge. Piano teachers, who have made piano their profession, have also experienced this struggle numerous times. Isn't it sad to see the hard-earned piano skills disappear as soon as lessons stop? I want to send students off only when they are ready to stand on their own. By doing so, piano will be a lifelong companion. This is my true belief.