Wagner Kerchaten, Teacher Manager at Melodica Music Academy, tells Gulf Education how learning the piano can build confidence, focus, discipline and creativity in children.  

Many parents want their children to learn a new skill but aren’t sure where to start. Why do you believe piano is one of the best first instruments for children?
At Melodica Music Academy, we often see piano as one of the most accessible first instruments for children because they can understand it quite naturally. The keys are very visual, and students can immediately see how notes move from lower to higher sounds. They can also start playing simple melodies quite early, which gives them a sense of achievement from the beginning.

At the same time, they are developing rhythm, coordination, listening and music-reading skills. Having the right instrument at home makes a difference too, particularly one that gives children a realistic feel while still being practical for everyday practise. That is one of the reasons we work with digital pianos such as the CASIO CELVIANO AP Series, especially for families who want that piano experience at home.

Once children understand these foundations on the piano, it can also make learning another instrument much easier in the future.

Some children are naturally drawn to music, while others seem hesitant. What are your top tips for parents who want to spark a genuine interest in learning the piano without making it feel like another school assignment?
-The most important thing is to keep music enjoyable, especially in the beginning. Parents should avoid putting too much pressure on children to practise for long periods or achieve results immediately. Short and regular practise sessions are usually much more effective. It also helps when children are allowed to play music they recognise and enjoy alongside their lesson material. Parents can encourage them by listening, showing interest, and celebrating small improvements rather than constantly correcting mistakes. When children associate the piano with enjoyment and achievement instead of pressure, their motivation develops much more naturally.

Beyond learning to play an instrument, what are the biggest developmental benefits you’ve seen in children who take regular piano lessons? Have you noticed improvements in confidence, concentration or discipline

Definitely. Regular piano lessons develop much more than musical ability. Children learn to concentrate on several things at the same time, such as reading notes, listening, keeping rhythm and coordinating both hands. Over time, this strengthens their focus and attention to detail. Piano also teaches patience because progress happens gradually through consistent practise. I have seen children become more disciplined, independent and confident as they realise that something they once found difficult can eventually become easy through practise. Performing for a teacher, family members, examinations or concerts can also significantly improve confidence.

Summer holidays often mean more free time but also more screen time. Why is summer an ideal time for children to begin learning music, and how can it help them build healthy routines before returning to school?

Summer is an excellent time to begin because children usually have fewer academic responsibilities and more flexibility in their schedules. Instead of spending most of that free time on phones, tablets or gaming, music gives them something creative and productive to work towards.

Even twenty or thirty minutes of regular piano practise can create a positive daily routine. That is also part of the thinking behind our summer collaboration with CASIO – encouraging families to use this quieter period as an opportunity to discover music. With selected CASIO CELVIANO AP Series digital pianos, families also receive a complimentary first lesson at Melodica, so children can get started with guidance from a teacher from the beginning.

If children begin during the summer, they can establish the habit of practising before school starts again, making it much easier to continue once their normal academic schedule returns.

Are you seeing more UAE families enrolling their children in music classes as a screen-free activity? What trends have you noticed this summer, and what do you think is driving that interest?

There is definitely growing interest among families in finding meaningful activities that take children away from screens. Parents are becoming more aware of how much time children spend with digital devices, particularly during school holidays, and many are looking for activities that are both educational and enjoyable. Music fits that need very well because it combines creativity, learning and personal achievement. During the summer, families also have more time to explore activities that children may not have been able to try during a busy school term. Another trend is that parents are increasingly interested not only in recreational lessons but also in structured progression through performances, assessments and internationally recognised music examinations.

One concern many parents have is keeping children motivated after the initial excitement wears off. What practical advice would you give families to help children enjoy practising and stick with it over the long term?

– The biggest advice I would give is not to make every practise session a battle. Fifteen to thirty minutes of focused practise done regularly can produce very good results. Give children clear and achievable goals instead of simply saying, “Go and practise.” For example, the goal might be to improve one difficult section or play a piece from beginning to end without stopping. It is also important to give children milestones to look forward to, such as concerts, examinations or learning a favourite song. When they can see and hear their own improvement, that becomes one of the strongest forms of motivation.

It also helps to give children different ways to practise. Technology can be useful here too – for example, CASIO MUSIC SPACE lets students slow down the practise tempo, follow digital sheet music, or record themselves playing. Things like that can make practising independently feel a little more interactive and help children recognise their own progress.

Some parents worry that music lessons may take time away from academics. From your experience, how can learning the piano actually complement a child’s education and support skills such as problem-solving, creativity and focus?

– I see music and academics as supporting each other rather than competing with each other. Piano requires children to think carefully, recognise patterns, remember information and solve problems whenever something does not sound right. They also learn how to break a difficult task into smaller sections and work on it step by step. That is a very useful learning skill in any subject. At the same time, music develops creativity because there is not only one way to express a piece. Children learn to think technically while also using imagination and emotion, which creates a good balance between analytical and creative thinking.

If you could share one message with parents who are still undecided about introducing their child to music, what would you say about the lifelong value of learning to play the piano?

I would say that you do not need to know whether your child will become a musician before giving them the opportunity to learn music. The value of piano lessons goes much further than preparing someone for a musical career.

A child may continue playing professionally, play simply for enjoyment or eventually choose an entirely different path. But the patience, confidence, discipline and appreciation for music they develop can stay with them for life.

That is really what we want to achieve through our collaboration with CASIO – to make that first step into music easier for families. A child has an instrument they can learn and practise on at home, alongside the guidance of a Melodica teacher, and hopefully that gives them the confidence to keep going and discover how much they enjoy music.

Music is one of those skills that a person can come back to at almost any age, and that makes it a very meaningful gift for a child.