Experts warn against 'quick-fix' ambitions

Piano teachers and specialists attending the 13th Shanghai International Youth Piano Competition in August reminded parents about the importance of grasping the basics and not to rush the learning process.

Experts pointed out that there is no shortcut to mastering the instrument and that people should be skeptical about vendors who offer crash courses.

"We will never support such utilitarian or commercial approaches to learning the piano. Learning such musical instruments is also popular in the West, but there is no 'quick-fix' culture," says 91-year-old Zhu Yafen, who chaired the competition jury, and is also a former dean of the piano department at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music.

Ding Quan, a judge in the competition, expressed concern about the development of beginners, noting that some young children he encountered are already able to play complex pieces. However, such rapid development would likely result in such problems as poor technique and the inability to express their feelings through the music.

"The years of learning the piano are somewhat like the years of academic learning at school. Students need to learn, comprehend, practice and build their proficiency through daily effort," says Ding, the founder of the Shanghai Canyin piano education institutions.

He adds that a child who simply learns how to play by rote instead of comprehending the pieces will find it difficult to convey mood through subtle changes in the music.

Those progressing too quickly might also neglect the correct hand postures, which are necessary to play pieces by composers like Franz Liszt and Frederick Chopin.

Zhu says piano teachers should always remind children to be dedicated and diligent. "We teachers should always keep in mind that piano education, like all other forms of education, aims to empower kids with positive ways of thinking and to help build their character," says Zhu, who once taught internationally renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang.

"Piano teachers should also focus on the meaning of education rather than the immediate benefits and interests."

Xiang Chulin, 26, a piano teacher from Fuzhou city, Fujian province, says that her intention is to help all young learners develop a passion for music and life, rather than just enabling them to leverage their skill to ensure priority placement when enrolling in elite schools.

Zeng Jiahua, a 29-year-old piano teacher from Yinchuan city, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, says that he believes teachers also need to build friendships with their students and care about what they think and how they behave.

"In the end, education is about nurturing people," Zeng says.