I’ve slowly but surely come to the conclusion that once per week lessons are insufficient for the very young beginner. Not having taught a fledgling below the age of 7 until 4-year old Rina came along in August, 2011, as my experiment-in-progress, it became crystal clear that short, quality exposures to piano instruction were more valuable than a long 30-minute lesson, spaced by a week.

Even 7 and 8-year old newbies would greatly benefit from twice per week lessons as it provides vital reinforcement of hand position, note reading, and phrasing, allowing good habits to be nursed along in the early phase of learning.

Having exchanged ideas with Irina Gorin, an Indiana-based piano instructor who has had considerable experience teaching students in the 4 to 7-year old range, I concur with her recommendation that starting the very young child of 4, on two-15 minute lessons each week makes sense just…