Our Son's Piano Journey
One of the sweetest parts of our parenting journey over the last few years has been watching our oldest son, Liam's, love for music grow. What began as curiosity has grown into a deep, lifelong passion. It's been a joy to watch him develop and I'm so excited to see how God uses this gift of music to bless others.
The Early Days
Music runs deep in our family. All four of Liam’s grandparents are musicians, and my dad (Liam’s grandpa) is a professional pianist. So when Liam showed an interest in music, we weren’t surprised… but we were amazed at how naturally it came to him.
When he was five years old, I put little stickers on our piano keys to help him learn the notes. A few weeks later, we were walking through a museum when we heard an elevator "ding". Under his breath, Liam said, “F sharp.” I pulled out my phone to check, and sure enough, he was right. That’s when we first discovered that he had perfect pitch.
That same year, during his afternoon rest time, he began listening to classical music on a CD player in his room. He had a little stack of CDs that we'd found at a thrift store—Mozart, Beethoven, Dvořák, Chopin—and over time he started recognizing their unique styles. We’d be driving with the classical radio station on, and from the backseat he’d call out, “I think that’s Dvořák!” And about 99% of the time, he was right.
Starting Out with Piano Lessons
When Liam turned six, he was ready to start piano lessons. At the time, in-person lessons didn’t fit our budget or our family's schedule, so we decided to try Hoffman Academy, an online piano program.
From the very first lesson, we were hooked. The lessons are truly engaging, thorough, and fun for kids! Liam learned how to play, but also how to read music, understand rhythm, and even a bit of music history. And he did it all from home and at his own pace.
I sat with him for the first few lessons, but before long he was doing them completely on his own. It gave him independence and gave me peace of mind knowing he was gaining a solid foundation.
Moving to In-Person Lessons
After two years with Hoffman Academy, we could tell Liam was chomping at the bit for more. We started him with a local church music teacher, who was kind and encouraging. But before long, he began outpacing her lessons. He was hungry for more challenge and depth.
Through a friend, we found another local teacher in Texas, and she was an absolute gift. For three years, she helped Liam grow not only in skill, but in confidence and musical expression. She challenged him in all the right ways and helped shape him into the musician he’s becoming today. When we moved to South Carolina, saying goodbye to her was hard, but we’ll always be grateful for that season. When we moved to Greenville, SC, we were fortunate to find a new teacher for Liam who has been an incredible fit. Liam currently practices for at least 45 minutes each day, but often, it's a couple of hours (because he truly loves it).
Reading Music vs. Playing by Ear
Liam reads music beautifully (and has grown in this skill over time), but he also plays by ear. He can hear a song and sit down to play it almost instantly. It’s so fun to watch!
I often hear from other moms who want their kids to have that same creative freedom—to be able to play by ear and make music feel natural. I completely agree, but I’ve also learned how important it is for kids to learn to read music, too.
Reading music gives your child a lifelong skill that opens doors to so many opportunities. If your child is going to be in a band, orchestra, or worship team, they'll know how to read music. Playing by ear is wonderful, but reading music gives them the structure to grow. I see so much value in both.
Back to Hoffman Academy
This year, we’ve come full circle! We’re using Hoffman Academy again—this time for our younger two, Lanie and Bear.
The program offers both a free version and a Premium version, and we’ve loved the Premium one because it includes theory worksheets, extra practice sessions, and printable resources that round out the lessons. At the start of each unit, I print the materials and keep them in individual binders for easy access.
The lessons are full of value and are just a fraction of the cost of in-person lessons. If you’re looking for a way to start your kids in piano and just try it out before committing to in-person lessons, I can’t recommend it enough.
We encourage our younger kids to practice piano (using Hoffman Academy) for 20 minutes each day.
Use code LEARN for 10% off your Premium subscription!
When to Start Piano Lessons
A wise music teacher once told us to start piano lessons around the same time your child is learning to read. That way, they learn to read words and notes side by side. That advice has served us well.
Our Piano Setup
When Liam first started, we found an old upright piano at a garage sale, and it served us faithfully for years.
Just recently, we upgraded to a Yamaha U3 Upright with a Silencer system added, which allows Liam (and our other kids) to play with headphones when the house is noisy or when others are sleeping. It's a game changer!
If you’re just starting out, don’t feel pressure to buy a full acoustic piano right away. A good keyboard can work wonderfully, as long as it has all 88 weighted keys that mimic the feel of a real piano. We have this Yamaha P-45 keyboard that we found on Facebook Marketplace for under $200. It's a great option for starting out.
A Word of Encouragement
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this process, it’s that every child’s gifts unfold at their own pace. Some children will fall in love with music early; others may not find their “thing” until much later. Our role as parents isn’t to force or compare, but to notice, nurture, and celebrate the ways God uniquely designed them.
Whether your child’s passion is music, art, science, or something else entirely, you’re planting seeds that will bear fruit in time. And when you look back, you’ll see how God was weaving something beautiful all along.
