Since the mid-19th century, the central focus of piano pedagogy has been to turn piano students into performers, not creators.
Unlike painters, writers, and other creative artists, most musicians are now trained to recreate other people’s art and stop there.
While people today crop their own photos, make their own movies, design their own websites, and write their own blogs, piano students are rarely encouraged to make music of their own or given the tools to do so.
Piano pedagogy remains stuck in the 19th century.
Where is the creativity?
Personal creativity has to be a top priority: the rewards for both students and teachers are immeasurable.
The challenge of our times is to recognize that music is not only a performance art, but a creative art.
Our challenge is to become teachers who can empower our students to create.