The 'Tiger mom.' Almost everyone's heard of her. And for those who haven’t, it’s what author Amy Chua of the now infamous book ‘Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother’ is now known by.

Yet pianist/composer and piano teacher Edward Weiss sees a different approach to piano playing. Weiss teaches something called ‘New Age’ piano - a free-flowing style that emphasizes improvisation and free-play over note reading and recreating the music of Beethoven or Bach.

Weiss elaborates on the Tiger Mom approach…

“What Amy Chua suggests is what most think of when taking piano lessons. That is, a strict regimen of scales, exercises, and drills. But this isn’t what I would call creative. Not by a long shot. In fact, what this Tiger Mom’s approach will end up generating is a student who can read music well, but can’t create on their own.”

Weiss also talks about the ‘myth’ of piano lessons making you smarter:

“Most parents believe piano lessons can make their children smarter. There’s really no solid evidence for this. In fact, it may be a ruse used by those in the piano industry to attract naïve adults so they can shell out thousands to piano teachers over time.”

Weiss asks parents, and anyone else wanting a creative alternative to playing piano this question:

“Rather than spending many years learning how to play the music of the masters, why not learn how to create something that comes directly from you? Something that goes beyond sheet music and gives students a precious gift - the ability to create on one’s own. The problem of course, is that most students don’t believe than can do this. And here’s where they’re wrong.”

Weiss, who now teaches online, has over 1100 students who have taken his course. This ‘New Age’ piano teacher is also offering a free piano lesson where students who have never played piano before will be able to improvise their own music in the Key of C Major.

The free piano lesson, titled ‘Summer Morning’ can be found now at http://www.QuiescenceMusic.com