Is it really just Mozart or Classical era stuff that's boring to him? I may talk with the teacher about your talk with your son and see if perhaps she can include him on a selection of a different piece for the "competition" (this doesn't sound like a hard-core competition, so really it's use a great performance experience). If he has a say in why he plays, then if he doesn't practice it then it's partly on him for selecting that piece in the first place.>>>>>>

Thank you! That is just what I did. I told him if he didn't want to do the MAMA, he shouldn't. He said he didn't mind it...he would do it. (About as much of a ringing endorsement you're going to get from a 16 year old male ; ) So I said, fine.....then if you don't like your song, you should pick a new one. THEN.....if you say you're gonna do it.....then you have to put in some effort. Only fair.

In the meantime, he is working a little more on lesson stuff. I don't really expect a huge change....but that is fine. I got my point across and I don't mind paying for lessons if he's getting something from it....I agree he probably wouldn't quit playing altogether if we quit lessons, but I'd like him to learn all he can and develop his talent as long as he's willing. Even if he only wants to play for fun.....everything he learns now can help him.

Thanks, again!

I don't see why he should be forced to practice/play music he doesn't enjoy. I think it's mostly or totally untrue that the only good way to become proficient at the most difficult church/video game music is by in including some classical music.

What kinds of things can only classical music teach him?

Agree with pianoloverus completely--the best way to capture a student's attention is to teach them something they like. The best teachers I have had have always been able to structure a lesson around something I am familiar with. You should be able to take most songs and build a lesson around them. So, if your student likes some current heavy metal song (to take an extreme example), figure out the chord progression and melody (if there is one:)) and start showing the student how to play it. They explain why the songs sounds the way it does. Then have the student compose something of their own using those same concepts. Really the sky is the limit as long as you get them excited in some way about what they are learning...

JPE