Things You'll Need:
- Musical Instrument
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Step 1
You can't get your child to practice or there doesn't seem to be enough time.
Every parent expects their child to do their homework every night and every child accepts that and it is worked in as part of their daily routine. You would not send your child to school the next day without their homework done and you should never send your child to their music lesson without practicing.
From your very first music lesson it should be part of their daily routine. If you have not done that, it's never too late to start.
Sit down with your child and plan exactly when and what time the practice will take place. This will eliminate the fighting over practicing as both of you had figured it out before hand. -
Step 2
Listen and watch your child practice. It is very important to children that parents praise and listen to them when they practice. If you child is playing soccer or baseball you watch them play, so why wouldn't you watch your child play the piano.
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Step 3
Take a calendar and have your child put a sticker every time they practice or on the day that they practice. Decide between the two of you what the reward will be after they put the sticker on so many days or weeks, whatever you decide would be a good time frame, just don't make it more than two weeks.
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Step 4
Have them practice before their favorite activity. Whether it's cartoons at 4:00 p.m. or video games, set a rule that your child can not do that activity till after they practice.
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Step 5
Help make practicing a habit by doing it every day and if you can at the same time every day. For some, the morning is better, for others the afternoon, and others, right after dinner. By doing this at the beginning, you will save having to remind your child to practice when they are older.
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Step 6
Use an egg timer and set up 10-15 minutes in the morning and 10-15 minutes in the afternoon. This breaks up the practice time into easier to handle increments for kids. Believe me, 20-30 minutes can seem like 30 hours to a child.
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Step 7
If your child likes to play in front of people, then have a small home recital of your own. Invite the neighbors, your parents, your best friend for an impromptu party. How many people come doesn't matter. As little as one guest and yourself will be all the audience your child will need. Have your child play several songs and then serve tea and cakes.
After the party you will hear your child say, "At the next party I am going to play...." -
Step 8
Your child may want to quit from time to time. This is normal. Just tell then you understand and encourage them to not give up. Music lessons can go through difficult stages at times. It is at these times, discontinuing lessons may seem to be the obvious solution, but children, who are allowed to quit, rarely return to lessons. If you are having a difficult time deciding whether to let your child give up on an instrument remember this, all the years that I have taught piano, I have never heard an adult say, "I'm glad my parents let me quit."
Comments
JeannieKerns said
on 5/13/2009 Nice article on getting your child to practice..
julie_c_228 said
on 9/10/2007 Right on! I regret quitting piano so much! I love the idea of parents accompanying their child with his/her practice. i always felt a bit alone with my piano, and it would have helped to feel the support.