How to Encourage Your Child to Practice The Piano Joyfully

Does your child play the piano? Are you having a difficult time getting them to practice? No matter what age your child is or how much they love to play the piano, getting your child to want to practice can be quite a challenge. Practicing takes focus and repetition. Both of these can be challenging for children and adults. However, for your child to build on and improve the skills they learn in their lessons, it is essential that they practice these at home. I will give you some helpful tips to get your child to improve their focus at the piano, which will in turn help them to improve their piano skills and technique as well.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Piano or Keyboard
• Quiet place to practice

1. FIND A GREAT TEACHER: Not all pianists make great teachers. It takes someone that can relate to kids and find creative ways to explain and teach, so that your child understands. It's very important that your child and their teacher have a good rapport with each other. So, when looking for a teacher for your child, find someone that can relate to them and can make piano lessons fun! Piano lessons don't need to be a chore. As a piano teacher myself and a former elementary music teacher, I think it's really important to be creative and positive and find ways to make lessons fun and motivating!

2. ADD PIANO PRACTICE INTO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE: Children really do their best in a structured environment. If it's part of their routine, they will have an easier time sitting down and practicing.

3. START SMALL: I wish that every child came home from school every day wanting to go and practice the piano right away! Unfortunately, that's usually not the case. They may love the idea of playing piano and enjoy their lessons, but it takes a lot of discipline and focus to sit down and practice every day. Gauge how long your child can sit down at the piano and focus before getting distracted. If it's 10 minutes, then start there. Every child is different, so there isn't one set way for every child to practice and have success.

4. ADD MORE TIME PRACTICING: Children can build up their focus and ability to sit at the piano and practice. Once your child has gotten comfortable with a certain amount of time, then add a few minutes more. Keep building on that. They'll get there!!

5. MAKE IT FUN: Try to find creative ways to make practicing fun. Try a sticker chart or another fun incentive.

6. MAKE MUSIC A PART OF YOUR LIVES: Try enjoying music as a whole family! Go see a musical or the symphony. It's not only great enrichment for everyone to enjoy, but seeing great musical performances can really motivate a child to want to be better.

Tips & Warnings

• NO DISTRACTIONS, PLEASE! Keep the T.V. off, no phone calls, etc. If the T.V. is on or their sibling is nearby playing with their toys or talking on the phone, it can be incredibly difficult for a young child to focus on practicing the piano.
• DON'T FORCE IT!!! If you can see that your child is getting frustrated, take a break. Try again later or tomorrow. Forcing your child to sit down and practice when they are fighting you tooth and nail won't help. They will end up finding piano practice as a chore instead of something they want to do and enjoy. Also, if they've shut down, nothing that was practiced in that time frame will be retained. Instead, give them a break, but don't let them skip that practice session altogether. Let them know that they can come back to it later when they're ready.

[SarahElizabeth]

on 10/4/2009 Some wonderful ideas... most children with some sort of musical inclination will eventually practice as long as it is not viewed as a chore.

[alimarie]

on 10/4/2009 Great article!