How Children Practice

Home practice is essential for any piano student. Without daily practice, all that will be accomplished is frustration for the student and annoyance for the teacher. Ultimately, daily practice is the mutual responsibility of the parent and student. If the student fails to practice, then the parent fails to live up to that responsibility as well as the student.

A successful piano student rarely exists without a parent's involvement in encouraging the student to practice every day. It is a rare child who practices without parental supervision. Please do not think that only "good" children practice without prompting from parents. Learning complex musical skills is exhausting physically and mentally if piano study is viewed seriously as an activity.

Students who practice at the same time each day usually make better progress than those who use a "catch-as-catch-can" approach. The obvious danger of the "catch method" is that piano practice can easily become a low priority item placed at the end of a busy day of school, homework, and extracurricular activities. The student is then too tired to accomplish much, if anything. If practice is to become part of daily life, then it must be given an assigned time in the daily schedule. Just as there is a time to go to bed, a time to get up, and a time to go to school, there should also be a time to practice!

The student's concentration when practicing will be better and more productive if the piano room is free from interruptions by other family members. If the student is to respect the daily practice time, so must the rest of the family. This respect is best expressed by allowing the student uninterrupted use of the room in which the piano resides during the scheduled practice time. It is better to practice for shorter periods every day (say thirty minutes: two separate practice sessions of 15 minutes each) then it is to skip several days and try to make up for lost time with one or two extended practice sessions (maybe an hour). The muscles tend to "forget" much faster than the brain does, and, therefore, it is necessary to have physical reinforcement of piano skills every day.

There is no guarantee, despite a child's interest and a good teacher, that a child will do what is necessary to learn piano: practice.  Some of the impetus will come from the child, but when lessons get more challenging, children may back off.  Set realistic goals, offer specific rewards for achieving and show interest in your child's progress. But, experts warn, if this kind of encouragement and praise fail and the child refuses to practice without coercion, consider discontinuing the lessons. But leave the door open. And above all, don't make a child feel guilty.

Children in most families grow up thinking of practicing as either boring or as punishment. With some ingenuity and enthusiasm, routine practicing cannot only become fun but rewarding for a child. For all of you frustrated parents out there, let me promise you that there does come a time when the child is able to play well enough, that he will play, (and practice) for his own enjoyment. Until that blessed day, let me give you some tips that you can try to help your child enjoy practicing.

First of all, praise your child. Every child wants to feel like he is doing something that is appreciated by someone else. Instead of nagging about how long the child hasn’t practiced or how he hasn’t played a song very well, look for something to compliment your child. It may be praise for sitting up tall at the piano. All children of any age love praise. When you hear a positive melody, let them know.

Another excellent tip for getting your child to practice is actually sitting and listening to them play. Sometimes this can take extra patience, especially when your child is beginning. Stopping what you are doing and giving your full attention to the budding pianist will do wonders for a child’s self-esteem. You will find it an excellent opportunity to express praise. Listening with a positive attitude and look on your face will inspire your young pianist.

A treasure box is a fun idea to get a child to practice. Set either a time limit or the number of pieces to be played. Have a small notebook for the child to mark his achievements. When he has reached the goal that you have mutually set, let him choose something from the treasure chest. School supplies such as fun pens and pencils work well in the treasure chest.

Finally, be the grown-up and provide structure. Young children shouldn't decide whether or when to practice the piano, any more than they should decide their own bedtimes.

The more you practice, the better you will become.

The better you become, the more you will enjoy playing.

The more you enjoy playing, the more you will practice.

And the more you practice, the better you will become.

The better you become, the more you will enjoy playing.

The more you enjoy playing, the more you will practice…