How To Get Your Kid To Practice Their Instrument

Let’s face it, no matter how much your child wants to learn to play the piano, guitar or (insert any other instrument) getting them to practice can be a struggle. Here are five tips that will make it easier:

Make sure the instrument is easily accessible

When an instrument is in the basement or away from everybody else, a child can feel isolated and not want to practice. Keep the instrument easily accessible so they can sit down and practice whenever they want. 

Schedule practice as part of their routine

Just like other activities, if the time isn’t allocated for practicing, it can easily fall through the cracks. And it doesn’t always have to be after school, some kids have lots of time in the morning before school. Or, maybe they practice while you are making dinner or cleaning up. 

More days & less time is better than more time & fewer days

It’s much more beneficial for a child to practice 10 minutes a day for 5 days than 30 minutes a day for 2 days. Consistency matters. 

Practice notebooks…

…are essential for making sure your child knows what and how to practice. If they don’t have clear instructions on what they are supposed to do, it’s difficult to know how to practice.

Parents, help your beginners

For kids younger than 8, parents should help if they really want their child to succeed. If they need help with schoolwork and other tasks, they will also need help with music practice.

Like anything, until kids learn that practice brings success, it can definitely feel like a chore. Moreover, just the act of practicing and gaining the understanding that one must put effort into something in order to learn is an important one. Be patient with the process of learning how to practice; it will pay dividends in the end, both musically and beyond.