Almost every parent to a young pianist has asked themselves “How can I get my child to practice the piano?”
It is not uncommon for children to resist the work it takes to learn a musical instrument. It does not make them lazy or uninterested, it’s just sometimes difficult to sacrifice their time doing something else to sit and play the piano when there are so many other activities competing for their attention!
How can I get my child to practice the piano?
Be excited!
When it comes to a lot of things with parenting, excitement can go a long way. This is especially true when it comes to piano practice! If you are excited about your child learning the piano, and practicing the piano, then they are far more likely to share that excitement and will actually want to practice the piano! This is a win-win situation and can end the potential struggle of getting your child to practice the piano before it even begins.
Put piano practice time in your schedule
Think of your schedule. If you are puzzling over the question of “how can I get my child to practice the piano?” while looking at your busy schedule, start with having your child practice around the same time every day. Perhaps they could practice after dinner every day, or before school. Find a good routine that works best for your child and try to stick to it. Consistency is key!
Be creative! Wendy Stevens with Compose Create has some genius ideas using Disney themes to encourage your child to practice. This can be a super fun and engaging way to get your kids liking the piano even more and actually wanting to practice!
You could also create a rewards system to motivate them to get on the bench. Maybe they could earn a ticket every time they practice, and once they have 10 tickets they can choose a special treat.
How can I get my child to practice the piano? Make it a part of their chores!
Make it a part of their chores. Make your bed? Check! Brush your teeth? Check! Practice piano? Check!
The best way to encourage your child to practice is to praise them for their accomplishments. When they feel like they are doing a great job, they will want to continue doing it!
I hope I have given you some good ideas to help answer the question “How can I get my child to practice the piano?” It can be a challenge, but ultimately, if your child can stick with it, and you can stick with it as the parent, all of their practice will pay off and soon enough you might find yourself wishing you could get the song they are practicing over and over and over again out of your head!
Until next time…