Encouraging Your Child to Practice
Encouraging your child to practice their instrument at home can be a challenging task. However, there are several ways to make practicing fun and engaging for them:
Create a designated practice space for your child. Set up a comfortable and well-lit area in your home, and personalize it to make it feel like it's their own. For example, hang up some pictures or posters of your child’s favourite artist or band, paint the walls a colour of their choosing, have them try and design the layout of the area, etc. Just be sure to keep the practice space clear of unnecessary clutter and electronics, and allow easy access to things such as their instruments, books, or other supplies. Having a practice area that feels like their own makes it more motivating and encouraging to practice, as being in the room is fun in itself.
In order to guarantee habitual practice, you will need to help your child set up a practice schedule. I recommend at least 15 minutes every day in order to see fast progress in their chosen instrument. To help make it a daily habit, try to have them practice at the same time every day, as it will help make it a part of their regular daily routine.
Make practice as fun as possible. If your child is working through an instructional booklet, encourage them to continue to do so. It’s a good idea to get through them and practice what their teacher has told them to practice. In the end, it will provide them with a solid foundation for learning their instrument. Even though these books are effective, often times, working through them can get boring after a while. I always encourage my students to try and learn songs they enjoy listening to as a part of their practice time - in addition to what their teacher has told them to work on. Doing so will make them want to practice their instrument, rather than feel like they have to practice.
Give your child a goal to work towards. This can be as simple as offering an incentive or a reward after consistent practice or completion of a task. Your goal for them doesn’t have to be complex - some ideas could be “learn how to play [this song] by the end of the month”, or "practice for 15 minutes every day in a week". Your reward could be something small like giving them a sticker or a special treat, or something larger like a new instrument or a trip to a concert. If your child doesn’t have anything to work towards, they won’t have the motivation to keep practicing and will never feel a sense of accomplishment.
Lastly, try practicing with your child. Show your support by practicing alongside your child, whether or not you know how to play. You can even have them teach you what they are learning in their lessons with their teacher. This will test your child’s knowledge to see if they actually understand what they are learning, as well as have fun playing the role of the teacher. If you don’t know how to play the instrument, don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself. Your child will get a kick out of being better than you.
With all these practicing strategies kept in mind, remember to be patient and supportive through your child's learning experience. Encourage them to practice on a daily basis, but also allow them to take breaks when it’s needed. They won’t be able to focus as effectively if they are frustrated, confused, or exhausted. After enough time and effort between you and your child, they will develop a love for music that will last a lifetime.