How to practie: a guide for parents

1.

Set realistic expectations.

Above all this advice, do what works for your family. Music lessons are a fun skill, not a chore. If you are struggling with practice at home just let me know and we can come up with a solution.

2.

How often should I practice?

Practice is like brushing your teeth – try to do it every day. Piano practice can fit around your routine, think about which days you have time for a longer practice session. Or which days you only have time for a shorter practice (e.g. if you have other clubs and activities on some days). Even 2 minutes of practice is better than nothing.

3.

How long should I practice for?

Again there is no set length of time. It will depend on your schedule, what your child can manage, and what level they are at. If you are struggling, start with one or two minutes, and built it up from there. Try to do at least:

4.

Practice notebook and music folder

If you can get a notebook to bring to the lesson, I can write down your child’s practice. This notebook is kept with the music at home, and used only for piano lessons. You can also use a folder to keep music together.

Having a special practice notebook makes practice feel special and exciting.
Your child has clear instructions of what to practice, and has autonomy over their practice.
Use a folder to keep all you music together and to help stay organised.

5.

Piano/keyboard location – where you keep your instrument will impact practice at home.

Accessible – your child should be able to play the piano without an adult’s assistance (e.g. doesn’t need another device to be unplugged, doesn’t require moving furniture/lifting down from a shelf).
Visible – if the piano is somewhere you can see it each day you’ll get those visual reminders to practice. If it’s tucked away in a corner and surrounded by other furniture then it can be out of sight out of mind.
Keep your music books by the piano. That way your music won’t get lost in between lessons, and your music is always where you need it to be to practice.

6.

Schedule practice

Pick what days you are going to practice, and have it scheduled in. If you have a family calendar that your child uses, try including music practice so it doesn’t get left to the last minute.

7.

Set a timer

This is great for students who are finding it hard to practice. Set a timer for the length of time you’d like to practice. Your child can see their goal and how much time is left. If you’ve not got much time then just 2 minutes is better than nothing.

8.

Encouragement

Giving your child a lot of encouragement and praise for practicing will help to build a healthy attitude towards practicing their instrument. After practice tell them how good it sounds, how much they’re improving, how much you like the latest piece they’ve learnt.

9.

Use rewards

Your child will have something to look forward to, e.g. 10 minutes of practice before you can have screen time, 5 minutes of practice before playing with your new toy.

10.

Practice charts

I will give every student a practice chart – they can tick off the days that they practice, and I will give them stickers as they progress. When they have enough stickers I will give them a practice certificate. Students will know how many stickers they need to get, and will have a clear aim of how much they should practice.

If your child loses their practice chart I will email you a new one.