With the start of the new school year your child is ready to get back to piano lessons, or maybe starting lessons for the first time. As many of you have come to realize, lessons are the easy part – it’s the nagging that comes with practicing that you and your child have come to dread.

We all look at the beginning of a new year as a fresh start – for as long as that lasts – so here are a few good habits that you can start while everyone is still motivated. Students are confident and can enjoy their lesson much more if they are well prepared.

A few minutes can go a long way…

…if you make the practice time count. Read what is in the student’s notebook. There should be a specific goal for the student to work towards in a piece or exercise, or an important reminder. Eg. count out loud, pay attention to phrasing, memorize the first 8 measures. Use the time wisely, don’t just play pieces over and over without thinking and listening. Ten minutes of mindful practice will produce better results, and be easier to fit into your day, than half an hour of careless playing with no focus.

Keep your instrument in a convenient location

Privacy will seem ideal to an adult, but kids want you around while they’re practicing. They don’t usually like to be off in a room by themselves. If your child seems shy about practicing where the rest of the family can hear them the problem is likely that they are afraid to make mistakes. It is important that they understand that mistakes are part of learning and that is what practicing is for. The best line I’ve used on young students is, “the best thing about mistakes in music is that you don’t even need an eraser; once you’ve played them they’re gone.”

Keep music open on the piano

Much as I can sympathize with wanting to keep the music in the music bag so it ends up at the lesson with the student, if the music is out on the piano with bookmarks (sticky notes on the pages to be practiced work great!) practicing is more likely to get done. It’s easy to fit in two minutes each time you walk by.

Practice on lesson day

Not before the lesson – after! Spend a few minutes practicing when you get home from the lesson. It will reinforce everything the student worked on and what the goals will be for the week. Parents of young students can have the student “teach” them what they learned at the lesson. I know this takes more of your time, but it’s much more productive than the time you will otherwise spend nagging your child to practice!

Don’t offer rewards for practicing

It makes practice time something to be endured, not enjoyed. However, scheduling practice time before screen time does help ensure it actually happens 😉

I hope even one of these ideas makes practice time easier to fit into a busy week at your house.