Maintaing practice momentum during the week can be so tricky when balancing schoolwork, activities, church, and other obligations. Here are some of my best suggestions for keeping practice consistent, efficient, and FUN!
I meet people all the time that used to take piano lessons, and I've never had anyone tell me that they were glad that they didn't practice. Without exception, I'm told that they wish they DID practice more, or stay in lessons, or continue to play as an adult.
While it might not be easy, it is important as parents to ensure that your child has a consistent practice routine. There will be some days that you will have to make them practice. That's OK and completely normal. Establishing expectations and routines around practice can make getting to the piano MUCH easier. Typically, getting to the piano is the hardest part! Once you're there, it is farily easy to make practice happen. It's very similar to going to the gym - it's hard to get yourself to go, but once you're there, it's much easier to do what you need to do, and feel good that you accomplished your goals.
Here are some ideas to make piano practice part of your everyday routine:
Start small: For younger students especially, some hesitation approaching the piano may be their feeling that they'll be stuck there a long time. A good beginning goal would simply to make it to the piano each day, regardless of practice length, with the goal of enjoying the process. After that has been established, then you may add short time goals, or other benchmarks as appropriate.
Link tasks together: Pair piano practice with another non-negotiable daily task. For example, you can pair practice time to happen right after an after-school snack, or have children practice while you prepare dinner. You can also try practice while waiting to leave for school in the morning, or as part of your evening bedtime routine. Keeping piano practice and another established routine task paired together can ensure that both are done every day.
Create practice rituals: Creating a practice "ritual" simply means creating an atmosphere conducive to deep concentration. This can include things like moving other family members out of the piano room, lighting a candle, making a cup of tea, or even spraying a favorite relaxing fragrance. I know one pianist that chooses and organizes favorite pens and pencils before practicing as part of their routine. Create a special place of your own so that practice time is something to look forward to!
Body doubling: One of my favorite ways to ensure tasks are complete is to team up with someone else who also needs to complete a task! Start your tasks together at the same time, in the same room, and work parallel. Having someone else there also working creates accountability without feeling like they're an audience - because they're working too! Set a timer for a specific amount of time and make a goal - see if each of you can meet your goal before the timer goes off!
Use tracking tools: Tracking your practice is a great way to visually see progress. When practicing, learning gains are sometimes very small and hard to appreciate. Tracking days of practice, length of practice, or accomplished goals can help you visualize your success! This can be as simple as placing a sticker on a calendar for each day that you practice, journaling in a notebook, or using the online practice timer included with your My Music Staff account. Whatever you choose, it will be a great encouragement to you to see what you've accomplished!
Build in breaks: It sounds counterintuitive, but stop while you're ahead! It's much easier to return to the piano for more practice later or the next day if your child didn't "rage quit" the previous practice session. Stop once they've completed their goal and are feeling good. Take a brain break, and return later in the day to review and continue to build up success.
Build in flexibility: Aim for at least 5 days of practice per week. Use the other two days as flex days that can be used when other out-of-routine obligations arise. Having a couple of days away from the piano throughout the week can provide a good brain break and making practicing more effective upon return. Just try not to take two days off in a row - this can lead to quick learning loss!
Reduce friction: Take care of basic needs first. Ensure your child has had adequate sleep, water intake, and food before practicing. Limit caffeine and sugar intake in the hours before practice. Caffeine and sugar can heighten anxiety and lower frustration tolerance, making practice a lot less fun. If they're already stressed from school or another issue, take time to regulate emotions before engaging in practice, or use one of your flex days.
Reward progress: Parental involvement is SO important to the success of creating a practice routine. As a family, set personal practice goals (using the studio policies as a guide), create a deadline for the completion of the goal, and set a reward. The reward can be something as simple as an extra 30 minutes of screen time, a trip to a favorite park, or even a special treat! The rewards don't need to cost money at all to be effective. You are the expert on your child, so think of a reward they will personally motivate them. In a future blog post, I'll give you even more ideas about free and low-cost practice rewards.
Of course, you don't have to use ALL of these ideas, but this is what has personally worked for me over the years. Feel free to experiment with different strategies and find what works best for your family. Remember, some practice is better than no practice! It doesn't have to be perfect - life happens.
What other ways have you found to make practice part of your everyday routine? Please leave your ideas in the comments below so we can all learn what has worked for your family!
Great advice for piano and any other pursuit that requires concentration! Thank you!