Why do our young musicians need to practise?
This might sound silly but.... in the busy schedules of various activities, musical development is different to other hobbies. For example, children may go swimming, horse riding, football, dancing and so on and those commitments only demand you to practice when actually attending the club/lessons. Learning an instrument is simply not like this. Playing music is very rewarding, it's great fun, but only when we do it well. This is why youngsters need to get into a good practise pattern and, I want to help them practise PROPERLY.
Parents, you have a big part to play and most musicians cannot do this without adult support. To consider this.... would you let your child make and bake a loaf of bread with NO adult support whatsoever? If you wouldn't let your child bake bread without your help, then they are not ready to to practise piano without you.
Get into the habit....
This doesn't require you to be a musician, just be the adult and help with the life skills children have not yet developed.
For example: Reading and following instructions, helping schedule time so that piano practise becomes a HABIT. That it is built into the child's routine.
The first step.... is just to get to do SOMETHING on the instrument every day, just like you had to do with getting them into a routine of cleaning their teeth. If you can't set the same time slot every day, aim to connect practise time to something else, for example, while dinner is being made - I practise. While my sister is in the shower - I practise. Before doing homework - I practise.
I hope this is helpful. What helps your child get into the habit?
Julie Csorba 15th April 2024
