5 Tips to Encourage Kids to Practice
Whether you’re a parent or a teacher, you’re likely to be familiar with the struggle of motivating kids to practice an instrument. Sticking to a routine is a newer concept for them, and it’s unlikely that simple goal setting or schedule planning will be enough to generate their enthusiasm. So let’s have a look at a few things you can try out to make piano practice more enticing to kids:
Keep distractions at bay & get involved
It should come as no surprise that if kids are surrounded by distracting toys, TVs, iPads, and more, they’re less likely to actually start their practice. But while removing distractions is the easy part, it’s also important to support them as they get their heads around learning the piano. Kids who have parents who get involved in their piano-learning journey are more likely to stick with it. This way, they have someone they can show off their piano skills to but also rely on if they find it hard to stay motivated.
Sometimes, even just having the parent in the same room while they practice is enough to help them stay focused!
Make it fun
While making sounds on the piano can be quite a fun thing to do in itself, kids will need some extra fun added to the classic piano practice for it to be engaging. Thankfully, there are many ways parents or teachers can bring fun into their practice, whether it’s with a game (like telling a story with music) or with the help of technology (using practice apps designed for kids that gamify the idea of practice). In fact, for some, just knowing that they’ll get a fun treat by the end of their practice can be enough to make the whole ordeal more exciting!
Teach them the joy of playing with others
Sometimes what makes piano practice so unmotivating to kids is the solitary aspect of it. Things like piano lessons with other kids or community events where kids can show up and play for others are all important aspects of piano playing that are sure to improve their motivation.
If a kid has peers who are also learning an instrument, they’ll gain another reason to stick to a practice routine: being as good at the piano as their friends, if not even better. Never undervalue the power of some healthy & friendly competition!
Get them inspired with concertos
Many kids are likely to have started playing the piano without having ever attended a piano concerto before. While a classical concerto might not sound right up a child’s street, don’t underestimate how inspiring it can be to kids learning this instrument. Seeing how professionals play the piano, and being amazed by the great skills of a pianist on stage are sure to boost their motivation to practice and improve on the piano even more. After all, how can you stay motivated to get better at something if you’ve never seen what being the best at it looks like?
Set realistic goals and practice lengths
Last but not least, make sure that any goals you set with them are realistic. Some kids are naturally better at staying motivated and sticking to a routine, while others will take some extra work before they learn their pieces. Pushing the latter to sail through grades, one after the other, when they clearly need more time, is only bound to make them want to stop playing their instrument rather than motivate them.
The same goes for practice lengths, where the age of the kid learning the piano is also relevant. Focusing for more than 30 minutes uninterrupted is likely to be a lot tougher on a five-year-old than a ten-year-old!
Ultimately, every child is different, and the way they practice should be modified to suit these differences. Once you have found the best method to keep them motivated, there’s nothing that’s going to stop them from achieving their piano goals - happy practice!
