6 Tips to Encourage Your Kids to Practice their Instrument!

/ Knapton Musik Knotes, Inc./

Collectively, the Knapton Musik Knotes instructors have many lifetimes of teaching music, and as many of us are parents ourselves, we understand the struggle to get your musically talented kid to practice!

Whether your child plays the piano, the guitar, or a band/orchestra instrument, certain strategies help boost motivation:

1.Make music a priority in your home

  • Bring your child to lessons consistently

  • Talk about their lessons and what they are learning

  • Ask them what kind of music they like to listen to

  • Show that you value music by listening to music you both enjoy in the home, going to concerts – be they formal indoor classical concerts or informal outdoor venues like jazz or folk music in a park, and maybe even trying out something new! 

2. Help your child create the habit of practicing his/her instrument

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  • Pair the practice time with another daily habit, such as right before breakfast or right after dinner.  This can set up a helpful consistency and also helps avoid cramming a practice in right before the next lesson, which is seldom enjoyable! 

  • It’s very helpful to practice right away after the lesson, as the student remembers what they just learned, and the books are then out and ready for a week of practice times. 

3. Locate the right place in your home for music practice

  • Find a spot that creates a good balance between being close to family, but away from distractions.  Try to avoid isolation while encouraging some family involvement. 

4. Be present with your child during practice time

  • Sit nearby and give listening attention! Consider setting aside other tasks and simply listening to their efforts….let this be some one-on-one quality time with your child.

  • Stay positive! Congratulate their efforts at learning a new complex skill! Try to avoid criticisms, as your child’s teacher will take care of those corrections. 

  • Offer verbal encouragement by asking questions about their music such as, “What’s your favorite part?  Which part is the trickiest?” Keep in mind that your child will want to direct their own learning at home, which indicates pride in their own accomplishments.

5. Provide opportunities for sharing their music

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  • Ask your child to play informally for friends and family who are visiting

  • Help them make a video of their music to share with others virtually

  • Encourage them to play more formally at church or school. Applause and appreciation can be very motivating for practice efforts!

6. Give additional incentives

  • Offer an event or fun outing as a reward for consistent practice!

  • Keep in mind that over time the reward for practicing becomes the enjoyment of creating and playing music on their own and with others. Practice efforts can add up to a potential lifetime of musical and creative enjoyment!