How to Encourage your Child to Practise a Musical Instrument at Home

Learning a musical instrument is a valuable part of your child’s education, but how can you make sure practising at home doesn’t turn into a battle of wills between you and your young musician? Assistant Director of Music at Felsted Prep School, Rachel Clarke, has some tips for Parents.

Learning to play an instrument - whether the recorder, the piano, a string, brass, percussion or wind instrument- introduces children to a highly important, life-long love of music. There are so many other benefits too, from developing important motor and cognitive abilities to building confidence and boosting social and communication skills. However, getting children to practise a musical instrument at home can sometimes be a daily trial for Parents. Here are some ideas which may help:

Practice is key!
The more practice one does, the more progress is made - in every aspect of life. With regular instrumental practice at home, your child will gradually develop the realisation themselves,  that practice makes progress. This will enhance the satisfaction of learning to play, whilst also unlocking vital cognitive skills. 
  
Little and often
Start off with 10 minutes’ practice, three or four times a week, and build up slowly to daily practice. As your child becomes older and more advanced, the practice time can be increased. Make sure practice is a high priority in the day so it’s not missed out.

Regular routine
Whether first thing in the morning or before or after tea in the evening, settle on a time that suits your child and your family and make it a priority. Don't be afraid to change the time if it needs some adjustment.

Make sure the instrument is easily accessible
Keep the instrument in a prominent, safe place - ideally laid gently on the case - so your child can just pick it up and start to play. Leave the music nearby, ready to be used.
 

  
Learn with your child
Especially if your child is very young or just starting to learn, get involved in the practice sessions. Learning with them will be fun and more rewarding for all involved. Highlight what the instrumental teacher has set for the week and if you aren’t sure, reach out to the teacher for advice and they will be happy to help. It will make the lessons more rewarding for them as well!

SMART!
Take small sections of a piece, breaking down into bite-sized pieces. Clap rhythms, name notes, sing the tune, find a clip of the piece on Youtube. Take it slow, and make it deliberate. Set Small, Measurable And Realistic Targets. Every session should have some form of progress, however small, and will be an accumulation of steady effort over time.

Instil a sense of discipline and pride
This will continue for the rest of their lives and will help the child embrace the wonders of Music outside of learning their own instrument. Listen to as much Music as possible, of different genres and cultures. Go and watch live concerts to inspire your child. Let them lead their own learning to keep the motivation going - so they want to practise.

Be their greatest supporter - positive encouragement is vital.
Sing their praises wherever possible and celebrate every achievement, however small. This will validate their hard work and effort. Create performance opportunities at home. Record your child and watch the recordings back, or send to a family member, friend or neighbour (Granny used to love ours)! Let the class teacher and music teachers know, so that this can be celebrated in School with performances in class, assemblies and concerts.
 

 
Make practice fun
Your child is more likely to want to practise if sessions are enjoyable. Try setting a challenge – ‘can you learn these two bars today?’ or ‘can you learn three lines with just the right hand?’ Make a game of it – put counters on one side of the music stand and move one across to the other side every time a bar or piece of music is played correctly. Or create a board game with squares for each achievement leading to a reward at the end. Who doesn’t love a reward? This may be a sticker for each session, or some TV time afterwards, or a trip at the end of the week. This must be achievable and positive. At the end of the session, let your child make their own music – the noisier and more creative the better! 

Develop a positive growth mindset
Learning an instrument is a hard journey and for anyone can be disheartening sometimes especially if the child can’t see instant success. Instilling the view that it is a journey filled with ups and downs and that what may seem unachievable now, will be achievable soon, is vital. A positive growth mindset will help the child know that they have the potential to achieve their goals.

From experience of learning instruments all my life, I know how hard it can be to be motivated to practise. I would sometimes arrive at my lessons without having done any practice at all, and think that I could get away with it… Unfortunately not! Now I am a Music teacher, it is very obvious when little work has been done between lessons. I have two incredible musicians of my own to encourage now at home, and I am very aware of the battles which present themselves. But, each hurdle is cleared with support and encouragement. The dips in interest will happen. It is about unmasking them, readdressing and igniting the spark once again - working together. I promise it will pay off. Once the child realises it is really worth it, they will fly.

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Music at Felsted:

Music is a key component of Felsted life and there are a huge range of opportunities for musicians to contribute both academically and as a co-curricular activity.  To learn more about the award winning education at Felsted School, book an individual visit or register for one of our many Open Mornings held throughout the year.

Visit our Open Mornings page