Hellobee Boards

Can I ask why he’s learning the piano? Did he ask to learn, or is this something you’re making him do? Honestly, I don’t know if there’s a way to make him do something he doesn’t want to do and enjoy it/do it voluntarily.

Practicing isn’t something kids really like. It’s up to us to teach them they have to practice if they want to get better, and show them what good practice habits look like. I sit with her when she practices. Usually 10x per hand for finger exercises and 5x per song. It’s usually a little more if I notice she is not really paying attention. She has only been playing for 1 month but we now practice 15-20 min per day about 5x per week. These things don’t come naturally, and I know very few kids who take the initiative to practice for 10-15 min straight. My friend’s kid will practice on his own but he does one song two times, goes off to play and then comes back an hour later to practice 1-2x. Just because she doesn’t take initiative to practice doesn’t mean she doesn’t like piano...it’s just not that fun when you’re starting out learning the basics.

What’s kind of piano teacher does he have? Her teacher asks what songs she wants to learn and he tries to keep it light.

@irene: very basic songs! Mary had a little lamb, twinkle twinkle and London symphony. But she is playing the songs with both hands. No books yet - he compiles his own book of photocopies.

@mrsbells - that’s a cool incentive system!

How old is he? and does he like playing?

I started playing flute when I was 10 (5th grade band). At that age we were supposed to practice 30 min 3-5x per week. I think I practiced maybe 3x per week for 15 min. Once I got older (12-13) I stopped practicing, but I had band class every day, and took a private 30min lesson.
In high school, I had band class every day, plus marching band 3x per week + performances. Still didn't practice!

I loved playing and being in band - I did enough practice to keep up, but not to be an amazing player.

So I guess my long rambling post is that yes he should practice, but do not suck the fun out of it! Most of the time, when I was little, I practiced because it was delaying doing my homework! So talk to him about it, maybe set an easy goal (15 min everyday after snack or some thing like that.) Once that set, you'll be able to adjust it longer or different days as necessary.

I haven't read all of the commits. But for me, the biggest take away I got from playing an instrument as a kid was the discipline of doing something I didn't want to do but needed to do to improve. And about how hard one needed to work to get better. It sucks. And sometimes I was not good at practicing but as I got older I could really see the difference. know my mom struggled.

When I was in 2nd grade my parents bought a piano and started me on lessons. Initially I was interested, but it became more and more of a chore and I resisted practicing. Eventually my mom asked if I just wanted to stop and I said yes.

In 5th grade I started playing the flute and really liked it. I took private lessons and later joined the school band. I was never great about practicing that young, but I was much more willing because I liked the flute better. Eventually in HS I practiced on my own without having to be told.

I think kids have to have an interest in order to keep up with it. Otherwise it's just a chore, and music is supposed to be enjoyable.

Not piano, but my oldest is in a foreign language program and it's pretty challenging. It's mixed age and mixed abilities and she's one of the younger ones and came in with almost zero knowledge. I don't have any special techniques. Our philosophy has been "well, you don't have to, but then you'll have to say why you didn't do your homework/practice." Also she is competitive about certain things so she got into somewhat of a race with another kid on her practice workbook which is self paced. Sorry, mostly just commiseration here! She always wants to go to the class but getting the supplemental stuff in is difficult!

Piano practice at that age is like homework. You can't say "go do your homework" and never check in. Aim for 15 min every day (and if it can be the same time as part of your routine, even better!) Be within ear shot so you can say "maybe try that one again" or "can you play this for me 5 times?"

I do games with my students to get them to do the repetition. Repetition is everything for music. So like bingo: print out a blank chart, write number in (1-6 so you can use a die) and assign each number a practice task. Roll die, play the song or scale, practice until you get bingo.

Also there are hundreds charts online (or smaller numbers) aim to finish one in one week. For each piece/scale that he plays color in one part.

For accuracy I do a penny game with 3-5 pennies. Every time you play it perfectly, you get a penny. Every time you mess it up, you take one away. Keep going until you have 5 pennies (or 3 to make it easier). This one really helps build in the focus and incentive to try to get it right often.

You could have a mini recital once a week or even each day after practice where you say "play me your favorite piece" and listen and don't critique.

I haven't had to make my kids practice yet, but I have worked with parents to try to get my students to practice!