Mississauga Harp and Piano Teacher offers Practicing Advice

Now that I am a parent with a very early learner (2 yr old daughter) I can honestly relate to the struggles parents  have getting their children to learn and practice in a fun creative way.  Unless you are creative or have the time to read a lot of articles and blogs chances are you’re helping your kids to practice the same way most parents do.  You’ve tried bribes, rewards, and threats.  It’s not easy to be self disciplined and this is something that your children have to be taught.  None of us like to be told when and how to do anything let alone for how long for how many times.  But decisions you make for your children now will affect them the rest of their lives so don’t give in and let them quit.  How many adults have you met that say they are glad that their parents let them quit piano or whatever instrument they took up.  NONE!  Most of the parents I know are regretful that they were allowed to quit piano before they had a chance to really enjoy it and appreciate it.  So at what age do you start to enjoy it and appreciate it?  For most kids it’s around the later high school years when they can start showing off to their friends and play pop songs that people know.  But that is a long way away for most of us especially me!

In the next few weeks I will be sharing some advice about how to get your kids to practice and how to make it fun for everyone. Please check in as I will post on this blog every weekend for you to check in on.  By Monday the post will be up and ready to get you motivated for the week.  I find January and February to be the hardest months for my students so I am hoping this will help to get you through!

So today we are going to start with the basics.

KEY NOTE: Keep the length of practice time the same at the same time every day.

You may have a different schedule every day but whatever the day keep it consistent.  Children need to know their boundaries and expectations.  No child will function well if suddenly in the middle of their favorite TV show they are told the need to practice.  Allow them to help you come up with a schedule that works for everyone.  If you all agree and they are made aware of the plan than they know what to expect.  For example if they choose to start watching TV at 4:00pm than they know (believe me they know) at 4:30 it’s time to shut it off.  This way it’s not a surprise or an interruption.  They must also be part of the plan as to how long the practice time is going to last.  Either they are made aware in advance that they have to play the song 10 times or practice for 20min.  Whatever it is stick with it.  All children function best when we as adults are consistent.  The parents of my students find that practicing in the morning before school works well. Their minds are fresh and it gets done so it doesn’t have to be thought of again til the next day.  Whatever time and length of practice works best for you may differ from one home to the next but the one thing that is KEY here is keep it the SAME!  You don’t like surprises in your daily routine so don’t create surprise practice times for your child either, be sure you’re all on the same page.

Lastly I have been reading a book called Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel (and yes he has grown children of his own so he does know what he is talking about).

He says, “You labor many years to put the right pieces all together, but when your children grow up, they often don’t resemble what you thought you were creating.  Even with disappointments, however, raising children is still the greatest thing you’ll even do.  It’s greater than any milestone you can hit in your career.  It dwarfs any fame you may receive for your ideas or your inventions. You’ve been handed a piece of history in advance-a gracious gift you send to a time you will not see-and you play the biggest role in how that history will ultimately be recorded.  That’s why, in spite of the challenges, you need to have a plan for parenting that works.”

I love the end of that paragraph “you need to have a plan that works” and same goes for practicing, you need to have a plan that works!

Have a great week!

Chantal Dube