Music practice is part and parcel of learning an instrument, and for children, creating a routine around practice time will help set them up for success. Below are my top tips for creating a music practice routine for your child. 1/ Understand the importance of practice No musician – or anyone skilled in their field, for that matter – became proficient without practice: consistent revision, repetition and exploration of their craft. It’s how we learn, improve and master the most basic of skills. For children, creating a music practice routine helps incorporate the habit of music practice into daily life so that it becomes second nature, and it's this consistency that is key to increasing not only your child’s competence, but their enjoyment and confidence in playing music, too. Setting up a routine around practice time also fosters other life skills, such as time management, overcoming procrastination and positive habit formation. As parents, your role is to create the time, environment and expectation that allows music practice to integrate with your day. 2/ Put music practice in your family schedule Ideally children will practice their instrument five times per week. This may be only for 10 to 15 minutes initially, then ideally increase as their skills and curiosity grow. Setting a specific number and length of practice sessions makes it easier to schedule them into your family’s weekly calendar. Many parents swear by creating an activity spreadsheet that lives somewhere visible (the fridge!) so their children know what’s happening and what’s expected of them during the week. Add ‘music practice’ to your family schedule so it becomes routine, just like homework or soccer training. Add ‘music practice’ to your family schedule so it becomes routine, just like homework or soccer training." 3/ Same time every day
Determine when your child is most fresh and ready to learn. Often, for younger children, this is first thing in the morning before school. Many parents report their children lack motivation to practise after school when, understandably, they are exhausted from a day of learning and playing. Before school can be a hectic time of day, but little tricks like preparing uniforms and lunches the night before, and saving screen time (or another reward) until after practice is completed helps make sure it can fit in. 4/ Follow a set format A quality practice session ideally follows a set structure:
5/ Positive reinforcement Your child has just finished another practice session – great job! It’s time to celebrate with words of praise that emphasise the effort they put in, rather than the quality of their performance. “I heard you go back and try and nail that tricky note – well done!” Music practice charts also offer a great way to cap off each practice session. The act of sticking a sticker on a chart gives children a sense of accomplishment, especially if those stickers are building towards a bigger reward after several weeks’ practice. There are many free downloadable practice charts available online. Pick one that suits your family. What does your child's music practice routine look like? Please share any tips in the comments below!
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