Getting Kids to Practice #1 Piano
Enthusiasm for playing piano starts to fade
after a time. We want our kids to keep
up their piano long enough for them to achieve enough skill to really enjoy
playing. Yet the
daily effort it takes to get the practicing done
can be enormous. How do we get kids to
practice?
Ideas Families Have Tried:
1. Daily
routine. Work piano practice into a
child’s daily schedule. Pick a time that
is her time to practice. Expect it to
happen then, and point out how a little bit every day brings great results at a
piano lesson.
When my kids were still very young, I set up a
morning routine. I called it “Great New
Day” and made it into a jingle:
One,
Wake up. Morning Prayer
Two, Get dressed; Jamies away
Three,
Make bed. Fix my Hair
Four,
Set for a Great New Day!
A, Dishes
Over
B, Hug
my Ma
C, Do
my Chores
D, Practice
Pian-ah!
(The “Ma” and “Pian-ah” were
for comic relief!)
The morning routine needed to happen before they
could do something else fun. Even my
tiny kids would go to the piano and play a little One, Two, Three
song (three notes on the piano played with the index finger). As they grew, I showed them how to “play”
Mary Had a Little Lamb; Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater; or Jingle Bells, by
ear, so they could practice. It was a big day when they finally
got to start on a Piano Book! But by
then, they had been practicing for a very long time already! It was just a given that everyone needed to
practice!
Jan wasn’t taught piano as a girl, but she
wanted her kids to learn to play. She
found a teacher, and obtained a used piano. She made it important, in their home, to daily
practice the piano. Then she worked closely with the piano teacher
to answer her oldest daughter Kate’s questions and to keep the lessons at her
interest and skill level. It was extra
important to Jan that the teacher spell out where to put Kate’s hands for each
piece. Jan herself would sit at the
piano at practice time and learn along with Kate.
Jan’s next child, a son, was extra interested in
music, and figured out several songs on his own by ear. Then when he began to play, he could ask his
older sister the questions that he needed answering at practicing time!
Rather than hound a child to practice, try a “back
door” approach: “I sure would like to
hear some beautiful music this morning!”
Or, “Sure, you can go play at your friends house! As soon as you practice!” Or, “I’ve noticed that your ___________
piece is sounding better and better.
Would you play it for me?”
2. Variety. When enthusiasm for piano practice starts to
wane, change it up! Find a new book, or
a fun new sheet music song to add interest.
A local music store can have suggestions at your child’s level. Try bringing in a current song he plays, to
match levels.
Christmas songs are fun to play! The first part of November, set aside all
piano music and let your student learn some Christmas pieces. Christmastime is a busy time, so it is okay
if the songs they learn are easier than she is used to. It is a good chance to let her play songs her
ear already knows.
Duets are some fun variety, and they require
that both parties play the rhythm correct!
Try having your child play as you sing.
This is perfect for Family Home Evening.
It helps them learn to keep up the tempo!
Jaynie’s Grandmother loved to hear her play--
well at least she pretended to! She
provided informal family talent shows several times a year, at holidays or
get-togethers. When Grandpa was
suffering from dementia, he couldn’t talk to anyone much, but he could listen
to her play! Jaynie’s family and her
cousin’s family got together and put on their own recital once a year. They reserved the church, and printed programs,
so that Jaynie and her siblings each picked a piece and had it ready. Sometimes, everyone would play a classical or
religious piece (in the chapel), and sometimes, they played fun ones (in a
different room). Knowing that everybody
would hear her play was extra motivation for Jaynie to practice!
3. Help
them see the big picture: We are lucky
that we have music, and we are blessed to be able to develop that talent.
When young Brantley grumbled about piano at age
9, Diana sat beside him at the piano one day.
“I’m just not interested in the piano,” he told her. “Brantley,” she replied, after a quick prayer
to handle it well, “You are such a smart boy, with a smart brain. Did you know that usually when you learn, you
only use the left side of your brain?
Well, music lets you develop a whole other side of your brain—the right
side! You are so creative, and I know
that you will need both sides of your brain!!
Playing the piano will give you that.” Brantley thought about that, and Diana didn’t
hear him ask to quit again! (This is true. Rote learning is a left brain activity, while
creativity uses the right brain. Music actually can boost academic skills, such as reading and math
skills by stimulating brain function that governs them. “Music draws on both sides of the brain—you
are both analytical and expressive.”
Barrie Wells, ASU Music Therapy and Education, quoted in the Mesa Tribune 7/31/95.)
When her kids wanted to quit piano, Myra told
them, “Yes, you may quit. After you have
learned 50 hymns.” That was the
requirement in their home. So her kids
worked to learn the hymns. Myra would
smile to herself. She knew that after
they had learned the 50 hymns, they would be able to play well, and would not
longer want to stop!
“It’s who we are,” Ginny told her family. “We play the piano.” For years, she would not give her kids the
option of quitting. Then, one day, she
changed her approach. “You know,” she
told them, “Sooner or later, you WILL get asked to play in church. It just will happen, because there is always
need for someone who plays. Do you want
to be able to play well, to serve others, or just so-so. It’s not if, but when, so think about how
well you will want to be able to do it.” This was especially effective since a
recently returned missionary had just told a story about being asked to play on
her mission, for the congregation to sing. There was no one else that could
play, and how she wished she could play better!
4. Scale
down. Kids get busy. And they have legitimate, good uses of their
time with sports, extra-curricular activites, and homework, especially as they
get older. Rather than let piano go,
just lower the requirements.
Sadie only had her teenage kids play one song, a
hymn, during the school year. Then, when summer started, she added back two or
three more songs, and added back the scales or chords and the method
books. Sadie tried to match the
expectation to the busy-ness of the child.
And rather than stop piano lessons, she figured that even if there was
not much time during the week to practice, her kids were learning to sight-read
music! A valuable skill!
5. Reward
practicing! Spike Dad’s interest in a
piece that your child is learning, and have him listen and pour on praise. When Grandma comes over, give her a little
concert. Or if the pianist is bashful, have her secretly listen in. Then Grandma can offer lavishly praise! In fact, a relative could listen in from the
phone, unseen, and offer admiration.
Someone who says, “You are really getting good on the piano” gives the best reward.
My Favorite Idea: The Plate.
Practicing had been dying down astronomically in my house, as my
teenagers got busy with a musical and sports and homework. I got a dollar store plate, and wrote on it
in permanent marker: MUSIC Makes Life
Delicious. Then, I heated it in the oven,
so the writing would not erase. After
dinner each night, I get out a piece of fruit, maybe a pear or a mango or a
bunch of grapes, or even some frozen strawberries or pineapple, and arrange
enough pieces on the plate for everyone in the family. Without saying a word, my kids know that if
they go play their hymn through, they can come eat a piece. My growing boys are usually hungry again
awhile after dinner, so here is a snack, and a wonderful consequence for
practicing! This is not so much a reward
for practicing (I realize that food is generally frowned on as a reward), but as a reminder that Music does make life wonderful!! I hope the kids are thinking, “Oh yeah, I
really do want to get better at playing the piano!”
Next Week:
Practicing Instruments. Do you
have ideas? How do you get your kids
to practice?
Please comment below!
Labels: Children--Practicing Piano #1
