Having taught piano for over 30 years, I’ve seen first hand the incredible impact music can have on young people, from building confidence to fostering creativity and resilience. I love teaching piano and I wanted to write this post to share some tried-and-true tips for supporting your child’s musical journey. Whether you’re a fellow musician or just love the magic of music, I hope you’ll find some useful advice to help inspire and motivate your young pianist.
Learning an instrument, like the piano, is about so much more than simply pressing the right keys. For children, this journey teaches valuable life skills—discipline, empathy, determination, cooperation—and it builds a sense of community and self-worth. It opens them to a world of joy, inspiration, and creativity that can enrich their lives in countless ways.
As a parent, you play a pivotal role in this musical adventure, even if you’re not a musician yourself. By fostering a supportive environment, setting realistic practice goals, and encouraging a joyful connection with music, you’re helping your child gain more than just musical knowledge. Here are some ways to nurture their growing love of music and encourage them on their piano journey.
1. Creating a Musical Environment
Value the Process: If you place value on music as an activity, your child will pick up on this. A positive outlook on practice time can make a world of difference.
Practice-Friendly Space: Set up a quiet area, free from distractions like TV or other noises, where they can concentrate.
Ensure Proper Setup: Make sure the piano stool is the correct height and distance, and that the piano is in tune and fully functional. If you’re using an electric piano, make sure to choose one with full-sized, weighted keys.
Show Your Own Interest: Play music around the house, attend concerts, stop and listen to buskers, and enjoy music together. Let them know music is for everyone.
2. Practice Routine Essentials
- A Regular Practice Schedule: Make practice a daily habit rather than a task to be rushed through. A daily practice schedule might look like this:
Beginners: 20 minutes
Early Stages (Grades 1–3): 30 minutes
Intermediate (Grades 4–5): 40 minutes
Advanced (Grades 6–8): 1 hour or more
Focus on Frequency: Aim for at least five sessions a week for steady progress.
Help with Organization: Adding practice time to their timetable and setting small reminders can make it feel like a part of the day. Encourage them to stick with it because it’s fun and rewarding—not just another task.
3. What Practice Should Look Like
Set Targets for practice: Long-term (e.g. take a grade exam in a year), medium term (e.g. learn all of the notes of this piece by the end of the month) and short-term goals (e.g., learn the first four bars hands separately by the end of this practice). This way, they’re always reaching toward something achievable.
Balance Activities: Break down practice into scales, current pieces, and sight reading in roughly 20/60/20 proportions.
Technical Exercises Matter: Exercises like scales and arpeggios build skills essential for fluency, strength, and understanding patterns in music.
Vary Practice Styles: Clap and count rhythms, try slow or separate hand practice, break pieces into smaller sections, and visualize music when away from the piano. Developing control over these elements brings more expression and confidence into their playing.
Remember to make time to play through older pieces too so your child develops a repertoire.
4. Engaging with Music Beyond Practice
Encourage Performance: Inviting them to perform pieces for you and others (family, friends, or even pets!) makes performing feel natural.
Listen Together: Help them develop an ear for music by identifying instruments, tapping out rhythms, or singing along. Ask questions about the mood of the piece—getting kids thinking about music’s “story” boosts their engagement.
Reward Progress Creatively: Consider occasional incentives, like a live music experience, as a reward for meeting practice goals. Star charts or positive reinforcement can be motivating, but always reinforce that the best reward is the joy of playing.
5. Staying Motivated Along the Journey
Acknowledge the Ups and Downs: Every musical journey has its own rhythm—there will be periods of rapid growth and times of slow progress, and that’s normal.
Reflect on Progress: Encourage a cycle of play, listen, reflect, and try again. Remind them that mastery comes from patient, mindful repetition.
Celebrate the Wins: Small achievements are worth acknowledging. Helping children see these moments as stepping stones fosters both confidence and resilience.
Using praise is a magic tool that, when genuine and specific, boosts confidence, motivation, and the desire to keep learning. It helps children recognize their progress, feel proud of their achievements, and develop a positive relationship with their practice.
With your support, your child can find lasting joy in music, discovering that, yes, they are lucky to play! And with these small changes, you’re cultivating a practice that enriches both their life and yours.
What are your thoughts – are there other ideas you can suggest that would help young learners? Are these things different if you are an adult learner? I suspect, not that much. Leave your comments below.
Also get in touch with me if you would like to talk about taking piano lessons either online or in person. I would love to hear from you.
Have a lovely weekend.
Steve
