Tips on Encouraging Your Child as They Practice A Musical Instrument

Consistency and determination are key components in learning a musical instrument and advancing onto more sophisticated techniques. Practice is important, but when they say, “practice makes perfect,” we feel that sends a negative message to our students. Regardless of how much you think you know, there will always be room for improvement and there will always be an opportunity to expand your musical knowledge. Practice can make a good player, a great player, but it’s the consistency and determination that matters the most. If your child is practicing their instrument from home, here are a few ways to encourage and inspire them.

What Time Does Your Child Take to Learning?

Some children are go-getters and can find the inspiration to learn and practice their musical instruments as soon as they wake up. Other children like to relax after a good night’s sleep and watch some early-morning cartoons. It’s important to know when your child is more receptive to practicing and put them in a position to succeed. If they’re more receptive in the evening, try to establish a routine! For example, each night after your child finishes their dinner, dedicate an hour for training sessions. During these sessions, encourage them to set a goal for themselves, try to keep their playtime to under an hour, and offer a positive and fun-loving attitude. Learning music should be a hobby, not a chore.

Recognize Their Progress

Your child will experience moments of failure and success as they navigate their musical instrument. For some reason or another, your child picked their instrument because it captured their interest and sparked their imagination. Accentuate that during their practice sessions; recognize the improvements in their playing and read their body language when they seem to be getting frustrated or annoyed. Acknowledge how far they’ve progressed since they first started and don’t be afraid to compliment them when you see them putting forth effort.

Be Involved in Their Learning

Telling your child, it’s time to practice and then leaving them in a room for an hour is not the best way to spark their enthusiasm for learning. If for example, your child is learning the guitar and you’re familiar with the instrument, bring your own into the room as they learn and run through musical drills.

Rewards are a useful learning tool - depending on your child’s skill level, you can challenge them to learn a few notes, a riff, a lick, a scale or any other technique. If they learn it or come close, consider taking them out for pizza or ice cream as a treat.

Learning an instrument has been known to increase a child’s self-confidence and improve their cognitive ability. If your child is expressing an enthusiasm to learn an instrument, but are unsure of the right one for them, bring them down to Carillon Music Academy. Our team will ensure your child picks the one that fulfills their musical desires.