Ten Tips to Encourage Instrument Practice

Being the parent of a budding musician is rewarding, but at times challenging! It is an exercise in encouraging and guiding a student's instrument practice enough to improve their skills and grow their love of music, but not so much that it leads to burnout, pressure, or returning an instrument to its case forever.
Of course we have all heard about the importance of practice and it is key to helping students develop and maintain their skills. Yet, it is not uncommon for students, at some point, to struggle with the self-motivation required to consistently sit themselves down at the piano or pull a chair up to a music stand.
Here are ten tips parents and pros recommend to encourage practicing:

1. Compare instrument practice to playing a sport

“When you start an instrument, you have to sit down and talk to the student and explain how this is like playing a sport,” says Vanessa Mulvey, a music parent, flutist, and faculty member of the Longy School of Music of Bard College and the New England Conservatory of Music. “Anybody that’s good at playing a sport, they don’t just do it once a week, they do it on a regular basis. Learning a musical instrument is like learning any sport. Explain this is what it takes to get better.”

2. Make instrument practice consistent and regularly scheduled

Consistency is key; whether for 15 minutes or an hour a day, encourage your student to get on a fixed schedule. Have them practice at the same time every day, so that it becomes as routine and instinctual as brushing your teeth.

3. Find the right time for instrument practice

Pick a time in the day where your student typically has energy, a time when they’re fresh and can look forward to instrument practice, so that it doesn’t become yet another obligation at the end of a long day. Maybe that’s first thing in the morning before school, maybe it's after they’ve had their afternoon snack. Figure out what time they seem most open and excited about practicing.

4. Spread out instrument practice times

If your student struggles with maintaining their attention span for prolonged periods of time, find ways to segment their daily practice time so that it fits into their busy schedules, and works with their focus, not against it. Smaller chunks of practice time often feel more enjoyable and manageable.

5. If the student takes lessons, be consistent

Along with a consistent at-home practice schedule, it can be helpful to enroll your student in private instruction. Develop a lesson schedule that is reliable. Virtual lessons also offer a way to maintain your private lesson time, even on days when your student can’t travel to their lessons. Explore what options are available to you so as to maintain a consistent instrument practice schedule.

6. Normalize Frustration

Instrument practice can be hard. When you’re first learning something new, the frustrations often outweigh the rewards. The great trumpeter Wynton Marsalis observed that: “Of course kids don’t want to practice, because when you practice you’re working on things you can’t do.”

Like any new hobby, this kind of frustration can sometimes lead to your student saying that they don’t want to pursue their instrument. However, some of the best passions and pursuits take time and application. It is important for parents to normalize frustration and let the student know that they can push through or sometimes it makes sense to take a break and come back fresh.

7. Ensure your child knows how to practice their instrument

Instrument practice doesn’t just have to be repeating the same note or scale over and over, and students who go down this monotonous route are likely to reach frustration even faster. Make note of what challenges your students are facing (is it a specific measure that they’re stuck on, or perhaps finger changes that are giving them trouble?) and then check with your student’s instructors or directors to see if there are different strategies for at-home practice. They often have at-home practice guides and additional recommendations for fun and effective ways to make practice enjoyable and productive.

8. Give instrument practice a year — at least

Most instructors and musicians suggest at least a year's commitment to their instrument practice, before they consider pivoting. The reason for this being, it can often take as many as 12 to 24 months for your student to really start to see their hard work pay off. It is helpful to share this with your child so they can see the bigger picture and better understand what they are working toward.

9. Take your student to watch live music

One way to spark your students' inspiration is to expose them to different types of live music. If they have the opportunity to see or hear a song or performer that they connect with, that can help them envision what it is they’d like for their own musical future and can help inspire them to commit to the process. There are many opportunities to see free, live concerts across the state, from local music schools to community performances. In addition, many concerts and events are live streamed or available to watch on YouTube, so feel free to host in-home screenings with your student and their friends!

10. Remember, instrument practice is supposed to be fun!

Above all, music is something many students find fun and enjoy sharing with their friends and family! As parents, it is important to connect with your student’s instructors and directors to figure out the best ways to foster a love of music. There are ways to keep it fun. Get creative and figure out what your unique student needs for their unique instrument practice success!