A little bit of parent support with consistency can make a HUGE difference to young piano students. Here’s a few recent examples that got my student practising.
A Once A Week HW Check
My students mark out homework in their book indexes or note down no-book assignments in their HW Book during lesson. I update all homework in the Vivid Practice App so there’s clarity and so parents are aware of what’s going on.
My students have in-studio solo piano lessons that go online on days they can’t travel to lessons. Apart from solo lessons, my students also take online practise lessons in a group lesson format. I find it really handy to have access to student assignments through Vivid Practice during online sessions.
I recommend parent-supervised device access only once a week after each solo piano lesson. This is to be sure that children understand their assignments. And for parents to know what’s going on and what practise looks like.
Setting Alarms & Reminders
Students can forget and miss their lessons. They can mix up lesson time-schedules and forget it’s practise time. They can get involved in other tasks and lose track of the time. This can be a frequent occurrence with some students. Setting alarms and reminders help.
My recommendation is to set an alarm 30 minutes before the student needs to leave or prepare for lessons. Alarms set with a snooze option give students time to complete tasks they’re doing and take a break. And then move to a piano activity.
Listening To Your Child Play For Enjoyment
Piano students who practise well usually have parents who express enjoyment when listening to their children playing.
A parent listening to her beginner level child playing with a lot of mistakes, stops & re-starts might say:
“It’s so lovely to hear you play, can you play that again!” or “That’s so much better than the last time you played it!” or “You’re playing it with a lot more confidence!” And then follow with “I’d love to hear it again.”
A child might play again. Or might react with “Can I practise a little and then call you to listen to me play after that?” Both of these are an indication that you’re a parent who’s skilled at motivating your child.
Just getting a child to play something a few times helps. Some mistakes get ironed out, not because the parent pointed them out, but because repetition helps children listen and self-correct. It’s the first step towards independence in learning.
Dear Piano Parent,
YOU are the single and most important reason your child will go to the piano and practise everyday. The way you balance interest in your child’s piano playing with his/her need to develop confidence and learn independently, matters.
The best way to understand this balance is to be aware of what your child learns in piano class. And to communicate with your child’s piano teacher when there’s need. Your child’s teacher will reach out to you. There’s always a way to find time to communicate, despite both you and your child’s piano teacher having busy schedules.
All parents and children need time with each other. And children especially, need time with their parents, so they learn how to live and how to learn. Piano practise and music are a lovely way for families to spend time together.
To parents, teachers and students working together towards a common goal.
Best wishes,
Anitaelise.
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