Piano Practice – Encouraging Kids To Get It Done

Child practicing at piano with adult showing musical flashcards

First of all...

Please don’t feel tonnes of pressure to establish the perfect piano practice routine. There is already too much to do, we know – we empathise with the ever-increasing busy-ness of our children’s lives. This isn’t intended to add to that pressure – but instead to be a source of information to help you to be really intentional about how to get kids to practise in a way that is fun, comfortable, and stress free!

At Music Monsters, we set weekly challenges and practice for our students to do, encouraging them to engage with their instrument in between lessons. But how? How do we actually get kids to practise, and what should it even look like? How do we create these habits, and how do we ensure that they are progressing? How do we know if they are getting it right, and how can we support them?

Do Kids Have to Do Piano Practice?

Ok. This is a big subject. And perhaps a touch controversial. Teachers will all have differing opinions about how much practise kids should do, and it will largely depend on the age of the child, the standard they have reached, and what their individual goals are.

For us, at Music Monsters, we largely work with young children at the very beginning of their journey. So, for us, when kids are just starting, practice is not compulsory. This is for several reasons:

1. We don’t insist that parents buy an instrument when they first begin, as we find it places unnecessary pressure on the child to stick with a hobby that they may not actually be that interested in. We’d rather you come along for a few lessons before deciding whether or not to make that investment

2. With very young children, the more pressure you put on them to do something, the more stressful it can become. We want learning the piano to be fun – not a source of anxiety.

3. It is more important to us to create a culture where kids WANT to practise – not because they have been forced to, but because they find it fun, relaxing, and intrinsically satisfying.

Grandparent with child at the piano

Building Blocks to Piano Practice

Before you have an instrument, there are still things you can do to encourage musical engagement at home. Listen to music together, clap rhythms, talk about instruments, recap things learnt in class, recreate some of the games that they played, watch some of the BBC children’s proms, sing, play homemade percussion instruments, download the My Piano app, and locate notes that they know on the keyboard.

Once you are confident that your child is happy and enjoying their learning experience, you can find our recommended instruments just here. Contact us through the form at the bottom of this page if you have any questions about these!

Creating A Happy Environment For Practice

Ok. So, how do we create a culture of happy practising, and what can you do to support this at home? Follow these simple steps to get yourselves started:
1. Kids want your attention. That’s it. If you are interested in their piano playing, they will be interested in their piano playing. Looking through their book together, asking them to remind you what particular notes are, listening to the soundtrack from their class, sitting at the piano together. All of these things are gorgeous bonding activities for you to share in together, that will create warm feelings and happy associations for your child.
2. Quality over quantity. A couple of minutes per practice session is FINE when they’re starting out. A little tickle of the ivories as they are walking past is AMAZING. No long enforced sessions here. Try to give a couple of minutes of attention to what they are practising the first couple of times they play a new piece, to ensure they are getting it correct (and message their teacher if you’re not sure!)
3. Habit stacking. This means, building it into to something that is already part of your child’s routine. Don’t just say ‘We’re going to practise at 5 o’clock every day’. You won’t! 5 o’clock looks different every day to most people, and life will get in the way. Instead, commit to practising after they brush their teeth in the morning, or after you’re home from school in the afternoon. Build it into to something that is already a habit
4. Work it out together. Chat as a family, and involve your child in the decision making. Solve the mission together, rather than making it a battle to be won. Ask your child how much they would like to do, and when they would like to do it. Write it down, use a chart, and help them to achieve this with your help.

Practice Sessions For Older Kids

As they get older, and the music gets trickier, the time spent playing will increase. A good practice session might look something like this:
  • Play any scales or exercises
  • Play through each piece, observing teacher’s notes
  • Zoom in on tricky bits, or passages that need extra attention
  • Sight-read a piece never seen before
  • Complete any theory exercises set/compose a new piece/improvise on a piece already learnt
(This is a very basic sketch, to give you some idea of how practice might develop as kids grow).
Child at the piano pressing down keys

Starting Points For Everyone

Whatever the age of your child, start with these simple games and activities, to make practising fun and inspiring:
1. Read your favourite story, and play along to it as you do so. Can you play particular pieces of music that go really well with the story? Can you add in sound effects for different animals, vehicles, characters, or emotions?
2. Record yourself playing! Set up a camera to film yourself, and give a full performance. You will rise to the challenge, and improve under these more tricky playing conditions!
3. Write your own rhythm using your favourite time signature. Use as many note values as you can think of, but make sure you keep to the correct number of beats per bar. Can you play your rhythm 10 times, using a different finger for each playing?

You will find tonnes more games and ideas in our Ebook: 50 Inspiring Practice Games for Kids.

You may also find our Inspiring Practice Journals helpful, for motivating kids and keeping a record of the things you are working on! Use the code ‘practicemakesperfect’ to get £3 off, using this link. 

I hope this has been a helpful guide! Drop us a message with any questions at all, and visit our class information pages to learn more about how Music Monsters can support your child’s learning!

Lauren x

Picture of Lauren Elliott

Lauren Elliott

With both a bachelors and masters degree in Music, Lauren is the co-founder of Music Monsters and full-time Mum to three little ones.