All About Practice

Practice Expectations

As a general rule, young beginner students should be practicing as many days as possible for a short period of time. 4 days a week outside of the child’s regular lesson for about 10 - 15 minutes is a good goal to set right from the start.

Older students should hopefully be fairly self-driven and practice for whatever length of time they can naturally focus for. Aim for 30 minutes of practice, 4 days a week. More than this is fantastic, and expected for students who wish to undertake more advanced piano exams or whom are studying for their HSC music exams.

Make Practice Part of your Daily Routine

Just like you may religously read a book before bed, make practicing the piano part of your daily routine for ultimate progress. The most imporant thing about practice is consistency. Think of it like learning to read and speak a new language. People need consistency to nurture growth. 

Log Your Practice

Log your practices to track your progress and stay accountable. At Encore Music Tuition, you can log your practice on the website My Music Staff. Your teacher has direct access to this information.

Tips to Encourage Practice

- Inspire your young musician by attending live performances as an audience member. Explain that the performer achieved this level of playing due to practice. 

• Listen to lots of music from many different genres and encourage the student to learn the music which they love.

• Remind the student of their goal.

• Tell the student often how much you love to hear them play and how it makes you feel happy.

• Remind them of fun incentives such as prizes for younger children (provided by me, the teacher).

• Are they over-committed to so many activities that they don’t have time to practice? Consider cutting back on something. 

• If your child is refusing to practice, it's time to have a serious group discussion with the teacher about what the student wants out of their lessons as well as your expectations as a parent. This conversation’s aim would be to find a middle ground where everyone is happy.

• Piano lessons are not for everyone, and perhaps playing the piano is simply not your child’s passion. Consider trialing a new instrument.