(being with your child when they practice)
Does your child struggle to stay enthusiastic about their instrument? Do they seem keen one day, but talk about giving up the next. Look, we have all been there. Learning an instrument is hard. It takes patience and commitment, but the benefits are immeasurable. It can be so enjoyable and very rewarding.
It can be a difficult decision on whether or not to carry on learning, so in this series of blog posts, I’m giving you some tips on how to encourage and persevere with your child. I’ve written some ideas on ‘practice support’ in bullet points so its easy to read and gain ideas from.
Take a chair and sit next to your child.
Be interested, but not authoritative.
Let your child direct the session.
If they’re not forth-coming, ask them about how the last lesson went.
Ask questions like: “What piece would you like to play to me?” or “Did your teacher write down any notes?” for example.
When your child plays to you, be sure to encourage them. Tell them it’s wonderful. Ask questions about the music.
If they feel discouraged about mistakes, support them with phrases like, “Everyone makes mistakes when they’re learning.” or “Let’s try it again”.
If your child is feeling upset or finding it hard, take a little 5 minute break and make some drinks, before going back to it. You can then continue with a different outlook.
If it feels right, maybe have a little concert at the end, to build up their courage and prepare for possible future performances, whether that be grade exams or concerts.
Learning an instrument should be fun. Don’t make this time too serious. If its not going to plan, tomorrow is another day.
The most important points to take from this blog post are:
Support and encouragement are the two key words to remember when sitting down with your child to help them practice.
Good luck and let me know how you get on with these ideas via the contact page or here or on the ‘in the mix‘ forum.
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