How to Encourage my Child to Practise Piano at home?

Every activity, whether it's sports, the arts, or music, requires consistent practice or training to improve. Some students are naturally passionate about music and just want to play. For these students, you, as a parent, don’t have to do much—just let them practise on their own. (I was one of those students, I would finish school and head straight home and to the piano to practise.) But not every child is like that. As a full-time piano teacher, I’ve seen a wide range of students and their lifestyles. Many need a little help to establish a practice routine. So, I’d like to share some tips for parents to help implement a consistent practice schedule at home.

1. Set a Schedule – Consistency is Key

Try to add "piano time" or "music time" to your child’s daily schedule. This has to be a time you can commit to—something that becomes a regular part of both your and your child's routine. Set the same time every day, so it becomes a predictable habit. If your child is just starting lessons, aim for 5 minutes of practice every day. It might seem like a small amount of time, but trust me, if they can stick to it every day, it will make a difference. In fact, it’s more effective and beneficial than practising for 15 minutes, but only twice a week.

Our brains and bodies are incredibly complex, but consistency works. Even though I’m a piano teacher now, I still practise regularly. And of course, there are pieces that are difficult and frustrating for me, but I keep working through them, bit by bit. Eventually, they get easier. It's all about consistent training—keep doing it, and you'll get there!

2. Practice Together – Make Music Time a Family Activity

If your child has just started instrumental lessons, it's important that you are involved in this new journey with them. Sit beside them at the piano, show interest in their practice routine, and ask about the songs they’re learning or the homework assigned by their teacher. Listening to them play, even if you don’t know much about music, shows that you care, and it can make them more excited to share their progress with you. Your involvement helps with their attention span during practice sessions and reinforces the importance of their commitment.

You might be thinking, "But I don’t have any music experience. How can I help?" That’s okay! You don’t need to be a musician to support your child. You can still listen and provide feedback. I'm sure you will be able to tell if something sounds right or if it doesn’t, even if you don’t know the technical terms. Your presence and encouragement will make a big difference!

3. Praise and Encourage

Practising the piano isn’t always easy, and students can become frustrated while practising. It's important to encourage them with positive reinforcement. Simple phrases like “That’s okay, you’re getting better,” or “That sounded better—try again” can help them stay calm and motivated. Encouragement goes a long way in helping students feel positive about their progress.

4. Let Them Be the Teacher

One fun and effective way to encourage your child to practise is by letting them “teach” you how to play the piano or how to play 'that' song. This not only extends their time with the instrument but also allows them to reinforce their own learning by explaining concepts to you. If you’ve never learned the piano yourself, this can be a great way to learn alongside them, and it boosts their confidence in the process.

5. Smart Practice

Help your child plan their practice sessions by reviewing the pieces they need to focus on, as well as the specific areas their teacher wants them to improve. For example, check their homework book (if they have one) for notes like “focus on bars 8-12” or “work on left hand in bar 6.” Teachers might also recommend practising hands together (HT) from bars 20-24, or completing a theory or writing exercise from the workbook.

If your child spends the entire five-minute session working on just bars 8-12, for example, that’s perfectly fine. It’s better to focus on one section at a time, getting it right, rather than rushing through the whole piece. When they finish, they can play through the entire piece to review what they’ve learned and see how their practice is improving. For the next session, they can start by reviewing what they worked on previously, then move on to the next area of focus from their homework book.

This approach is what I call “smart practice” or “deliberate practice.” Instead of mindlessly repeating the whole piece, break it down and focus on the specific sections your child’s teacher has highlighted in their notes. By following these targeted instructions, your child will see faster progress and avoid ingraining mistakes from lack of focus. The homework book and the teacher's notes guide the way and make practice time more efficient and effective.

In Conclusion

I understand that, as parents, you’re very busy, and finding time to do everything can be challenging. But if you can commit to just 5 minutes a day of focused practice with your child, you’ll see progress. As it becomes part of their routine, they may naturally extend their practice time to 10 minutes, or even more. You won’t need to set a timer; practising will become second nature. Every practice session will naturally last longer than 5 minutes, and you will see the improvement over time.

Once it’s part of their routine, they’ll likely start practising longer without even needing the timer. The consistency, along with your encouragement, will help them grow not only as musicians but also in other areas of their life.