We're often asked, "How can I motivate my child to practice their musical instrument?"
There are many ways you can do this, from introducing them to different genres of music, encouraging them when they do well, and providing incentives for practicing in the form of a reward chart. These methods will not only motivate your child but also improve their skills and ignite a passion for playing. This will also help teach skills that lend themselves well to many other activities in life.
- Practice
Practicing is an absolute must for your child if they are interested in getting better at playing their instrument. Practice also teaches them the basics of "muscle memory" which helps them be able to play without needing to constantly look down at what they are doing. This allows for a focus on expression and interpretation which ultimately leads to a more enjoyable musical experience for everyone! REMEMBER, practicing everyday or at least several times throughout the week for 15-25 ,minutes (realistically speaking) is better than one panic stricken CRAM session the day before a lesson for 45 minutes!
- Beginning instrumentalists need inspiration and support
Having a mentor can help build your child's confidence as well as provide motivation when it comes time to practice. Starting out with younger children, you could have yourself or another family member play along with your child or perhaps even record themselves so that they can hear how their music sounds from someone else's perspective.
Encouragement and positive reinforcement go a long way to motivate children who are learning an instrument. Oftentimes, they feel that what they are doing isn't good enough or that it doesn't sound "right" but providing positive feedback about the things that they are doing well will help boost their confidence and keep them moving forward!
- Practice skills
Practice skills are important for your child's growth as a musician. When your child practices to improve at playing something specific you want them to be able to practice with intentionality, meaning that they try specific things when practicing instead of just running through pieces without thinking. Practice skills allow for not only improvement in playing but also develop other important life skills such as working towards goals, managing schoolwork, projects,
and more!