The reality is, even the most talented students sometimes resist practicing. Most children go through phases. One month they love the piano and you don�t even have to remind them to practice. The next month they whine about how hard it is and you�re driven to distraction trying to get them to practice. This is normal.
I repeat: This is normal. Children are children, not little adults. And practicing can be hard. But learning the habit of sticking with something even when it feels hard is one of the most valuable life lessons you can give your child.
Here are some suggestions for how you can motivate your budding pianist. Remember, every person is different, children included; different techniques will work better on some children than on others. If one tactic fails to motivate your child, try another one. Just don�t give up! No matter how good your child�s teacher may be, regular practice is the key ingredient to growing his skills.
(1) Make sure your child enjoys herself! (At least most of the time.) Making music is, or should be, a joy in life � even for young children just starting out. Make that, especially for young children.
You can�t punish children into practicing; all that will do is make them resent their piano lessons and want to give up. You have to reward them, and the best way to do that is to give them positive reinforcement whenever they do well. In other words, make it fun.
(2) Start by listening. Drop everything else, sit down for a few minutes, and just listen to your child practice. Maybe not every day, but with some regularity. This evidence of your interest in his accomplishment will mean a lot to your child.
(3) When you�re listening, look for opportunities to praise the child. Don�t criticize her if something goes wrong; chances are, the child is aware of the mistake and may already be embarrassed about it. Instead, praise her for everything she does right. Is she sitting still with good posture? Praise her! Is she keeping a steady rhythm? Praise her! Are you able to recognize the tune she�s playing? Praise her!
As time goes on, you can take these basic skills for granted and praise her for mastering more advanced skills. This will help the child gain confidence and learn the value of incremental progress � that is, mastering smaller challenges on the way to larger achievements. And, by helping her feel happy when she is at the piano, you will help her learn to associate practice with good feelings. In other words, it�s fun.
(4) Many children respond well to practice charts. Earning the right to stick a gold star on his chart is an emotional reward to many a child. (Maybe not yours, in which case, don�t be discouraged; try something else. But it�s worth a shot.)
If one gold star per day of practicing is too delayed a gratification, allow your child to count up the number of times he plays a particular piece, and earn a star each time. After the child has reached a certain predetermined number of stars, allow him to choose a reward. Perhaps he can choose from a �treasure box� or be taken for a special outing.
Often the child gets tired of the first chart after a month or two. Find a different one! The novelty of a new chart may raise the child�s interest again.
Also, remember that the rewards your child earns from practicing do not need to cost you anything. Allow him to earn some privileges through regular practice that you might have given him anyway. For example, one practice session could earn him the right to watch his favorite TV show.
(5) Look for opportunities to stage mini-recitals. Is Grandma coming for a visit? Encourage the child to practice a few songs to play for her. The applause of this audience, though small, will be highly valued!
You can get your child to practice without resorting to constant nagging. (Or at least, sometimes you can!) Try some of these ideas. And remember, very few adult pianists wish they had quit during childhood. But a lot of people who took piano lessons as children, but quit before they gained expertise, wish they had stuck with it. Give your children the life-long gift of music: Help them keep practicing.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet.com/profile/pianoplayingtips-16185.html
About the Author
This article is written by Yoke Wong . She has published a series of piano courses , free piano lessons, piano sheet music , and many piano playing articles.
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