Need Advice from Piano Teachers or Moms with Kids in Lessons

My daughter's teacher(s) have always said that 5 minutes practice every day is better than none. And it really is true. And really, at your daughter's ages, they are NOT going to go practice regularly on their own, nor stick with it without you sitting there prompting, most likely.

I would not try to impose 20-30 minute practice sessions on them. But maybe while you are making lunch or something, have them go do 10 minutes of practice WHILE you make their lunch... you can listen while they are doing it and offer comments from the kitchen (that sounds nice. Good fingerwork. I like what I hear.. etc etc). If their "lesson" is on Thursdays, then maybe on Tuesday have their daily practice run more like 15-20 minutes... but otherwise, let them get by with 10-15. If they give 10-15 min practice 5 times a week and then have a lesson... they will make progress. It might not be leaps and bounds... but it won't make them absolutely DREAD it either.

I always let my daughter (9.5 yrs, in her 3rd year of lessons) end her practices (and her teacher does this too) with a "fun" song that she ENJOYS playing just for fun. Nothing hard (unless she WANTS it to be).

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Have them play their songs three times a day.
First time they name the notes
2nd time they count
3rd time they play it through.

At 6 and 4 they are too young, if they are not practicing by themselves, to do it for 30 minutes. You will lose them.
My son just started lessons, he is 10. He practices his songs three times a day. Just like above.
My daughter has taken lessons for 3 years and will play 45 minutes to an hour if not more a day.

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My philosophy is slow and steady wins the race... My girls both started at 5 and I would sit with them about 15 minutes per day everyday! If you skip a day I found it was like taking two steps back to go one step forward so it is actually easier to practice everyday. I also think at your daughter's ages you must sit with them to guide them. If you don't their progress will be much slower! I still sit with my daughter who will be 8 at the end of the month.

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Read the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Just joking.

My 4 year old daughter is in lessons and doing wonderfully. I strive to sit with her 30 minutes a day every day, but due to my own disorganization and busy-ness (and sometimes lazy-ness), we sometimes skip. She always more than has what she was assigned down pat for her lesson, but the songs and teacher are easy, and I know she could do more if I motivated myself a bit better.

And OF COURSE she isn't taking initiative at this age. They don't. She likes it, and I can push her, and she feels ecstatic and proud when she improves and tackles a song, and she likes sending the time with me, but left up to her own, she wouldn't practice. Ever. Which is normal. And yes I sit and teach her for the whole 30 minutes. We quiz her on everything she's learned that week first, then play each song once to "feel it out" then a couple of times while I count, she usually has 3 different songs, and then we do notes flashcards. etc

I've actually vowed to crack down on myself and up the practice to a bit longer and make sure to skip less days (after reading Tiger Mom) Not that I plan to drive her to a competitive level whatsoever, or force her if she doesn't like it, but at this age, I don't want her to learn from me to be flaky about it or we're defeating the purpose of a new valuable skill that needs discipline and practice (part of the value) to learn. Surely I can spare ten extra minutes or a couple more "run throughs" rather than doing whatever I'd be doing after the 30 minute practice... So don't leave it totally up to the girls, and good work!

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I would recommend a non-timed approach, but a counted approach to the piano.

I have had students and my kids play through their beginner lessons at least 3 times.

Once is with counting: 1-2-3-4 or 1-2-3
Once is with naming the notes, i.e. C - C - G, C - C -G, etc.
Once is singing the melody with the lyrics provided.

Before that is clapping or tapping the rhythm.

I would also recommend a few kid friendly warm up duets that can be played together.

At 6 & 4, your done and after several weeks the pattern clicks and they will learn to accomplish this on their own. Then while your preparing dinner, ask them to play their new songs, and provide lots of praise from afar.
HTH

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They are very young. 15 minutes is enough, 5 days a week. If they are excited about piano, you will know, because they will want to practice more. (I practiced an hour each day when I was 7, ran out of music to play, and had to beg my teacher for more music.) If your girls act like this, then you'll know that this is when you allow or encourage more practicing. Meanwhile, don't push them so that they won't end up hating piano.

All my best,
D.

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It doesnt matter what instrument it is 30 minutes a day is standard, maybe not on the weekends. You shouldnt sit with them, this should be their time to practice & correct themselves. When I took piano lessons at 6 it was for 30 minutes once a week, once I learned the basics my teacher asked my time be increased. I also play flute.

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At their age, maybe 2 fifteen minute lessons or 3 ten minute lessons would be best. One of those lessons could actually just be flash cards to work on music basics (note names, note lengths, etc..).
I private taught for many years and even high school students do better with two lessons a week (two half hour lessons) vs. just one (hour lesson).
Just my musical two cents,
R.

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For the 4-year-old, about 5-10 minutes a day (that's the best you can expect by attention span at that age), maybe even two five minute session.
For the 6 year old, 15 minutes a day for now is good.

You will have to sit with them to practice at first. Just focus on practicing skills then, instead of lesson. What I mean is, when they make a mistake, going back and playing it correctly, maybe even more slowly, until they get it right. Then playing from a measure or two before, and getting it right. Good practice habits are very important!

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Have them play their songs 3 times most days, instead of the 20-30 long lesson. One mom I knew even put 3 M & M's on the piano. One each time they finished a song. Try, I want to hear you play piano, while I doing the dishes, cooking dinner.

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My dad took lessons from my grandmother, who was REALLY restrict (Tiger mom). My dad LOVED playing and played through out his life. He started me and my sister with a piano teacher, but never forced/enforced us to practice. After a couple of months I was the only one still taking lessons, but again without practice. I quit after a few years, without the improvement I should have had. Well, I regret he didn't push me. I resumed taking lessons 7 years ago, and I am getting prepared to go to Van Cliburn Amateur Competition in May... I LOVE playing! How could I know that at such young age? Your parents need to enforce it. How many kids will choose to practice instead of playing with friends? I believe you need to show your kids that it is like school's homework, has to be done everyday, and after you are done...great! That's how I do with mine... And don't get me wrong, I DON'T want them to become professionals, but I truly believe will help them with everything else in life - reading, logical thoughts, coordination, dealing with emotions... I don't time it, they just need to do what the teacher ask them to practice on.

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My 6 year old started guitar lessons this year. We aim for daily (she runs her songs twice) but it does not always work out but a least we get 3 practice days in addition to her 30 min a week lesson.

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I've taught piano, had 3 daughters who took piano, etc. With preschoolers, a 15-min. session is about all to expect. You will have to sit with a preschooler to keep them on task. I started my oldest daughter in piano when she was barely 5 yrs old. She was already picking out tunes, so I thought I'd have a virtuoso. NOT! By age nine she was burned out. I started my other daughters at age 7 after they finished 1st grade. One was totally disinterested and begged to quit almost from the first day, but I made her take for 2 years to be sure. The youngest daughter was the one who took it and ran with it. I did require 20 to 30 mins. of practice daily, just as my mom did for me. Sometimes I required a certain number of times on each assigned piece. It was a chore at times, but eventually became a pleasure. Like all forms of learning, there are times when it just isn't fun, but we have to do it anyway. That in itself is a lesson. My middle daughter, who is in her 40s now, likes to remind me often that she's not sorry she didn't stick with it! LOL! She turned out to be the artist in the family.

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