Tips to help your child succeed in learning to play piano

When your child first starts to play the piano, they are usually very excited and enthusiastic. It is important to work with this initial excitement to help build a positive foundation for their piano playing.

Here are four great ideas that will help you get started:


IDEA #1: Get Involved

Make piano practice something that you and your child do together. When it is ‘Piano Time', sit down with your child and listen to and encourage them during their practice session.

Even if you know nothing about music, you can still act as an audience. Tell your child that their playing, “Sounds beautiful” When they finish a piece say, “That was wonderful! Can you please play it again for me?”

When you get involved and encourage your child with positive reinforcement this is what they learn:

Playing Piano = Begin with Mom/Dad + Having Fun + Feeling Good

Unfortunately many parents adopt the Army Drill Sergeant approach and believe that the best way for a child to progress is through strict discipline. When their child plays a piece, they say “You made a mistake in bar 7, do it again and this time get it right!”

When this happens repeatedly, what the child learns is:

Playing Piano = Pressure + Being Yelled At + Feeling Bad

If this negative cycle continues children will start to look for ways to avoid practice and it is very likely that they will give up the piano to avoid this pain. The most important thing that you can do for your child is to make sure that playing the piano is a fun and enjoyable activity rather than a tedious lonely chore.

IDEA #2: Use A Time Trigger

An excellent way to introduce a new activity into your busy timetable is to associate it with a Time Trigger that already exists. For example, you and your child could agree that ‘Piano Time' happens straight after their favorite TV program or straight after breakfast. By using a Time Trigger that already exists, both you and your child will find it easier to incorporate piano practice into your existing routines.

IDEA #3: Create The Right Environment

It is very difficult to practice effectively if the TV is blaring in one corner and little brothers and sisters are running around the room. If possible, you should position your piano in a quiet, well lit room which is separate from the normal living area. In this way, when it is ‘Piano Time' you and your child can ‘escape' to your special room and enjoy your time together.

IDEA #4: Lose The Stop Watch

Try to avoid the idea of ‘30 Minutes Practice A Day, Everyday'. In my experience, piano practice is much more effective if it is not governed by a stopwatch. When children are just starting out, they may only be able to play for 10 or 15 minutes. It is much better for them to have a fun 15 minute practice each day than it is to force them to play for half an hour. Your focus should be on building a positive experience for your child not clocking up a specific amount of time.

As your child progresses, their attention span and enthusiasm will increase and the length of their practice sessions will naturally become longer.

If you follow these simple steps you will be well on the way to creating a strong foundation for your child to begin their journey into the wonderful world of music.