Some things sound like a great idea when you first start them. You son wants to play the piano. You support it because of all the good things you’ve read about piano playing. It improves math skills. It even improves SAT scores, which could be great for your son when its college time.
But that’s a long way out.
At first he loves it. However, once the new wears off, you may find yourself facing a child that does not want to practice anymore. He may have grown bored with the instrument, he may have hit a plateau in his studies, which is preventing him from reaching the next skill level, or he may simply not be in the mood to practice.
Here are some tips to help you when your child does not want to practice the piano.
- The most important thing you can do to encourage a good practice session each and every time is to make it a part of your regular schedule. Make each practice session occur every week on the same days and at the same time. This will help your child get into the habit of practicing because he will know when practice is expected.
- Children need routines and schedules, so make sure you stick to the schedule each week. Once you have a routine, do not change it. You may run into some stubborn refusal now and then, but you should be able to get through it without too much trouble because you can remind your child of the weekly schedule.
- If your child fights you when it is time to practice and refuses to practice, it may be time to sit him down and see if there is a deeper reason for his refusal. Is he at a point where he’s not enjoying the music he’s playing? Maybe you can talk with the instructor and find more challenging or more relevant material. Does he want to quit? Maybe its because he’s being challenged and he is having trouble getting past it. Remind him that with every success comes challenge. Help him discover ways to reach beyond this bump in the road, and find a way to accomplish the task.
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