What are your plans for summertime fun?
Will you be heading to the beach? Taking a family vacation? Having playdates with friends?
Summer is a time to relax, change the routine, and find new hobbies and interests. The last thing kids want is to stick with school routines. Even if they love learning, they’re ready for a change.
If piano has become an important part of your life, it may seem like a chore … unless you give them a new approach. How do you keep kids engaged with piano over the summer?
Create a new plan!
Set Achievable Goals
It’s summer! Instead of thinking like you do during the school year, it’s time to take a step back and try something new. Maybe they’ve always wanted to play a favorite song. Or write their own composition. Work with your child to set realistic and achievable goals for their piano playing over the summer. These goals could include mastering a new technique or improving their sight-reading skills. But don’t forget to do it in a fun way. Keep them manageable while leaving plenty of room for fun, too.
Make Practice Fun
Don’t carry the old routine into the summer months. Find ways to make piano practice enjoyable for your child. Incorporate games, challenges, or rewards to keep them engaged and motivated. You can also encourage creativity by allowing them to experiment with different styles of music or compose their own pieces. Part of keeping kids engaged is to look at your own motivation – how can you not push so hard?
Variety is Key
Leave perfection out of summer fun. Instead, do things just to change it up. Keep piano practice interesting by incorporating a variety of activities and exercises. Include different genres of music, technical exercises, improvisation sessions, and music theory lessons. This variety will help prevent boredom and keep kids excited about playing the piano.
Use Technology
You might want to keep your kids off their devices, but that might be where they’re most comfortable. Help them find new apps to learn even more about the piano. There are many apps, websites, and software programs available that offer interactive lessons, music theory games, and virtual keyboard tutorials. These tools can add an element of fun and interactivity to your child’s practice sessions.
Encourage Performance Opportunities
Know other families that have piano players, too? Why not host an impromptu music jam? This could involve hosting informal recitals at home, participating in virtual music competitions, or performing for friends and family. Performing in front of others can boost your child’s confidence and motivation to improve. (Especially if you keep it fun!)
Be Supportive
Don’t nag; have fun instead. Offer your child plenty of encouragement and praise as they progress in their piano playing journey. Celebrate their achievements, no matter how small, and provide constructive feedback to help them improve. Positive reinforcement is key to keeping kids motivated and engaged with piano play.
Lead by Example
Make it a family affair. Set a good example for your child by showing enthusiasm for music. Maybe it’s time to play the piano yourself. Or showcase your musicality by bringing them to concerts in the park. Play duets together, share your own experiences and challenges as a musician, and demonstrate the joy of making music. Your passion for piano playing can inspire and motivate your child to stay engaged with their own practice.
Keeping kids engaged and playing the piano all year long can be challenging, especially in the summer. Instead of keeping with the same routine, change it up and have some fun. Have questions or need advice? We’re here to help.
