Teamwork, Not Nagging

So here is the number one frustration parents have about piano:

"How do I get my kid to practice without being mean or nagging? They just won't practice on their own and I'm thinking of cancelling lessons altogether. And this makes me very sad also."

 I totally get it, I was the same way as a kid. Unfortunately only a small percentage of students actually practice on their own, usually because piano is an escape for them or it has become a habit, and even then still a smaller percentage practice the correct things that were assigned. Here are a few ideas that worked for other parents:

Help them create a habit by:

1) Setting a specific time for each student's practice. 

2) Sit with the student for each practice session for about a month until it becomes a habit. Guide them through the practice, helping them figure out how many times to do a song and pointing out when they are rushing or being careless.   This might take longer for younger students. (I have one family that just makes it a point of taking turns sitting with the student every day for practice - with mom, dad or even nanny rotating turns so it's not too much work for either parent, they have done this for over a year now and the student (now in 2nd grade) has reached  level 3 songs - very fast progress!)

3) Prize bag from the teacher only works at a certain age and for only a certain amount of time. It's more effective for the parents to find something the student really wants to work for.

4) Even more effective than working toward some "bonus" reward is to take something they already have (such as TV, video game privileges or scheduled play-dates and other activities) and make them conditional based on practice. So they have to now earn something they already take for granted. But this only works if the parents really don't give in if practice doesn't happen.  People are more loss averse than gain orientated. So students will more willingly work to not lose something rather than gain something extra (just like us adults!) 

5) It's always great to find a song they are passionate about to get them excited to practice, although that doesn't always work since the songs they want might be too difficult for their level at the time. 

6) You can also try to make a suuuper big deal when they sit down and practice longer by themselves without a reminder.  It's amazing how much exuberant praise can motivate a student to do it again and again, very addicting for anyone really.  You just really have to catch every opportunity to do so.

7) Keeping in the same vein of praise, when they do practice, even after you have to remind them, praise them on specifics like "Oh, i loved  how you played that song! I really enjoyed listening to it, it made me so happy! Can you play it for me again? I would really appreciate it!"

8) Schedule concerts for the family (even just for mom and dad) and have the students sell tickets, create a program, etc...and remind them to practice for the performance. Even videotape the performance,-- it will make them want to do better since they can see themselves. Or turn playdates into scheduled concerts, kids practice more when they know they can show off to their peers. Weekly "concerts" would keep the pressure to practice at the top of their mind.

Here is another fantastic article about helping students succeed at piano:  http://piano-lessons-toronto.com/testimonials/