We all wish for our children to achieve their full potential when learning music or any skill. There are some factors which can greatly affect their learning, which are easy for you to implement!
You don't have to have any music training yourself to do these 5 things:
- Make sure you have a comfortable practice space and a well-maintained instrument. Your child will make the best progress if they are comfortable while playing on an instrument that works well and sounds great. Making music should be comfortable and pleasing even when the work is difficult.
- Help your child maintain a regular practice routine. Research has shown that students who practice for 80 minutes per week can attain an average of RCM grade 2 level after 5 years of practice. However, students who routinely practice for 150+ minutes per week are able to reach an average of grade 4 level after 4.7 years. And students who practice even more, get there faster!
- Praise. Praising your child's effort is far more important than correcting their mistakes or scolding their missteps. When you see opportunity to praise your child's effort when working on piano, be sure to recognize it. Some examples: "Wow! You really worked hard on that piece and it is sounding great!" or, "I know that you found those scales difficult last week but look how far you've come!"
- Choice. It's important for your child to feel like piano is something that they choose. Not something that they have to do or that it is a chore. At the lesson I will give them options for pieces to learn which will give them autonomy. At home, you can involve them in scheduling their practice times. Having them set their own practice schedule will allow them to feel like they are in charge of their piano studies and that they are choosing to do it.
- Make it part of your family culture. Is your child learning jazz style pieces? Listen to some Jazz while preparing supper. If your child is studying classical music, be sure to have some classical music playing at home or in the car sometimes, particularly piano classics. And whenever you get the chance try to take in a concert or live-music performance.
Some of the items mentioned above come directly from studies in Self-Determination Theory. This theory for effective learning can be applied in many areas from skill-development to education and even health and relationships!
Interested in reading about Self-Determination Theory? Check out the website: SelfDeterminationTheory.org