Sarah Nelmes Piano

Should I Worry if My Child doesn't Practice at Home?

Wednesday, November 1, 2023 by Sarah Nelmes | Uncategorized

I know that you are aware, in some way, of my teaching approach and the way I love to teach your children.

Keeping it fun and creative and varied! Bribing    Rewarding them with scented stickers and marhmallows for just turning up! (Sorry, only my home students get marshmallows!)

However, I wanted to write more about the dreaded P- word! PRACTICE!

You know that I don’t expect or demand that students will sit down and practice at home. 

( I would love it if they did as it brings tears of joy to my eyes when students do!) 

When I see your child each week, I don’t ask them if they’ve practised at home. I ask them if they want to show me anything they’ve been playing on the piano. Sometimes I get made-up songs, or little musical motifs, sometimes songs parents have taught them, and sometimes they are very excited to show me the piece we were working on from last week. Most often, they say they haven’t had time to play. And I make sure they know that’s ok. 

When you all signed up your children for lessons with me, I made it clear that I don’t tend to push practising that much at the beginning. Wanting instead to focus on the enjoyment of learning and the developing of a lifelong love for music. This is what most of you want for their children. For your children to enjoy playing the piano and look forward to their lessons

Focusing on enjoyment instead of time spent practicing encourages intrinsic motivation and engagement in music learning, which leads to better long-term outcomes. Instead of stressing over practice minutes, your children can focus on *having fun, expressing themselves, and cultivating a lifelong love for music.

This might be quite a shift in thinking for both parents and music teachers alike! I have to agree! Not having to practice if they don’t want to?! How are they supposed to get better then? How are they going to succeed in their piano lessons?

But what does success in learning the piano look like for you?

(This is what it looks like for me and hopefully you too - *having fun, expressing themselves, and cultivating a lifelong love for music.)

If you would like to delve a little deeper into this mind shift and my thoughts on playing the piano at home, scroll on

However, you know your child best. So I want to present both sides. 

I also want to provide you with some help if you feel that your child will benefit from playing regularly at home and some reassurance if you are happy for your children to sit and play when the mood takes them or when you suggest how nice it might be! 

And of course, you don't have to choose one way or the other - you may want to try and mix it up or try one way for a bit and see how it goes.  

So, scroll on to read my posts about 

My Non-Traditonal Approach to Practising the Piano 

and 

How to Encourage More Practice at Home

So whatever your view on the P word or how you measure success in learning the piano - read on when you have a minute...