The stage is set: It is the end of a long day of school and the real work is about to begin. Everyone is tired, but there is a mountain of homework, including a big project (due tomorrow, by the way) and (uh-oh) practice to be done. Not to mention eating dinner and getting to bed on time…and what about some fun time while you are at it? Sound familiar?
The beginning of the school year can bring with it the biggest challenges - new teachers, schools, and expectations. Sometimes families feel completely overwhelmed and think it is too much to handle - so instrument practice gets sidelined. Then it becomes a cycle of frustration and drudgery - not a winning scenario! Don’t give up - it is usually a temporary hurdle!
Here are some ideas that can add time to your routine, so your child can manage the increased responsibilities of the school year while still enjoying learning an instrument.
Each school year brings new challenges - read on for creative ideas to thrive with both schoolwork and piano!
Scheduling Matters
Start Early If your child is an early riser, or has a later start to the school day, try to make practice a part of your morning routine. That way, not only is the practice done for the day, but students get to reap all the benefits of music and math!
Start Later Set an alarm for wind down, and add practice time. Some students enjoy playing later, it can help them to relax and untangle the days’ stresses before bed.
Split It Up Instead of taking practice in one large time segment, split it into two shorter sections. Do the technique and the most challenging material in the first section, then save the longer and more fun pieces, or Piano Maestro, for later when motivation is a little harder to come by. Ask your teacher to assign the material for this approach.
Schedule an Appointment For practice? Yes! It is so much easier to get to the piano when it is a set time. Otherwise, anytime can feel like the wrong time because it is interrupting something else they had in mind. If you have a set time, it reduces the battle. Really.
Have Flex Days Some weekdays are known for being swamped with extra homework, after - school activities, or late work days for parents. Consistency is the key, but not every day needs to be the same amount of practice time. Try to have a longer practice day on a weekend, or an early school release day, while banking a short practice day for those hectic days. Or…practice on your lesson day and take one day off of the instrument on the weekend.
Parent and Me Instrument practice can feel a bit isolating at first. Sit down with your child for the first 5 minutes of practice to make sure they are not struggling with any of their music. Help younger students set goals. Then set a timer and come back at the end, so they can show you what they accomplished.
It does get easier - and by meeting the challenges of an increased workload, students reap the growth and self-satisfaction of managing both school and practice. Everyone wins.