If your child has just started learning an instrument at home, you know how difficult it is to keep their spirit going. Most of the progress is made by practicing at home.  But more than often, it doesn’t amount to that, perhaps due to lack of support or a discouraging atmosphere. When your child begins to learn an instrument, their excitement alone will keep them going for some time, but to continue that enthusiasm, they need someone at home who shares that same passion and eagerness. That’s where you come in. You need to ensure that they are not lost in their mundane schedules and can manage enough time to sit with the instrument and your routine attention will push them to achieve that. We’ve consulted specialists, music teachers, guardians, and many students to assemble some tips for you with which you can ensure that progress in your child.

Flexible Schedule:

One of the reasons most children don’t like their forced disciplines is that they can’t study them at their own time. Their classes are at a specific time and they need to accomplish their course-related tasks at a predetermined period generally. This way, the child feels too regulated and could possibly lose interest in those subjects for lack of freedom. Hence, try to give them control over when they should practice their instrument. Showing such simple gestures as giving away scheduling control will empower and encourage them to give more care to their music lessons. Try not to make his/her practice an obligation.  One tip I use with my own young children is to include another activity they like, for example, we bring a comic to the practice session or drawing materials.  In between 10 minute intervals suggest they can read a story from the comic or to draw a music related picture.  

Plan Goals:

It’s important to have a vision and target when you start a new endeavor in your life. It’s no different in your child’s case. Without a proper goal, they may lose sight of their advancement and that can drastically take away their energy to continue lessons. So, help them stay concentrated by regularly discussing simple and achievable milestones.  Depending on the child’s age you could talk about music in college or that some people make a living from performing on their instrument, and how cool that would be.

Be their Biggest Fan:

This is something that we receive a lot of feedback on. If your child is trying hard to learn an instrument, admire their efforts consistently. Make time to listen to them perform, whatever it may be, one note, a melody or even a song. With my own children I make an event out of it, no matter how simple the performance, get other siblings involved by creating a stage area and seats for the audience, make it fun.  Celebrating each of their accomplishments will only make them want to work harder. This goes a long way into inspiring them for life.

Positive Reinforcement:

Motivate them to play their favourite music (favourite genre) and share akin songs with them. There’s nothing easier for a child to learn than a song they like. As they get older you can make their practice sessions more fun by encouraging them to invite their friends and play with them. Learning something together and syncing music with friends gives an unparalleled positive reinforcement to them. 

Build Environment:

Make your child’s room inspiring enough and create a music-friendly atmosphere around them. Keep musical books, sound systems, posters, stickers, prints in the room. That way, they will preserve the drive to be a musician just by looking around their surroundings and push themselves forward. In a word, you’ll need to personalise their learning experience to make it work in the long term.

Good Teacher:

The significance of having the right teacher can’t be stretched when it comes to learning a new instrument. The teacher is the person to look over their performance, guide them aptly, spend the most time around them and instill confidence in them if they’re failing repeatedly. If the tutor is not friendly and inspiring, then its possible your child may lose their interest sooner or later. Music teachers are generally friendly and experienced professionals who can translate their knowledge into your child efficiently and effortlessly.  The rapport between student and teacher is the most important aspect of their relationship.  The student needs to like the teacher and also be inspired by them.

Identify the Barriers:

Finally, you need to identify any potential barriers your child may face while learning. This could simply be a busy household where space to play/practice is tight and siblings mightn’t be too keen on listening to twinkle twinkle a hundred times. Frustrations can grow but you must identify the issues and try to resolve them to your best abilities.

Learning a new instrument is not an easy feat, but it surely is a rewarding one. Children often rely on their parents to make decisions for them because of their insecurity and doubt, so make sure you do your part to ensure his progress in music.