Piano Practice

[Erudite]

So...do your kids like piano practice? How do you encourage them to do this? When they become a bit more advanced, what do you recommend a parent do to continue encouraging?

I have a very hands-off approach which has always worked pretty well. But now my daughter is more advanced than I ever was and while she is practicing more because she likes it, I'm wondering if I need to do more for her to build her skill and love for it. What do you think?

[bookworm]

Good question. I struggle with this, because I feel like if they aren't self-motivated, then I'm just pushing in one direction and they are pushing back. I'm hands-off, too. I currently only have one son in piano lessons, and I have explained to him that it's really up to him what level of achievement he reaches in piano. It's totally in his hands. But I understand how you feel. Could I help him be even better or love it even more if I got involved in the deal and "forced" him to practice longer? He would be amazing if he did what Jon Schmidt recommends and practiced 4 hours per day! Ha ha.. yeah... that'll happen!

I suppose you could ask your daughter if she would like you to remind her or set a longer timer or whatever-- see what she wants. What are HER goals as a pianist? Maybe take her to the Bachauer competition (or something similar) and see and hear what the future could hold for her if she worked harder/put in more time? If I could, that's what I would do for my son.

As it is, I try to provide whatever music he has a desire to learn, and I totally encourage him along the way, but he just isn't going to do more than 20-30 minutes per day. Except for those dang skipped days...

[Erudite]

Good thoughts, BW! I found a violin and piano concert at the Assembly Hall in a couple of weeks that my daughter and I are going to attend. Should be fun!

[5ft Diva]

I have some thoughts on this that I can't share right now - will do when I have more time.