| Parents sometimes are unaware of how much | | | | Goal or Assignment -- Play Song on Page 8 in C |
| progress young child in piano lessons can make. | | | | Position 7 times daily. |
| For this reason they may not take their young | | | | Good Habit 1 |
| child's piano lessons seriously. They may reason, | | | | Keep Your Eyes on the Music. (Don't Look Down |
| "Well she's only 6 years old, you can't expect her | | | | at Your Hands.) |
| to really play piano." But where does this thinking | | | | Good Habit 2 |
| end? "She's only 7....." "He's only 8....." She's only 9...." | | | | Sing the Notes' Names as You Play Them. |
| Worried their child in piano may fail, parents | | | | Beginning songs for children take approximately 1 |
| understandably may rely of this defense out of | | | | minute to play. Multiply by 7 and you have 7 |
| fear. While this is understandable, it sends their | | | | minutes of practice. If two songs are assigned, |
| child in piano the wrong message - that their | | | | that's 14 minutes of practice. Not a long time, but |
| effort in piano doesn't really matter. A self fulfilling | | | | with good habits this can initially be very affective, |
| belief system that leads to failure. Beliefs are | | | | and achieves the goal over a week of practice. |
| important, because they give kids a framework | | | | After just a few days of following this simple |
| to think by and to feel by. | | | | plan, your student will know their pieces so well |
| The truth is children are very capable. Because | | | | that they won't need to play them 7 times. But |
| everything is new to children, however, it doesn't | | | | they'll do it anyway, because now it's so much |
| always occur to kids to play their pieces more | | | | fun! Starting with 10 - 15 minutes a day of |
| than once at home during the week. Kids may | | | | practice for a young beginner is reasonable. |
| also believe that simple instructions are not really | | | | Without effective practice strategies it won't |
| important. To help your child in piano broaden their | | | | matter how long your child practices. However, by |
| perspective and stretch their practice time, focus | | | | helping your young student stay focused during |
| their attention on two easy things. | | | | home practice with these effective learning tips, |
| 1. A specific goal they can accomplish. | | | | they will achieve more and enjoy playing because |
| 2. Practice habits to support this goal. | | | | they're so successful. |
| Example: | | | | |