How to Build a Daily Practice Routine

For a new student or a young beginner and their parents, it is sometimes difficult to get into the rhythm of practicing every day.  In the beginning, practicing and scheduling practice time is a joint effort between parents and their child taking lessons.  As students become older and have been taking lessons for a longer period of time, practicing becomes more of a norm and it will be less work for you to get them to the piano bench for practice time and more of their own responsibility. So, what do we do with the new or young music students who have not yet become accustomed to including a practice schedule into their daily routine? I’ve got a few tips for you!

Encouragement:

During my first lessons with your child, I discuss the importance of practice and how it will help them learn the songs that they really want to learn!  I am also counting on you, as a parent to encourage them at home to practice and to talk to them about the importance of it.

Create a Schedule and Commit to It:

The key to creating a daily routine is to find a time that you know will work for you and to stick with it.  I am obviously aware that sometimes life comes in and throws a curveball into some of our routines and that is fine.  What I am asking for, is to find a time that you know will be the most likely to not be interrupted.  So, find a time before school, after school, after dinner…it doesn’t really matter as long as the practice happens more or less at the same time each day.

Start Small:

This is especially important for the young beginner. Having a new student sit on the bench and practice for a long period of time can be hard on them and could very easily dampen the excitement of taking lessons.  In the beginning it is more important to get the feel of a daily routine, than it is to practice for long periods of time.  Start with 3 minutes for the first week, then 5 minutes for the second week.  Continue to add a minute or two until they have reached their personal capacity.

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I hope that some of these tips will help you create a schedule that works for you! Use the first month of lessons to build the habit of practice, and together you will be on your way to enjoying their successes.