September 2019 - Back to School - Setting Your Child Up for Success!

Welcome to September - the time for fresh starts, optimism, “things are gonna be different this year!”

Right.

Story time, AKA reality check.

My youngest child Freddie just started kindergarten. He and I learned piano all winter and spring, and slacked off all summer. We used to practice in the mornings before preschool, after his siblings were all on their buses and it was just him and me in our pajamas/workout clothes. That’s not going to work this year and I’m going to have to get creative to figure out how to fit in our “piano time.” Notice I didn’t call it “practice time.”

I think words matter, and saying “hey, let’s go have piano time!” instead of “it’s time to practice!!!” sounds much less threatening. Especially when time is at a premium, and Mom/Dad is tired, and Kid is tired, and the last thing anyone wants is a conflict over practicing. Why practice when you can have piano time instead? Make it fun! It has to be fun or else no one wants to do it.

Young children need a lot of support with their activities, whether it’s learning to read, balancing on a bicycle, getting to soccer games, or learning an instrument. As tempting as it is to send a 6-year-old into the living room to practice piano by themselves, they’re really not ready for that level of independence. Even though they’re the ones who sit in their lessons and hear me talk, it’s still overwhelming to sit down and face 88 keys and know where to start, despite me writing down instructions in their practice journal (I apologize in advance for my messy handwriting). If they won’t let you help them, at least sit with them. Take a load off your feet after a busy day. Stock up on a few sheets of goofy stickers and use them liberally on their music books or in their practice journals to reward them on a job well done. Don’t be afraid to bribe them, if that’s your jam. Extra screen time. Candy. Plastic trinkets. Whatever you like to reward them with. 

The most important thing you are giving your children is the gift of music, which can flourish only with consistent daily practice. Some days that might look like 15-30 minutes. That’s the goal. Other days it might be 3. As long as piano playing is a regular part of your child’s schedule, you’re on the right track.

Things can be different this year!