If your child has ever sighed at the words ‘practice time,’ you’re not alone. I know you want your kids to enjoy music, not resent it, but it’s not always as easy as telling them to clean their room. However, with the right mindset and small adjustments, practice can become a source of confidence and creativity. In this article, you will learn 3 simple steps to help your child enjoy piano practice and look forward to making music.
Step 1: Start Small — Make Practice Feel Doable
The first step to helping your children enjoy piano practice is to start small. Consistency beats length. Even if your child only practices for 5 focused minutes, it matters. At Morse Music Academy, we don’t focus on timed practice. I give students a practice goal every week that sounds something like this, “Practice all assigned songs and exercises for 4 days this week. Each day, practice each song/exercise 2 times.” I find that practice feels more doable that way. Small, confident steps lead to lasting growth.
Step 2: Build Connection Before Correction
In order to help your child enjoy practice, connecting with them is key. Just like with anything, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Kids thrive on feeling understood, not pressured. Here’s a helpful tip: ask your child what they like about playing piano before jumping in with demands. Encouragement builds motivation. I am intentional about using kind, encouraging words throughout the lessons I teach. A little kindness and connection goes a long way.
Step 3: Make It Musical — Bring Play Back to Practice
The final step to helping your children enjoy piano enjoy piano practice is play. Fun is a powerful teacher. There was a study done about learning. In this study they found that in order to learn something new, you have to repeat it over 200 times. However, when learning something new through play, you only have to repeat it 12 times! I use lots of reinforcement games and activities in my lessons. Some other ideas of fun could be improvisation, playing duets, and performance, all of which I also incorporate into my lessons. Encouraging creative play is what builds both joy and confidence.
Piano practice isn’t just about repetition – it’s about discovery, growth, and confidence. You can make a big difference just by showing interest and celebrating effort. If you’d like more ways to help your child enjoy their musical journey, download my free parent guide First Notes to Confidence: A Parent’s Guide to Musical Growth. It includes a simple song and reflection activity to start your child’s piano journey on the right note. Comment GUIDE below to download it!
Or, click here to download 5 fun practice trackers to keep your child motivated to practice!
Morse Music Academy 