Robin Wilkins Music Studio

Sunday, September 22, 2019 by Robin Wilkins | practice

"Piano lessons" often conjures images of a child sitting at the piano playing the same phrase over and over and over while anxiously waiting for the egg timer to release them from the monotony. I've talked with numerous adults who started learning the piano, but eventually quit because they hated practicing so much.

But it doesn't have to be like that! Practice can actually be enjoyable and even playful.

Think back to when you child was a toddler. Maybe she liked blocks, and she could sit quietly for surprisingly long stretches turning the blocks over, looking at them, touching them, stacking them, throwing them, crying when they fell, and ultimately trying again. This type of focused play lets children discover and explore the world around them. What do these blocks look like? What are they made of? What do they do? It's a happy, extended round of experimentation where children develop their motor skills, their spatial reasoning, their problem solving, and their patience.

Piano practice can work the same way.

Instead of aiming for a certain number of minutes or repetitions, remember to PLAY:

P- Pay attention. How does your body feel? Are you hands and shoulders relaxed? What do your hand look like on the keys? Does it look rounded and relaxed or tense and spikey? Are the notes even and accurate?

L- Listen. Do the notes sound right? Does your playing sound happy or sad? Are you producing rich full notes or weak timid sounds? Again, are the notes even and accurate? I also encourage pupils to sing along and listen to make sure the piano and their voice match! Noticing and fixing one's own mistakes is a wonderful learning tool!

A- Adjust. I encourage children to experiment and explore at the piano. What happens if I move my wrist higher or lower? What happens if I play this more loudly or softly? What happens if I practice this part slowly?

Y- You're in charge. How well and quickly children learn to play the piano is ultimately up to them. If they want to learn and are willing to practice attentively and regularly, they'll progress quickly! If they don't practice much it will take more time to master the instrument. It's important for students to take ownership of their musical goals and the process of reaching them.

I do teach specific practice techniques, like slow practice, rhythmic variation, and breaking a long piece into shorter phrases. All of that is useful and important, but the more important thing is to maintain an attitude of curiosity, freedom, and exploration at the piano. A student who practices for shorter stretches but with careful attention and focus will probably progress more quickly than a student who never moves beyond mindless repetition.

One way you can support good practice habits in your child is by asking them questions. Ask them how their body feels when they play, how different songs make them feel, whether they're *really* sure they've got the rhythm right. Warmly encourage their efforts! Listen to music together and discuss what you like. You don't have to be a professional musician. You just have to be present and interested and willing to make music a part of your everyday life.

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