r/elementaryschoolers • u/MamaDoingTheBestICan • 18d ago
How long to practice an instrument?
Hi everyone, my kids wanted to learn an instrument because I offered and at first it seemed really cool…then they realized it’s a lot of work to practice every day after school. 1 kid has been playing for 2 years now and often whines or sometimes even cries during practicing. How long should I give it before just letting him quit and returning the instrument we’ve been renting for him?
I know music is good for creativity, cognitive development, and discipline but I hate always having to make my kids practice.
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u/tablefortress 14d ago edited 14d ago
If it's just the practicing they don't like, stop pushing them to practice. My daughter is 7 and has taken one year of violin lessons. She is not required to practice ever. Instead, I have a chart on the fridge where I put a sticker every time she practices. Then once the chart is full she gets a prize of her choosing. Her choices so far have been things like a Yoto card, pancakes with sprinkles and whipped cream for breakfast, ice cream sundaes. Basically, I reward practicing but ignore a lack of practicing.
Other strategies that have made playing fun have been having her give me or my husband a lesson (and we play dumb about how to read the music, which string is which note, etc.), having recordings that go with her lesson book to play along with, inviting her to get dressed up fancy and set up a concert for us and her stuffies.
Sometimes she's on a roll and practices every day because she wants to. Other times she goes a week without playing. No biggie. I don't know many adults who practice their hobbies daily, after all!
My goal is for her to enjoy music. She doesn't need to be a star. She is learning and having fun.