How Long Should My Child Practice Their Instrument: Practice Strategies and Philosophy
What is really important:
When you, as a parent, decide to give your child a music education (or you decide to go on a musical journey yourself), practice is rightly one of the first things you will think about.
To begin, let’s discuss what practice is NOT.
A punishment. Practice should not be a tool to torture yourself or a young learner. It is work, but it is incredibly rewarding! Rather, practice is a chance to grow and improve.
Effective practice is not about running out the clock. If a strict time constraint is placed on a child (you must practice for 30 minutes), practice can rapidly become an exercise in waiting out the clock and wasting time. That would be boring AND ineffective.
Practice is not a goal in itself. Instead, it’s a chance to focus on short-term and long-term goals. If you have tangible goals, you can measure your progress. Progress is the goal, not practice.
Let’s talk about what practice IS (or should be).
Practice is a tool. It is for gathering new skills, and reinforcing good habits! It may include scales, memorization, composition and theory, or improvisation. Effective practice in any of these domains will open a world of expression and creativity to the student.
A good way to build discipline and time-management. While not the main goal of musical practice, it is an amazing by-product. If a child can manage their time, and effectively portion their effort for maximum effect, this skill can be transferred to other pursuits, like schoolwork and hobbies.
How to practice music effectively:
As stated earlier, do not just put on a timer and find ways to occupy yourself with your instrument until the clock runs out. Also, do not use your practice time to mostly play music you already know well (this is tempting because what we can play well sounds nice). Instead, go into each session with specific goals, and aim to accomplish them. Goals include:
(For very beginners) I will practice posture. I will get into a perfect playing position 20 times in front of a tall mirror. I will fix any issues I see on each repetition before moving on. This will make a good violin practice session.
Tempo goals. I would like to play this scale at this speed cleanly (measured by a metronome) by the end of my session. This is a very measurable goal, where the metronome speed (measured in bpm) can be recorded at the end of each session. This will make a good guitar practice session.
Finishing touches. If the learner is confident in playing a piece of music, now is the time to work on phrasing, dynamics (playing loud or soft), interpretation, and (if it is appropriate) playing with the tempo. These finishing touches take a performance to the next level, and make your performance unique.
What is important, is that you approach each session with a few goals in mind each time. That way, you can make more progress in less time!
Not only will it be more fun and engaging, but you will also improve more quickly and get more satisfaction from your musical journey. Seeing progress makes the work of learning to play an instrument more fun and rewarding. Utilize these practice strategies to get the most of your time, and keep the unfun busywork to a minimum.
How long should my child (or I) practice?
When establishing a music practice routine, prioritize consistency. How long a practice session lasts is not nearly as important as how often the sessions occur. What matters most is frequency. Aim for an effective practice session every day. If you practice daily, using the goal-oriented approach stated above, progress is certain and you will return to your weekly music lessons with new skills to show for it. Practicing for 20 or 30 minutes daily is better than one 2 hour session a week by far. So, focus on consistency and goal oriented practice.
If you are an advanced player considering conservatory or a career in music, your practice sessions will naturally be longer. However, the length of your sessions should not be your primary concern. The quality of each session is still far more important for students like these. Regardless of ability level, sessions should serve our goals, and not themselves.
Miscellaneous music practice tips:
Think about dividing your practice session into chunks. These aspects can include scales, excerpts, and vibrato. Spend about 15 minutes on a task, then switch to another. This way, you can avoid hitting a wall on any one of these aspects of your playing.
Do not worry if it feels like you aren’t making progress with a particular piece of music. This happens to anyone. Take a break for a couple of minutes-think about something else, play a different piece, or even take a short walk. Often, just a quick rest can help you break through a frustrating plateau.
For those who practice for an hour or two, take a 10-minute break each hour. Stand up, stretch your legs and forearms. This can help you stay fresh and make your practice less laborious.
Above all, listen to your body. If you start to feel pain in your forearms after heavy daily playing, take it as a warning sign. Give yourself a couple days off from playing and focus on other areas of your musical education. This to work on include: sight singing, theory, rhythm, or ear training. Remember, practicing through pain for extended periods can lead to serious injuries. Prioritize your health.
Conclusion:
Practice can be challenging, but it does not need to be torture. Employ these strategies to maximize the benefits of each practice session, accelerate your musical progress, and avoid unnecessary frustration. Stay tuned to this blog for more in-depth strategies on specific aspects of your musical journey, including advanced techniques, music theory, and even performance tips.
To get started on you or your child’s musical journey, contact me at vybratomusic@gmail.com. Let’s schedule a consultation today!
