1. Be Interested

The single best thing parents can do to help their child practise is to be genuinely interested in what’s going on with their music lessons.

2. Encourage

The logic is that if the parent sees their child doing something right and then praises them, the child is likely to want to repeat that behaviour in the future.

3. Reflect

The student should be able to explain to the parent what their tasks are for the week and the practise techniques that have been recommended to them.

4. Steer

Parents can’t practice for their child, but they can help them set the number of sessions, when they will take place, and how long will be available for each one.

5. Enthuse

While praise can reinforce what a student is already learning, enthusiasm can help motivate students to be excited about things they haven’t started yet.

6. Progress Checks

Assess short-term progress with a couple of well-spaced midweek checkpoints. The parent is the perfect audience for the student to show off their work.

7. Knowing When Not to Help

Sometimes the best help is not to help at all. Some students work best when they are given room to move and resent parents leaping in with solutions for every problem. But no matter how independent the practicing becomes, parents can continue to set the enthusiasm levels with their attitude. It can be as simple as eye contact and a nod at the end of a good lesson. Parents don’t need to compose a sonnet for their kids to know they are proud. And they don’t have to sit on the piano stool for every second of practice for the child to feel supported and that the excitement surrounding their progress is shared.