Practice: How Much is Enough?
An expert teacher and high-quality method books can go a long way in moving your student forward in their musical goals. But the most important factor in musical success? Practice, practice, practice! But how often does your student need to practice? And for how long?
With busy family schedules and increasing school demands, it can be overwhelming to think of fitting in one more thing. As a busy mom and teacher, I can totally relate! Here are a few tips to helping your student hit the *sweet spot* with both the timing and frequency of their practice sessions.
Duration of Practice
The amount of practice your student will require is related to both their age and their level of mastery. For students in the lower elementary grades (kindergarten - 2nd grade), 15 minutes is about as much as they can probably handle. For upper elementary students (3rd-5th grade), 20-30 minutes is a reasonable amount of time. For middle school grades (and older), 30+ minutes would be an appropriate length for a practice session. If you are the parent of a neurodiverse student (ADHD, ASD, etc), you will know intuitively when they've had *enough!* You are the expert on your student.
Frequency of Practice
It is much more important for your student to practice frequently than it is for them to practice for excessively long sessions. Realistically, your student should be aiming to practice 5-7 days per week. Again, it's better to squeeze in a short burst of practice each day than to cram in a long session just before the lesson. Your student will retain what they've learned much more effectively this way. And it will be more enjoyable for them as well!
Timing of Practice
Most students and parents have the best of intentions when they start their piano journey. But life is busy and it can be all too easy to let these practice sessions slip through the cracks. I would encourage you to determine a consistent time for your student to practice - when they're not too tired and they are in the right frame of mind. I find that students have success when they pair the practice session with another fixed activity. For example, a student might always wrap up their afternoon homework time with a practice session. Maybe a student might head straight to the piano after dinner (and possibly avoid doing the dishes? LOL). What's important is that you and your student both know when the practice session should take place.
Forming a Habit
As with anything else, forming a good habit can be tough. I would encourage you to enforce the frequency and the timing, over and above the actual length of the session. Once the practice habit is locked in, the length of the session can be addressed.