Music practice successs/problems?

[Rosehip]

My mother (the kids & I live with my parents) signed my daughter (5) up for piano lessons this spring, and bought a keyboard. Of course DD swore she really wanted to learn, she'd practice, etc. I was very skeptical. I personally did NOT want to commit to sitting with her & practicing & taking her to lessons, but my mother insisted she (my mother would do so) would do so. I knew that wouldn't happen, but the train had already left the station. Fast forward about 5 months. My mom brought her to the lessons and practiced with her very inconsistently, leaving me to pick up the slack. I have tried to do it with her, but it always devolves into a huge struggle.

This morning, I finally had enough. DD was crying, I was at my wit's end (hadn't had my coffee yet, but my mom had started the practice session, gotten nowhere, and handed it over to me) & snapping, DS (3 yo) just wanted me & was a hysterical mess. Of course, we didn't even get through one song.

I told DD she could take a break from piano & maybe try it again when she's older.

I'm SO frustrated. I foresaw this. I have memories of the same crap when I was a kid. Playing was NEVER fun for me. It wasn't something the family enjoyed together, and somehow, as a family, we don't seem to be strong at setting up disciplined routine of practicing things.

I HATE setting the precedent of starting things (& investing considerable time & money) & quitting them. I'm pretty upset about this.

Please, please tell me how you've handled music lessons. Have you had success? How have you dealt with practice?

[transylvania_mom]

We had great success with ds (5) guitar lessons. We were pretty lucky to find a teacher who is really good with little kids, also ds is in a Suzuki program, which is directed towards young children.

The secret for us was to make practising fun and to keep practising sessions short. Ds wouldn't sit still for more than 5-10 minutes. (You can try two sessions a day if you're ambitious.) Also, I gave him as much control over it as possible. For example, Ds wanted to play "fast" instead of paying attention to the sound of the guitar, so his teacher suggested that he plays once for himself and once for his teacher. Another example, he could play the songs he was supposed to practise and a couple of songs he could choose himself.

Other ideas: play in the dark, or as loud as he could to wake up baby sister (teacher's idea!), you can also have her put on a "show" for you and her sibling...

I also had a bad experience with music lessons, but my parents chose to be totally uninvolved in what I was doing but kept complaining that they were wasting their money on me. I think at this age the child's success equals pretty much the work and the commitment of the parent.

[annethcz]

With little ones, you really need to be involved with practicing. As much as I wish my 6yo was able to sit and practice on her own, she's just not. So I've learned that sitting down and working with her for 10 min/day is much effective than leaving her to her own devices to practice on her own for a half hour. It really doesn't take that much time, and keeping the practice times short helps to keep her focused.

All of my kids told me they wanted to play musical instruments, so they do. I didn't force any of them to take lessons. But practicing isn't as much fun as they thought it would be. So I do work with them to help them acheive their goals.

[JordanKX]

I teach piano and with the lil ones, they want to PLAY MUSIC! (wouldn't you!!) I teach 5yos, but don't expect any real learning until age 6. At age 5, I Teach, sure. But it's more High notes vs Low notes. And etiquette - Don't Bang. And making sure they have a song, almost weekly, that they can play. Yes, they will learn some of measures and notes and beats, but really they want to play and show-off what they know. In the course of a school year, I teach probably 15 songs to a 5 year old (because repetition is still a fun thing at 5!), that I can play along with them - with verbal songs they sing as well... so it's more of a game. They don't know that they're learning.

At six they can really start to understand what is happening between On the Page, and on the keys. Because they're doing so much in school learning the same way. But at 5, they just want a song to sing to.

I recommend going to all piano lessons with her, so you can learn the songs too. And make sure at least some have lyrics. I'm not a fan of ear-only, but there is something to say with the lil ones having a song they can sing, and then also hear it on the piano as they're playing it. It ties the two together well, and makes practicing much easier.

Of course, that is only my experience. Hope that helps!