Does your kid practice piano independently?

[Anonymous]

if your child takes piano, how involved are you during his/her practices?
do you just remind them to practice? do you sit with them/correct them (if you are able)?
Just wondering what is the norm...

[Anonymous]

Daily reminders but I only help if she asks.

[Anonymous]

No. I sit and oversee practice. He's 8 and just started. He's pretty good but sometimes he'll get a particular passage wrong and keep practicing it wrong. So I help correct before it's too ingrained. I imagine I won't have to do this in a year or so.

[Anonymous]

DS is 11.5 - been playing w/lessons for about 3 years. Must "encourage" to go beyond basics in practice; always correct when doing it wrong.

[Anonymous]

Still sit and help my 8 (nearly 9) year old. Direct my 10 year old to the piano and hang around about half of the times (the other half she doesn't want me there).

I love that time with them - we have fun (I play piano).

[Anonymous]

I remind my 8 yo but she practices independently. My older kid has also always practiced independently even at 6 when he started.

[Anonymous]

I have a 12 year old she has been playing since 5 years old. She likes to perform and wants me there. I wish I could get out of it some days. But I know some day I will miss listening to her beautiful playing.

[Anonymous]

My kids take lessons from my boyfriend and they practice whenever they want. I stay out of it. It's their thing. I listen if the kids want me to listen.

[Anonymous]

I think what's normal is they don't want to practice and won't practice on their own. They aren't being particularly irresponsible. However, if you have one of the few kids who wants to practice you have a gem, an unusually ambitious kid. Take notice.

[Anonymous]

I bug my 12 year old every day. I wish I could say remind, but I have to bug her. Then I have to tell her, "you only practiced for 5 minutes. Please do another 25." If she is behind on a piece, I am very insistent. Other times, I just don't have the energy to fight with her. UGH! I know she enjoys playing once she learns the piece, but in the beginning of learning a new piece it can really be a struggle to get her to the piano to practice. If I were more of the "tiger mom" type I would be more forceful on a regular basis. I just don't have it in me!

[Anonymous]

I tell them to practice, but usually don't correct. 7 yr old asks for help sometimes; 11 yr old rarely.

It's funny. When they practice for recitals, they make mistakes. I let it go. I'm not expecting concert pianists. But, during the recitals, they play almost perfectly. IDK - I think they must just screw around when practicing, but when they have to play in front of a crowd, they try harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:if your child takes piano, how involved are you during his/her practices?
do you just remind them to practice? do you sit with them/correct them (if you are able)?
Just wondering what is the norm...

12 year old. I remind her to practice. I will help or critique her if she asks, but otherwise I stay out of it.
If she was playing something wrong and not working at correcting it, I'd ask her if I could give her input. When she was younger, I'd ask her if I could play it for her so she could see/hear what it should sound like. She now plays better than I do, and occasionally amuses herself by asking me to sight read one of her pieces.

The norm may not be what works for you and your child.

[Anonymous]

I am nearby my 6 year old and help if needed. My 8 year old is independent and occasionally asks for help.

[Anonymous]

No my 9 year old need constant reminders about all the music practices. From recorder to piano. Just tiresome

[Anonymous]

If a child is mature enough for lessons in music, dance, a sport or anything else, they are old enough to see the natural consequences that come from practice (and the lack thereof). If they aren't mature enough to handle the consequences, they aren't mature enough for lessons, imo. So no, I don't nag. For a young child, I run through the list of things that should be done after school (chores, practice, homework, reading) if they ask to go play with friends, but otherwise, I stay out of it.

As to correcting mistakes, it depends on the child's personality. Some children thrive on constructive criticism and know that the adult is trying to help them improve, all while knowing the adult is already proud of their effort. Other children would view any correction as an example of the child not measuring up to perceived expectations. For the former, of course I would help, and for the latter I wouldn't. Obviously, if a child asks, I would.

Homework is non-negotiable. Kids aren't mature enough to decide whether they want to do homework when it's first assigned, nor would most kids choose to do it, but they also don't get to choose to attend school.