Practical tips to support your child's piano practice at home (3)

We continue our series on how to support your child's piano practice at home with more practical tips from Dr Christopher Fisher, pianist, piano teacher and piano parent, with a few ideas thrown in from me for good measure!

Building self esteem 

This is one of Chris' ideas that really touched me and it doesn't even involve being at the piano.  When your child does something you're really proud of / impressed with during their piano practice and as well as acknowledging it there (if you want) mention it at a random time, to let them know you're thinking of them and how proud / impressed you were with what they did the other day at piano. 

Remember to be specific and praise effort and not 'intelligence' or 'cleverness'.  Children need to learn that good results come from effort which they are in control of, not some elusive talent that some people have and others don't. 

For example, 'I was so impressed how you persevered the other day when you felt really frustrated that you couldn't do x.  You persevered and got it and I was so proud of you'.  Or mention the strategy they used that helped them succeed.  
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Making it playful

Hide and seek - write the names of pieces etc. on index cards, hide the cards around the room and have the child find the card and practice what's on it using a practice strategy described previously.  This is great for the shorter attention span of younger children who are getting on and off the piano stool during this game. 

Stuffed animals 
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Have your child bring their favourite soft toy to the piano and play for it, asking 'could you play this piece for your teddy and make it sound peaceful, like a lullaby, let's see if teddy can fall asleep'.  You hold teddy and make it fall asleep!
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Silliness and humour

Think up the silliest things you can and ask if your child can do it that way, for example:

• 'could you play with just your right hand and use your left to touch your nose & stick out your tongue?'
• 'Could you play low and make it sound like grandpa, or high like mummy'

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• What can you, the parent, do that's silly?  Perhaps you can do a silly action every time they play something correctly, or while they play.  Be as creative as you can....
• Of course the best person to come up with the silliest thing is your child!  Have fun:)

These are great ways to get repetition (only accept correct repetitions, use a practice strategy) which is what leads to great progress.  
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Secret practice envelopes 

I loved the idea of these when I heard Chris talk about them.  Put a practice strategy in an envelope with a list of things they are going to practice that day, with a note of encouragement.  When the child sits down to practice they get to open the secret envelope and read words of affirmation from their parents - wonderful!  
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Miscellaneous

Tap the rhythm of the piece on their back and get them to work out which piece / song it is and then play it.  Get them to do one for you to recognise.  Can you play it too?!

Roll a dice and the number it lands on is:

• the number of repetitions
• a bar number in the piece to start at
• how many times you have to tap your nose (anything else) during the piece

Use a two minute timer and get your child to concentrate on one piece for that long (great for younger children).  Stop when the timer's up, even if you're tempted to keep going - it's what you said you'd do and it's a bit fun if you're made to stop when you want to carry on - there's always later / tomorrow to carry on. 

Bless others & self expression

Use music as a way to bless others.  For example play for grandma's birthday, if she's far away then send a video or use Skype (sometimes a video is better because sound quality can be poor on Skype).  

Arrange a practiceathon with your child's piano friends or just for your child.  Get donations for every minute your child plays and they can choose a charity to receive the money raised.  

Mid-week recordings for the teacher

Make a mid-week recording for me.  Send me something your child has been practicing / has accomplished, or is struggling with.  I will watch it and send feedback as soon as I can.