I used to teach piano lessons in the homes of my students. In doing so, I gained something that was really valuable… an insight into where my students were practicing.
There were a variety of set-ups: upright pianos in basements, keyboards in bedrooms and digital pianos in spare rooms. There were also a variety of settings: pianos in a warm and welcoming living area, pianos in dark, cold and hardly-used rooms, keyboards in basements, beautiful baby grands in front of floor-to-ceiling windows.. and pianos covered in last week’s laundry… or yesterday’s homework, or – wait for it – last Sunday’s lunch… true story.
It was an eye-opener for me. And it has really guided the way I approach the topic of home practice with my piano parents now that I no longer have a “first-hand view” into every one of my students’ home practice environments.
Creating a Practice Nest… The What, The Why and The How
You’ve likely heard the term “nest” used when talking about interior home design – meaning a home environment that is comfortable and personalized to what the inhabitant loves. I use the term “practice nest” with my piano parents because it immediately conjures up an image of exactly what I’m hoping to achieve: a setting where their children feel comfortable, welcome, supported, organized and happy.
When talking to parents about home practice, I used to first concentrate on parental involvement, daily goals and tasks. Now, my discussions begin with how to create an environment that is conducive to regular, and (this is key!) enjoyable home practice.
5 Ways Piano Parents Can Create a “Practice Nest”
Feel free to share these tips with your piano studio parents. In fact, I’ve written them as if the pointers were being presented to my parents so your welcome to put them into a handout and pass them along! Hopefully with a few adjustments at home, your students’ practice time and progress will blossom!
1. When choosing a location for your piano, select a space that is lived-in, welcoming, and well-lit. Keep it close to “the action” but not in the action. Your children will gravitate to the piano more often if it is in a central place in your home. Avoid bedrooms, basements and other “put away” places. Feeling shut-off from the family while practicing will inevitably lead to a reluctance to spend time on the piano.
While choosing an appropriate space, also consider the noise factor; not only from the piano, but also from your family’s day-to-day activities. Your children want to be close by, but not competing with noise from TV’s, dishwashers and washing machines.
2. Make the space warm and welcoming. Your children will be encouraged to spend upwards of 30 minutes every day in this space. Is it a happy place to be for this amount of time? Small adjustments to lighting and heating can make a world of difference. Seek out places with natural light and ensure it is a cheerful and welcoming space that will encourage your child to visit the piano often for their own enjoyment.
3. Ensure your children have all required materials at hand. Help your children put together a small basket or bin of everything they may need for home practice. Pens, pencils, highlighters, and post-it notes will give your children a sense of organization that will then spill over into their practice habits. Your children will also need adequate lighting to see their music, and a comfortable bench at the correct height to practice comfortably and correctly.
4. Make the “Practice Nest” a communal space. Children of any age appreciate company while they practice. Having a chair, couch, beanbag chair or pillows nearby where family members will be inclined to sit, listen and enjoy the music immediately sets the tone for happy time on the piano. Encourage siblings to stop by and listen quietly, and allow yourself even just 10 minutes to sit and listen with undivided attention each time your children practice. A set-up that is conducive to including the family in home practice will encourage everyone involved to make piano practice an activity the entire family can be a part of.
Incorporating the family into home practice was one of our goals when we set out to re-think the way students complete their technical exercises. Using the TEDDtales story-based approach, even not-so-musical family members can be involved in this aspect of piano practice in a way that creates good memories and lots of laughter.
5. Set the stage for organization. Ensure your children’s practice space is uncluttered and organized. Clear out old sheet music and books from the piano bench, use a magazine organizer to hold current and favorite materials, and minimize knickknacks and other distractions from the top of the piano. If you can, avoid having the piano room do “double-duty” for laundry, toys and other clutter. Having the books your children need at their fingertips reliably ensures that no time is spent searching for lost or crumpled music. Get into the habit of placing the piano books in their appropriate space immediately after each piano lesson so they are ready and waiting.
Plus one more! Adding small surprises to your children’s practice nest (fresh flowers, a hand-written note of encouragement, a small treat, a new sticker pad, a special pen etc.) helps to show that you value the time they are spending on the piano and that you appreciate their efforts and dedication. Preserving the “specialness” of their practice space encourages positive feelings towards their home music time.
Home Practice Is So Much More Than Minutes Spent
Cultivating good home practice habits is so much more than logging minutes spent on the bench. Long-lasting practice habits that result in long-term progress come from a commitment to making the piano a vital part of your child’s day-to-day life… not as a requirement, but as a desire. One giant step towards this goal can be accomplished by making your piano a place he or she looks forward to visiting.
Looking for more ways that piano practice can be encouraged by parents? Read on:
15 Ways to Fill Your Child’s Piano Practice Tank
Your Not-So-Musical Piano Parents Need This Piano Practice Cheat-Sheet
How To Become The Perfect Piano Parent: The Teach Piano Today Podcast
Jacqueline Touchie says
Andrea and Trevor, you’ve hit the proverbial nail on the head!! I too have done the traveling teacher bit and have also heard horror stories about current piano placements. I am posting this in my studio for parents to read while their child has his/her lesson, as well as on my studio Facebook page – Touchie’s Music Studio. Parents don’t realize how important this truly is. I think I’ll even run a contest in the New Year – bring in a picture of your Practice Nest and win a prize for the best!! I’ll post the entries on a wall in the studio – and even let the students vote for their favorite! Sounds like a fun way to take the drab out of January! Don’t you think?
Andrea says
Sounds like a great Idea Jacqueline!
Terah says
Jacqueline–I love your additions about the contest with the pics. I tend to be a low-maintenance Studio where I am pretty focused on everyone doing their part to see that learning and practicing happen at home. This is the perfect idea for the coming New Year when families are inside a lot anyway and maybe dressing up and making the piano area cozy as well as functional is a great idea! Thanks! Great article, too, A & T, thanks for posting it!
Sandra says
When I saw the title of today’s article, I thought, “Good luck with this one!!” I agree with all the points you raise but I would like to add another. The proximity to the TV can be a big problem. Especially if there are dads who want to watch the game (and there is almost ALWAYS a game on!). But it could be a sibling who wants to watch something, too. Either there needs to be agreement that the TV stays off while a child practices …or there should be another TV somewhere else in the house. The whole family needs to be on board with the importance of practice time!
Andrea says
Hi Sandra – very right 🙂 We did mention the TV within the 5 points as it really can be a problem – it’s impossible to compete with the noise/distraction from it. You may not reach *every single parent* with this info, but even if inspires a change in a few… I consider that to be a positive step in the right direction 🙂
anna says
I just love reading comments to all the different posts, like this one. Music is such a passion: we have a passion to play it, a passion to teach it, and a passion to do just about everything and anything to get the students engaged in and excited with playing music when they aren’t sitting next to us. Thanks for the posts and all the comments to continue feeding all of our passions.
Rhonda says
I ahead one student who was sooo musical, but he had to practise in a dark, cold room in winter, on a piano that was out of tune. I talked to his mum about it but nothing was done to rectify the problem. Needless to say he ended up stopping. I was sad to see him go.