I searched the web for more answers to this ongoing challenge for all music parents. If practice is going great right now, smile and come back later! When you’re in a rough patch, I’m sure you’ll find something helpful among these three article. Bookmark this post and return often!
Here’s a short article with simple, solid research-based principles.
This one’s got a few more specific ideas and encouragement.
Reasons kids aren’t practicing and what you can do about it. (This one’s written for Suzuki violin students, but 21 of the ideas apply to any instrument.)
This many ideas may feel overwhelming. But if you’ll read through the info with a relaxed, open mind, a few key concepts will probably stand out. Write those down. Now you have a short list that’s personalized for your family. Come back to your list in a couple days and choose 1-2 things you can change right now.
“And finally, don’t let the discipline of music get in the way of the joy of music-making. Yes, it is hard. Yes, it can be frustrating. But the joy children experience when they really get “in” to a particular piece of music is something that can rarely be duplicated. Like anything in life, you get out of it what you put in to it.” (Ellen Troyer, a Baltimore Symphony violinist)
Just Create! 