How to help piano son improve practice quality Options

[boysmum]

My year 1 son can already play grade 3 piano music, piano teacher said he is musically talented. However I am tone deaf, I feel sorry that I could not help him much especially when he practises at home. All I can do is sit next to him and give him some encouragements every now and again. The piano teacher understand my difficulty, and has allowed me to video the lesson.

Anyone has the same experience, can you advise me how to help him to improve practising quality?

[sbhoa]

Help him to remember and understand what his teacher says.
Support him as you are.
Apart from that remember he's still very young and don't turn music into a chore or an exam race. Let him enjoy his playing.
Take him to concerts, not only piano.

[GMc]

He woud probably enjoy Philip Johnson's book "Not Until You Have Done Your Practice". It's full of cartoons and jokes but it has the nitty gritty as well. And especially how not to practice!! Read it together. It actually has some fun things like putting your tasks for the day into a jar and picking at random etc too. Written for kids. He has a much bigger book that you would find useful too.

[Yoshifumu]

My nephew is year 1, and getting ready for grade 1. His grandma is the one pushing him along the most but she doesn't speak English so can only do so much.

She just gives him all the encouragement in the world. And makes sure that whenever anyone comes over that he plays for them, and that they all then encourage and congratulate him.

There was an initial rough patch when he first started out, but once he started playing to all of the guests he loved it.

Now whenever someone comes over he tells his grandma that he has to go practice so that he can impress them.


That and his mum taking him to a few concerts, as well as him performing at a few small concerts (mainly school ones).


In general if music teachers at school and everyone else that is important are encouraging him, especially if it is an important part of his life, that will be all the motivation he needs to follow the teachers advice and practice well.


Edit: Oh and wow for a 5-6 year old getting to grade 3 that quickly!

[boysmum]

Thanks for the recommendation. Ordered the book, quite expensive though...

He woud probably enjoy Philip Johnson's book "Not Until You Have Done Your Practice". It's full of cartoons and jokes but it has the nitty gritty as well. And especially how not to practice!! Read it together. It actually has some fun things like putting your tasks for the day into a jar and picking at random etc too. Written for kids. He has a much bigger book that you would find useful too.

I found out I have to help him to remember what the teacher said. unfortunately i could not worked out if he has followed the teacher's advise or not, for example has he played the legatto quietly just as teh teacher suggested? has he done the semi-stagato? I felt hopeless and helpless....

I do take him to concerns if time is suitable for him, for example concerns in the afternoon or early night.

Help him to remember and understand what his teacher says.
Support him as you are.
Apart from that remember he's still very young and don't turn music into a chore or an exam race. Let him enjoy his playing.
Take him to concerts, not only piano.

His piano teacher and school teachers have been supportive, so he started to enjoy practising now. It was a struggle last year. Thanks for your detailed info.



[In general if music teachers at school and everyone else that is important are encouraging him, especially if it is an important part of his life, that will be all the motivation he needs to follow the teachers advice and practice well.]