Getting a child to practice regularly, sticking to a schedule can be a difficult task. They do not understand schedules the way we adults do. In such a scenario, there are two options available to make them practice. First, you can motivate them in return for a reward and the other would be to motivate them by making practicing violin a chore that children do not like doing. Giving rewards in return of practice is not a good idea since the children need to learn how to motivate themselves without expecting any reward in return.
Follow the tips below that will help you motivate your child to take violin lessons in Singapore at Ossia Music school.
1. Check if they feel ready for music
You cannot expect a 4 year old child to show the same concentration as a ten year old. Different children start showing concentration ability at different ages, you need to assess that for your child. If your child can sit and practice non-stop for 15 minutes, that means he or she is ready to take classes. The ideal age when children can achieve this is usually 6 years old.
2. Help them set and achieve goals
As parents, you should set goals for your child for the whole week and make sure that these goals are being followed regularly. Achieving the goals make the child feel accomplished and they also get motivated to achieve the same success the next day, thus they will put in more effort in their practice sessions.
You should divide the goals equally into seven parts – one for each day – based on the expectations of the teacher. Motivate your child to work on these goals daily. Also, you should not bargain with your child on daily goals since this can give them the impression that these goals are not really important and they can skip them or practice for less time when they want.
Setting goals for a child is much more effective than simply telling them to sit and practice regularly for 15 minutes. These goals can make the child feel accountable for their learning. There is not much you have to do, just tell them to practice a piece or a note until they can play it five times in a row without making a single mistake.
And lastly, measure their progress everyday!
3. Positivity takes you higher, even when you think it will not
You cannot always have rainbows and butterflies; there will be occasional showers and thunderstorms too. Bad practice days should not overweigh the good practice days. Do not feel discouraged by your child’s tantrums, these are normal and is actually a great learning tool as the children learn to solve problems themselves. With bad days, they will realize that they can overcome the problems and rise from there. They know they can always come back the next day and correct the errors and work on it again.
On rough days, let you child explore the instrument and create sounds. This will help him or her know the endless possibilities they have and being able to bring all those magical tunes will also motivate them to keep playing.
4. Motivation is the key
As a parent, it is your responsibility to help your child stay motivated and encouraged to pursue their musical interests. Acquaint them with the history of violin and with violin music of different time periods. Make violin a part of your daily routine and discussion; let your child give you, your neighbors, or their toys a recital. Take them to live symphony concert so they can see a professional violinist play. There are so many things you can do to encourage your child and to show to him or her that the path they have chosen has a very bright future and lots of fun stored for them.