Why piano practice can feel so hard on parents - and what actually helps

As piano teachers of young children, we know that there are some children who just can't wait to try out their new skills at home. But for others, it's not so straightforward.

Here's some very common reasons why practise can end up being stressful for parents and a little advice based on our experience as both teachers AND former pupils (albeit some time ago!)

“I don’t know how to help”

One of the biggest struggles parents share is feeling a bit out of their depth. You didn’t learn music yourself. You don’t read music. So when your child sits at the piano, it’s hard to know how to guide them - or if they're even doing it right.

But luckily, you don’t need to be a musician to support your child. All you need is to encourage them, to clap their mini-performances, and a bit of communication with their teachers to ensure they're on the right track.

The motivation battle

For some families, music practice turns into a negotiation, or even a full-on battle. This is the LAST thing we want for our students and completely contradicts our ethos of music being a joyful, peaceful experience.

Sometimes, it's best to just pause, stop pushing and regroup. Maybe they need different material, more playful techniques, or maybe they'll just find their motivation a little later on. I remember going through many peaks and troughs with my practise as a child and I'm still playing 30 years later.

“We just don’t have time”

Between school, homework, clubs and family life, finding time for consistent practice can feel impossible. The answer to that is simple - that's okay. Even a few minutes here and there makes all the difference. It may help to carve out a 5 minute slot in your routine - say while dinner is being dished up or a pre-bed mini concert - which will really add up to significant practice time if done regularly.

Worrying about progress

It can hard to tell if your child is improving, which may make you think 'are they actually learning anything?' Well, we're not so fussed about becoming a technically perfect pianist here at Viva Piano. In fact, if they're sat down at the piano for any length of time, and they're enjoying themselves, that's a win for us.

And progress shows up in SO many different forms - improved musicality, finger positioning, timing, coordination - the list goes on - so it may not be so obvious what they're getting better at. Also, kids might pick up some things very quickly, and other elements take time. Bottom line - if they're happy, they're progressing.

“They’re bored of their pieces”

Sometimes it’s just the music. When pieces feel dull or too challenging, practising becomes a chore. And it's nothing to do with the child's ability or passion, it just means they can't connect to the material.

At Viva Piano, we always strive to learn using songs kids know - particularly during Sing and Play, where children learn chords to accompany themselves singing. As a child, I devoured my Disney and pop piano books because I loved the music and WANTED to play it. It's always worth trying some more contemporary pieces to see if that piques their interest in practising again!

Fear of wasting money

Let’s be honest, music lessons are expensive, so there is inevitably a fear that not practising means you're wasting your your money. All we can say to that is - it's not. Children can still make a LOT of progress by just attending their lessons every week, and we never use practice hours as a measure of success. Give them time, keep it fun, and let them be.

Final thought

Hopefully, this has helped one or two parents who were stressing about their child's piano practice! Don't forget, we have a growing digital library of practice resources available on our website.

For just £6 a month, you get access to:

• Fun, structured practice activities

• Engaging resources designed specifically for ages 6–10

• Fresh content that keeps practice interesting and motivating

Let us know if you have any questions, or need any further advice about piano lessons for your child!