Keep Your Instrument Ready to Play

Easy Access    

    Adding music lessons to your child’s schedule is a bit like getting a puppy.  What seemed like a great idea, now becomes more work than you were expecting it to be.  Just like potty training a puppy, getting your child to practice after the novelty of taking lessons wears off can become an unpleasant chore.  Creating easy access to your child’s instrument at home can remove one of the barriers to practicing.   

  Choose a Practice Space 

     We all know that getting started on something is often the most difficult part of any project or process.  Your child experiences the same struggle.  You can help by choosing one place in your home that is set up as a practice space.   

   Start out by taking a walk through your living space.  Imagine that you have never seen this space and its current usage before.   Take note of possible spaces that could function as your child’s practice space.  It is not necessary to devote an entire room to music practice but look for a space where your child’s instrument and accessories can be left set up and ready to play. Perhaps it an unused corner of a dining room, an alcove, the student’s bedroom or any other  

Get Instrument Specific 

  Got a future drummer in the house? Have a full drum kit? Then you know that you will have to find a devoted space, preferably a distance from the main household activities! Consider setting up in the basement, an attic, porch, garage, or spare bedroom. 

  Your blossoming pianist will also need a larger space, especially if you have an acoustic piano. These large, heavy instruments are difficult to move. And they don’t have volume control. If you want to showcase the piano and have it available for family entertainment, then choose a living area. Remember that you must coordinate your child’s practice time with others using the space. Alternatively, you can choose to place the piano in a less used area of the house to allow for more practice flexibility. Keyboards are more portable and can be set up in smaller spaces, including bedrooms. 

  Instruments in cases are portable and don’t need as much space. It is important to have a place to set the instrument in its case so that the case is in view. You might be tempted to leave the instrument itself out in the open but keeping it in the case will protect the instrument. The last thing you need is the cost and hassle of repairing an instrument! You will also need room for items such as a music stand, chair, tuners, and any other gear specific to the instrument. 

 Check In  

 Have your child check into the practice space each time they interact with the instrument. It might be five minutes here, ten minutes there. That’s ok. Checking in will show you both that they are spending time with their instrument.  [ADD LINK TO DOWN LOADABLE CHECK IN TEMPLATE}

Take Away

You can take simple steps at home to set up a regular practice space your for child.  Ready access to their instrument helps encourage practice.  Embrace simple changes and you may see big results!