Do you find that your child complains about having to practice the piano? How hard should you push the issue? What happens if you force the child to practice against his wishes? Are you considering stopping piano lessons for your child? Perhaps the story of how my mother handled this exact problem will be of help to you.
I began taking piano lessons at the age of nine and in time I would often resist when my mother made me practice the assignments given by my teacher.
I found it tedious and boring to continually repeat the same songs and exercises over and over again.
However, I would often go to the piano on my own and play fun songs and work on playing songs by ear.
Although my mother was not a musician, she had the wisdom to know that her son really did enjoy playing the piano even though he did not want to practice the assigned work.
She very firmly, but lovingly insisted that I practice and I am so glad that she did.
Her persistence allowed me to have the joy of music in my life as well as a wonderful career of teaching piano and music.
If you are facing a similar situation with your child, here are some things to look for.
If your child hates to practice the piano and never shows any interest in playing at all, you should probably consider moving him or her to an activity that is more enjoyable for them.
However, if your child frequently sits at the piano and "piddles" but does not want to practice the lessons, then I think it is appropriate to firmly, but lovingly insist that he or she spends the required time prescribed by the teacher on the assigned work.
A healthy dose of encouragement and praise will always be helpful as well.