Piano students can improve their progress by making improvements to their practice environment. Making some simple changes to the practice environment can help students learn more, especially young beginning students. Too often students compare themselves to experts they see on television and their teacher without considering what went on behind the scenes to make that happen. Parents can help their beginner gain a more realistic perspective about what needs to go on behind the scenes at home so that students make the progress they want to make and feel good about their lessons.

The practice environment will do one of two things.

1. It will detract from learning; or

2. It will support learning.

Make a list of things in the environment that support learning. Make another list of things in the environment that create distractions. Since kids tend to self-distract a lot, the environment needs to be as helpful as possible. Here are ten examples of factors that detract from the learning environment. You can probably think of more.

Practice Environment Distractions

1. No routine practice time established.

2. Busy running errands with parents so no time is left for practice.

3. Television is on in the piano practice room.

4. Friends coming to play at practice time.

5. Eating snacks at the piano during practice.

6. Music books scattered around the floor, they get lost or misplaced.

7. Pets or younger siblings demand students attention.

8. No routine practice time established.

9. Busy running errands with parents leaving no time left for practice.

10. Keyboard is moved to students bedroom where they isolated during practice.

Supportive Practice Environment

2. The television is turned off during practice.

3. Student is undisturbed during practice, but not isolated.

4. Music books are kept in a piano bag with a lesson assignment book.

5. Student follows teachers directions in assignment book, finds appropriate books in their music bag.

6. Student uses a timer at the piano so they dont have to keep wondering, and stopping lessons to ask how long theyve been practicing.

7. Parents politely thank their students friends for wanting to play and give assurances that after piano practice you will call them, and not during or before.

8. Younger siblings are kept occupied during practice and pets are outside.

9. Parents give positive encouragement and help with basic knowledge, but student is encouraged to practice independently.

10. Parents make sure students nailed are kept trimmed so student learns to play with ease.

Its a good idea to talk about these things with your child and get their input as well. Ask your child to help make a list of what creates distractions during practice and what supports their learning at home. This will make your beginner feel that their opinions are valued and that you trust them to be responsible. Once you have your childs agreement on the list, its a whole lot easier to get them to buy into it because it makes sense to them.