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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your tips in getting kids to do music practise....

58 replies

LilacRoses · 11/05/2014 19:24

Dd (11) has been playing the violin for a couple of years. She really does enjoy the actual lessons (recently changed teachers for various reasons, loves her new teacher). However, we are still finding that we have to nag her every single time to practise. Part of me thinks that this is just what kids are like but part of me thinks that by now she ought to be more self motivated.

I've asked her many times if she really wants to carry on and she insists that she does. She's looking forward to doing her grade in a few months and is excited about playing in various groups at high school but she is still very lazy about practise. If we didn't nag her she wouldn't pick her violin up from one lesson the the next. Any great ideas?

OP posts:
Original poster
LilacRoses · 11/05/2014 23:17

It can indeed Really, I agree with that. They do have alot on. I take your points nomore and hala. I talked to her about whether she wanted to carry on with doing grades or just learn pieces for enjoyment and she said she wanted to do her grades for now as it motivates her??!! She's actually a really good singer and works on that constantly in her spare time so maybe she will give up the violin in the future and concentrate on that as her hobby.

OP posts:
Original poster
LilacRoses · 11/05/2014 23:19

Chocoluvva! What a great idea! That would really appeal to her. I will look that up right away.

OP posts:
mimishimmi · 11/05/2014 23:20

We were paying DDto do her dance practise for a while at her 'babysitting rate' of $3 an hour. That kept her pretty motivated. Then the cost of the classes/costuming has gone up a fair bit and we felt a bit resentful that we were shelling out to get her to practise something we were already paying enough for. Now she has to do three 45 minute practise sessions a week (unpaid) to keep the classes up or we will stop them (she insists she still wants them but had to nag her to practise as well). Any extra practise she does on top of that will still be paid but so far she's shown no initiative Wink. However, she will practise and play her guitar for hours (she gets no lessons apart from Youtube) so that's her 'outlet'.

Auntimatter · 12/05/2014 05:57

Paying a child to practice???? Blimey!

HolidayCriminal · 12/05/2014 06:25

DD earns her pocket money back by practicing. Nothing else would motivate her enough.

sleepywombat · 12/05/2014 06:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

whois · 12/05/2014 08:13

Def set up a little dedicated area and have a set time to practice (mine was always after neighbours and before tea) don't insist on too long, a good and enjoyable 15 mins is better than nothing. Maybe aim for practice every weeknight excluding the one her lesson is on, and one longer practice on one weekend day.

Fram · 17/05/2014 09:57

Thanks for the instrument stand recommendations- a really really good idea (dd has practiced more since we have been leaving her instrument out and made up, but this way is far more safer with a 3yo around too!)

Thank you Thanks

What helps with our DD is that she has seen herself the difference it makes when she practices something, and that has spurred her on in other areas. So perhaps pick something she is reasonably good at all ready to encourage her?

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