How much practice?

[Bigginswade]

Curious to know, if your child is learning an instrument, how long do they spend on practice and regularly do the practice? We are really struggling with it. DS has two instruments. Loves both but has a preference for the first probably because he's no longer beginner on it. We often fine that we're not doing as much as we'd like. Curious to know what others do and what has maybe worked for them. In our case, DS loves music so getting him to practice isn't an issue. It's finding the time as he has school and I work full time so we're not usually home until lateish after I've picked him up from after school club.

I think you are right misti. DS2 doesn’t have much practice time, but his choral experience means that he learns the notes of pieces easily and gets to grips with musical ideas quite naturally. Most of his time is spent getting the technical corners sorted out. He never plays through his pieces during his practice time, but only goes over the tricky bars. This saves a lot of time. He plays through his pieces once a week with the piano.

Undoubtedly, he would progress faster if he had more time, but he is getting on well enough to play some gorgeous pieces, which is the main thing for him.

My kids are 11&13 and do about 15 mins per instrument per day (both 2instruments). G5 on one instrument, G6 on other. This can be cut down to 5 mins if busy. Basically if you play the instrument every day, it will be very beneficial. But if you are cutting down to 5 mins, try to make the 5 mins quality!

We are only Grade 2 piano. TaggyoHara agree totally about focussed practice. I think part of the stuggle is me finding time to sit down with DS. I often find that 15 mins with me yields better results and progress than 30 mins on his own.

10,000 hours

Our teachers always told us how much practice but usually 20 mins a day pre grade 1. Grade 2 I'd say between 30/45 mins daily.

It's much better to do little more often than all at once.
If all they can manage is 10 mins one day, well this is fine and better than none at all.

DD does piano and cello. Just done G3 piano and starting G5 syllabus in September. She practises most days - sometimes only 10 mins, other times nearly an hour depending on how she feels or how much time we have!
Cello (done grade 1, just started on grade 3) gets done maybe 4-5 times a week - 15 mins or so. She does play in a string orchestra and cello quartet weekly though (at school) so gets a bit more playing time in that way.

Biggins - absolutely! It is a great idea to practise with him and also to sit in on lessons from time to time (if the teacher agrees). In the early stages, it is very difficult for children to know how to practise, and they tend to bash through pieces and scales, without sorting out mistakes. You don’t need to be an expert musician to suggest playing slower or repeating a difficult bar a few times - just an intelligent/analytical adult, so your DS would benefit greatly from your involvement .

Anyway, imho 15-30 minutes most days of decent practice is great for grade 2. I’m sure your DS is doing very well!

Romany, why would a grade 2 student need 45 min of daily practice? It’s more like grade 6+ I would say...

How much practice is required would really depend on circumstances and target/direction...

I can see FiddleOnTheRoof's point of 'less than 1 hour wouldn't cover everything'. But it isn't impossible to tick certain boxes with minimum time effort, especially if the child is 'switched on'. My DS swam through up to grade 8 without spending hours on practice. But it was because he was quite switched on and also his music learning was recreational. Now he takes music a lot more seriously that an hour isn't enough. The more you learn, the more you become aware of how little you know.

For recreation, more than an hour daily practice is very much rare, I guess. Usually 5mins to 45 mins would be enough. Then, those who love music may go off playing what they want to play or joining a band or orchestra, writing their own song, etc. Those activities aren't 'practice' but fun and that's why they are learning and practising, to have 'fun'.

As usual, our family is well below mumsnet norms.
We manage to get ds1, age 7 and no natural musical ability to do 5-10 mins most days on his string instrument. It feels hard work but he claims to want to continue! Also does an orchestra at school.

We do 20 mins a day 6 days a week. Dd1 is making good progress. I have no idea how we would fit in the times given in that Instagram post in.

DD (8) is a multi-instrumentalist so the chances of getting everything done every day are limited. We aim for 2 or 3 instruments every day (including lessons) out of harp/voice/piano and violin. That can either be individual practice (usually up to 20 mins depending on mood!) or a rehearsal/service.

My son learned two instruments. Unless they practice every day, it's not worth it. As for how long? It depends on age and your child.

I ask them to play every day but don't regulate how much beyond "make something better".
DS is of the 5 minutes a day school, piano and brass. Got to gd 2 distinction on both (brass after less than a year playing, it seems so much easier than piano at that level!). He did a bit more in the run up to exam but still maybe 10 mins, by then he could play all the pieces and they're still really short. DD generally does more like half an hour each, piano and violin - teachers have picked up that she will do more and likes learning new music so she gets given more music to learn. DS is happy to have a couple of pieces he can play and keep playing them all term, DD wants something new every week if possible.

Hazelnutpie, my youngest plays 3 instruments, got to grade 3 piano distinction on minimal practice after 18 months of lessons from scratch (age 8) and now going to sit grade 5 two terms later. And it’s the second study, doing even better on violin, practicing few times a week. I would say every child is different...

If a child is going to reach their own potential, then every day or nearly every day is idea. Little and often works well.

I just don’t agree with “unless they practice every day, it’s not worth it”. Some kids have very busy schedules, and daily practice is not always achievable.

Well OP, I think we’ve established that there are a range of very valid views on this.... the key points and phrases to me are:

-‘If a child is to reach their potential’ (some will have huge potential but neither the will nor the time to get there)
-little and often is better than none
-it depends on age and standard
-it depends what the goal is
-it depends on how fast your kid learns!

I was a bright, natuarally able child but wasn’t great at putting the hours in to focussed practice, although I played for many hours each week in lots of orchestras and ensembles. I got 2 grade 8’s by 18, taught myself a range of other instruments and got an A at A level music, but didn’t pursue music as a career.

DD is 11 and has already surpassed me as a violinist. She learns at a JD, has a regular practice routine (as previosuly mentioned, 45-90 mins per day on violin) and wants to be a professional musician.

I would say we both have/had the same aptitude for music, the differences are that she is more of a worker and has a Mum who is able to support practice and helps her to make the time to facilitate her training and development.

I also have DD2 whose practice regime is more erratic. She probably does 15-20 mins 3 times a week. She still progresses, although not as fast as her sister did at the same age and her technique is not as well embedded. She is generally a less reliable player.

If the aim is recreational music, then a few minutes each day spent well, supported eventually by ensemble playing and development of musical awareness will result in a competent amateur musician.

However, I have never come across a professional musician (and we know many) who has made it without putting in hours of daily practice at some point in their lives. Even the most gifted only develop the muscle tone, memory and stamina required by putting the time in.

We're only aiming for recreational musician z being able to play an instrument and have the fun of being part of an orchestra/appreciating and understanding music.

However my daughter has been playing flute for 2 years and the last few months has had to be cajoled into every practice.

I'm wondering if they're not motivated - do you just let them stop!?

Confused, maybe you could chat with her about what her aims are? Is she getting to play in a band or orchestra yet? ( After two years they definitely should be able to) is she playing the type of music she loves? My DD often plays Disney/ musicals stuff after her lesson stuff. Does she click with the teacher? Does she need some guidance with practice to be more efficient? Does she want to perform more eg in a festival to have a target, or take an exam? I don't think you should give up just yet, maybe do some digging, it might not even be that flute is not her instrument, saxophone and oboe are similar in some ways, or maybe she now likes the thought of the tuba?? Her lessons up till now will never be a waste though, whether she changes instrument or had a pause. Hope she finds the joy again!

She plays in the junior school "orchestra" which are all mainly beginners but I'm not sure she loves it as shes the only flute player. Shes been given some Harry Potter music but has been playing it all term and perhaps is a bit bored. She got so fed up playing her grade pieces for 2 terms!

I'm not a musician so not able to direct her practice. We dont have festivals or similar. The school has a new flute teacher starting in September so perhaps a change of teacher would help but we have to commit to a year and I'm loathe to do that when she isnt sure!

At senior school I think she was interested in bassoon as she's heard they teach it there... hut I'm not sure the motivation is there at the moment. I think shes just like the pressure to practice taken away!

I don't think you can force her to practice but maybe mention some of the great reasons to carry on. If she doesn't like being the only flute she may not like bassoon as likely to be the only one of that often, but also likely to be more in demand! My DD2 has just started bassoon and loves it but I would say it seems harder than flute but I know she will have more opportunities in the future. Maybe you could chat with her teacher about her wanting a bit more challenge and ask her to suggest some music. The website music room lists the approximate standard against the music. Some will come with CDs to play along to which is fun. The problem with exams is the risk of getting bored with pieces. Playing is meant to be fun, practice is what enables it to be more fun as you can play better more easily. Maybe her teacher could write out a more detailed practice schedule which would also help you. Practice isn't just playing pieces through. Maybe she is ready for a new teacher and that will give her the motivation.

Thanks everyone. DS very happy to practice the piano. If we have time, he can easily practice for an hour or will just ad hoc sit down and play pieces and then be dragged away for dinner. I think as time is an issue it's working out what's best for "efficient" practice. Making the most of what time we have as another poster pointed out. Sounds like we're probably fine for piano based on the above responses. For violin, will speak to the teacher. We're still at the very scratchy stage of beginner violin so it's hard for both us to listen to more than 10-15mins most days!

It depends what the goal is really. I got to grade 6 without much practice-certainly not practice every day. I was never going to be a performer but got good enough to play for fun without that much effort. Did I reach my full potential? Probably not but I don’t see the point in forcing kids to spend hours practicing if they don’t really want to and they aren’t aiming for county orchestras etc.

the 8yo does 10minutes daily - i sit in with her to help her make it focused and get the best use out of the 10mins
the 12 year old does 30mins. They also attend Saturday ensembles which they love, and which provide the main motivation for practising.

We know kids who do easily double that amount of practice, usually with a view to getting into specialist music school or junior conservatoire. However mine are more happy hobbyists than aspiring professionals, and tick along fine.

User thankyou. I'd be happy if mine followed suit!