Piano grade 1-5 - junior school

[MoreBubbles]

How do you encourage / ensure that your primary aged dc practice? And how much do they practice per day / week?

I have 2 dc one working towards prep test and one towards grade 3. The younger dc does 10 on average each day and the older does 25 on average each day. We could do better, right?
TIA

10 and 25 min that is

That sounds good amounts for their respective levels to me. A bit every day is brilliant, and the amount will naturally go up as they have longer pieces and more scales/exercises.

My two are working on G3 and G2. I don't time them but G3 does minimal practice, maybe 10 minutes if he can get away with it, G2 more like 30. G2 progressing faster and likely to overtake at some point.

My input consists of saying "DS/DD, piano time now", and every few weeks pointing out that they're charging through with the same mistakes every day and need to break it down and practise properly and talking them through how to do that. At which point I usually get shouted at a bit and told it's all toooo haaaard and then they do better practice the next few days and get it sorted. Little one sometimes actually wants company/help but more often not.

That sounds fine. What does the teacher say?
Frankly I decided that if I had to nag my kids to practise then they shouldn't be doing it at all. My daughter started, stopped practicing so quit. Three years later she decided to start again and practised alot. But she decided and I didn't have to remind her.

Little and often is best. If it is part of the daily routine then missing one or two days occasionally is not a problem. Sounds like a good amount but needs to be efficient, maybe ask teacher to write down some tips. I sometimes ask my DC which part they are focusing on. However, usually my input consists of shouting 'slowly' or ' use the correct fingering' through the door! As long as they are enjoying it, it's great. I sometimes remind them how they couldn't do something a few weeks ago and now they can, that's because of practice and hard work, it doesn't just happen.

DD does her practice before school, straight after she's got dressed so it's part of her routine and she doesn't need reminding - she's between Grade 2 and 3 and does 20 mins a day or so.

DS started at the beginning of this term and does 10 mins a day. I need to remind them to do their practice if they haven't done it, but both practice happily and I'm very happy with their progress. I listen in to their practice and will sit down and help them with something if they're not getting it.

DD is working on her grade 5. She practises every day - usually a min of 20 mins. She’s also in a chamber group and a duet so has to practice those pieces too. She’s pretty organised with her practice so will focus on what she feels needs most work.
She plays cello too although that’s very much the poor relation and gets much less practice!

We found that having the piano in the main family room has massively increased the amount of practice done and massively decreased the number of arguments. Also bought a good electronic piano that has a headphones option and some fun recording and effects options.

DD does around 20 minutes a day actual practice, but sometimes that extends into an hour where she’s just messing around for fun.

She’s not the sort that enjoys going off by herself and when she used to practice in another room it was always a case of reminding - although I think she would now prefer if I stopped commenting or telling her to slow it down.

She’s mainly a singer and probably does 1-2 hours plus a day for that - but doesn’t see it as “practice” in the way that the piano still is. I don’t have to ask or nag on that unless it’s because she’s supposed to be working on a particular piece and is avoiding it.