Creating a Practice Routine

Sometimes, all of the motivation in the world simply cannot move us to action without a solid routine in place. Time management can be a challenge for us adults, but it is even more-so for children who have not yet developed the self-discipline required to establish and stick to a routine.

For children learning an instrument, the creation of a practice routine:

• Helps to maximize the effectiveness and enjoyment of practicing,

• Enables them to take ownership of their musical learning,

• Develops critical self-discipline skills, and

• Supports emotional maturity and regulation.

Did that last one surprise you? We humans thrive on routine. Our brains are wired to settle into patterns, and we feel emotionally safest when our environment - including our time management - is routine and predictable.

Ready to set up a practice routine with your young musicians? Here are six tips:

1. Consistency: Children should practice at the same time every day. This makes practicing not just a routine, but a habit. It is no longer something else to get done before bed time, but instead a predictable part of the day just like dinner time and bath time.

2. Timing, Timing, Timing: When deciding on a time for daily practice, consider what times of day your child is best able to focus and sustain attention for a short duration of time. For some children, this may be first thing in the morning. For others, it might be right after school. Avoid times when your child might be too tired or too hungry to focus on practicing. Experiment with a few different times and see when your child has the most success practicing.

3. Facilitate Focus: Practice time should also occur at a time when other, potentially distracting activities not happening. For example, your child may have a difficult time practicing if he or she is hearing and smelling dinner being made at the same time, or if a sibling is practicing their instrument at the same time.

4. Routine Buddies: Try pairing practice time with another routine, such as a meal, nap time, or bath time. These events already occur in a routine, predictable way, so why not add a practice routine to the schedule? This can also help your child gain independence and take ownership of his or her practicing routine.. For example, by making practice time right after dinner, the completion of dinner becomes a trigger to go practice without your prompting.

5. Marathon or Sprint? Some children do best with two or three short practice sessions each day, rather than one long practice session. This works especially well for children who have difficulty sustaining attention or with busy schedules. Short practice sessions can also be built into homework time, enabling the child to use practice time as a mental break from homework, too.

6. Adjust the Sails: Be flexible. As a child matures and his or her daily schedule changes, a practice routine may need to be re-evaluated and changed. With each practice routine shift, allow your child to have a say as to what type of practice routine he or she thinks will work best. This gives your child a huge sense of ownership of his or her practice time and is an excellent way to begin to establish self-discipline.

What other routine activities does your child have at home? Try using the above practice routine ideas to help your child to take ownership of homework time, completing chores, or walking the dog!