Learning to play a musical instrument often won’t happen without the commitment of both the parent and child. Children are bound to loose enthusiasm for the instrument at certain points along the journey of becoming talented musicians, and it is up to the parent to encourage the child to keep 
practicing. Any parent of a child who is learning to play an instrument is all too familiar with the words “But I don’t want to practice!”. Here are some tips to help you hear those words less often, and replace them with the sound of music:
1. Relax before practicing.
Encourage your child to do some simple relaxation techniques before beginning practice. Have your child tighten all of the muscles in their body, and then release them one by one. This will help you and your child focus.
2. Try shorter, more frequent sessions.
Long sessions can be beneficial, but can sometimes be draining for your child. Try switching it up by having shorter, but more frequent sessions. Perhaps one both before, and after school.
3. Practice away from family activity areas.
Oftentimes, children don’t want to practice because there are so many other opportunities to become distracted. Television, video games, computers, siblings, pets, the list goes on. Ideally your child should practice in a space that is not used for family activities, and with a door that can be closed to minimize noise and other distractions.
Do you have any practicing tips to share?