17/09/2026
Great advice here for parents wanting to support their youngsters. In short, praise the effort more than the result!
Sometimes people ask how they can best support their child who is learning a musical instrument. That makes me want to cheer, as parents and carers who want to get involved like this are just the Holy Grail of instrumental teaching.
So here are a few thoughts.
1. Listen. Listen. Listen. Show a huge interest in what your child is learning. Prioritise your listening; try not to fob them off because you’ve had a hard day at work. Your active, interested listening is worth more than you know.
2. Praise them. Give at least three compliments for every question or suggestion for change. Praise not just good playing, but, more importantly, praise the effort and resilience that it takes.
3. Be interested. Ask why the teacher has suggested what they have. Ask what terms and signs mean; ask their opinion on the music they are playing. Ask them what their favourite bar or section is. The more you make the student feel like an “expert”, the more empowered they will feel.
4. Ask them what you can do to help their practice. Ask them if they’d like a drink, if they need you to stay with them. Remind them that anything worth doing takes effort, consistency and resilience. Tell them you’re proud.
5. Did I mention praise? Praise them. Praise their playing. Praise their efforts. Tell them what you like about their playing. Tell them you love the variety of dynamics, or how strong their fingers look, or how good their posture is. Tell them their playing sounds beautiful, that it makes you feel a certain way. And do it with your full, undivided attention. Preparing dinner can wait, watching your favourite soap can wait. Your little pianist is probably more self-conscious than you think, and your words, as someone who loves them the most, are worth more than you know.