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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!rti-sel!scirtp!todd
From: todd@scirtp.UUCP (Todd Jones)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: How do I get my 6 yr old to practice piano
Message-ID: <457@scirtp.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 13-Sep-85 14:29:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: scirtp.457
Posted: Fri Sep 13 14:29:44 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Sep-85 17:15:12 EDT
References: <2578@pegasus.UUCP>
Organization: SCI Systems, Research Triangle Park, NC
Lines: 45

> I have a 6 year old daughter who take piano lessons weekly.
> I would appreciate any ideas on how to motivate her to practice.
> 
> 		Thanks
> 		David Levine
> 		pegasus!dsl

My own four year old is showing a very strong interest
in music and I am considering formal lessons, so I have
the same concerns you have. I have two suggestions borne 
out of anecdotal evidence.

1. My parents threatened me,"If you don't practice regularly,
   you have to stop taking lessons." I liked playing enough
   so that this worked well into my teenage years whereupon
   I (naturally) rebelled and stopped practicing the pre-
   scribed material and started "jamming" on my own. I still
   play regularly.

2. A friend (and fellow poster) has a 10 year old who has
   been playing violin for five years now. The kid has a love/
   hate relationship with his musical studies. His parents
   practice right by his side, learning and teaching at the
   same time. The kid enjoys this approach much more than
   being sequestered in a room to practice on his own.

Suggestion 1 requires a deep enjoyment of playing music in
the first place. Suggestion 2 requires time on the part of
the parents.

One last note: Many (most) of my peers were forced to learn
a musical instrument during childhood. As soon as they became
teenagers, the first thing they did to exhibit independence 
was to refuse to practice their instrument (some even destroyed
their instruments in open defiance of "martial law").
This is why I suggest either 1 or 2 or a combination.

Good Luck!

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   [ O-O ]       Todd Jones
    \ ^ /        {decvax,akgua}!mcnc!rti-sel!scirtp!todd      
    | ~ |
    |___|        SCI Systems Inc. doesn't necessarily agree with Todd.