How to encourage your teen to keep playing piano

Many parents find themselves in a battle with their kids when it comes to musical instruments. Many years ago, your child may have expressed an interest in playing the piano. After investing lots of your time and money into their lessons, you may notice that their enthusiasm starts to wane, and they spend less and less time tinkling the ivories. 

If you find yourself with a teen who is reluctant to continue attending piano lessons, you may be at your wit’s end. As an adult, you know that in the future they will regret giving up so easily. However, trying to communicate this to your child is easier said than done. Obviously, you don’t want to force your child into taking part in an activity if they no longer enjoy it. But if you know it is simply the case that they can’t be bothered to make their way to the lessons, there are a few ways you can help to encourage them. Here are some ideas to get you started:

How to encourage your teen to keep playing piano

Buy them a piano of their own

When getting your teen out of the house to practise piano is a problem, providing them with easy access to a piano at home is an excellent solution. Fitting a grand piano into your home is out of the question for most people, so second hand electric pianos are a far more practical and affordable option. 

Your teen will be much more motivated to practise if they have a piano on-hand and ready to use at home, rather than needing to travel elsewhere to play.

Find the best teacher

Your child’s reluctance to play piano may be more down to the teacher than simply not wanting to play. Speak to them about their lessons and whether they find them helpful to try and ascertain where the issue lies. This doesn’t necessarily mean their teacher is doing anything wrong, your child may just not gel with them or respond to their teaching methods. 

Finding the right teacher can make a massive difference to your child’s enthusiasm and love of the piano, so it’s worth seeking out the best teacher to match their needs. If they’re willing to come to your home to teach, this is an added bonus.

Ease the pressure

Shouting at your child to make them practise is unlikely to be effective. Instead, they’re more likely to rebel! So, taking an encouraging approach and easing the pressure is far more likely to be effective. Rather than demanding that they complete hours of piano practise after school, why not ask them when they feel is the best time for them to practise. Homework and afterschool clubs can make it tough for them to allocate long periods of time to playing. Instead, let them choose a time they will commit to practising, or simply encourage them to play for 15 minutes every day. 

Making it easy and convenient for them to play without pressure should restore their love for the piano once again.

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