9 Tips to Keep Your Teen Child to the Violin or Viola
Does your teen child seem unable to combine homework with violin or viola practicing?
Consistently playing the violin or viola can be a struggle for all of us. So it isn’t a surprise that it is an even bigger challenge to keep your teen child motivated to play the violin or viola. Maybe your teen chils is not able to combine violin or viola playing with school or homework.
Music lessons are one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. You hope that it will be a pleasure for life. Puberty is a time that most children quit playing a musical instrument. Lots of them regret this on a later age. Then it’s a lot harder to get back to their end level.
In this video I will share with you 9 tips to keep your teen child to violin or the viola:
1. Let him or her explore other music styles.
Maybe the Kuchler concertino’s are not your child’s preferred music style. You don’t have to put all the classical music in the recycle bin, but you can add some gypsy or pop music to the repertoire.
2. Make sure your teen is challenged enough in the violin lessons.
If your teen is bored, there is a bigger change they will give up on practicing. Musically they must be challenged.
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3. Make sure there is enough variation.
Endless repetition can be very boring, whilst there are many ways to study. Click here to see a video about my way of practicing and making practicing fun.
4. Don’t demand too much.
When you expect them to practice for an hour every day, they may just stop because they dislike the pressure. Just keep it light and fun to make sure they keep on playing and enjoying their practice. They might even practice more when you don’t put pressure on them.
5. Make crystal clear goals with them.
Progress is a great motivator and it gives your teen the experience of success. Otherwise it might feel like a never ending tunnel of practicing and mistakes. Goals can be about everything. For example about learning a piece, playing together or doing a performance.
6. Make sure there is a good balance with homework.
This will benefit both the violin study and the homework. Plan 45 minutes of homework and a violin “break” of 15 minutes for example. This will enhance the concentration and can work motivating.
7. Talk about what you child wants with music and try to match the lessons, repertoire and teacher to these wishes.
8. Find another teacher, or don’t!
If the teacher has a special bond with your teen, he or she can play an important role in motivating your teen to keep playing. If the teacher is stiff or boring and doesn’t match with the personality of your child you should find a new one.
9. Make music a social thing.
Don’t have your teen only practicing alone. Maybe find an orchestra or music summer camp.
Was this useful to you or do you have some useful tips or experiences of your own? Please let me know in the comments!
PS: Do you want to see YOUR question answered in a Violin Lounge TV episode? Post a comment below!
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