One of the questions I am always asked is, “How much time should my child spend practicing?” There is no one right answer for that, as it will depend on your child and your lifestyle. But there is a good general rule of thumb. Ask yourself these questions:
How old is your child?
The younger the child, the less time should be initially invested in practice. Small children have smaller attention spans. For a young child, five minutes per day can be sufficient.
How many lessons has the child had?
The more lessons, the more developed the child’s hands will be. Playing the guitar can actually be uncomfortable at first, so just a few minutes a day is the best way to start. As their hands become stronger, they will be able to practice for a longer period of time.
What is your child’s routine?
It is so important to maintain consistency, so you will want to find a way to make that practice time fit into your child’s routine. Again, the five minute rule can make it easier to add the practice time into your child’s life. It is best for them to be able to look forward to the five minute practice and then be free to move on to other activities. Avoid making the child feel they are substituting practice time for an activity they love. For example, if your child loves playing ball, by all means, find a way to fit the five minutes of practice around the ball playing!
Going forward.
Of course, all children are unique individuals. You will need to be the monitor to determine how much practice time is right for your child. If your child starts off with the Five Minute Practice and is learning and progressing at a even pace, well done! If your child appears to be struggling at their lesson, it may be they will need a bit more time. Some children will want to practice longer because they are enjoying it so much. Take the time to talk to your child, and make sure they are comfortable with the amount of time you have set aside for their lesson. Practice is a process, and you and your child will be able to fine tune it as you go along. The most important thing is for your child to enjoy playing the guitar. Music should be fun!
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