I've been teaching piano for almost 20 years, and there's one challenge that never seems to have a straightforward answer: motivation! I have a young student who seems genuinely interested in learning the piano, but struggles to commit to practising between lessons. She'll get excited about learning something new, make a little progress, and then lose interest or give up when things become more challenging. We always try to choose pieces and songs that she actually enjoys and wants to learn, rather than simply following a fixed curriculum. I've also tried breaking things down into smaller, more achievable goals, but keeping that motivation going between lessons is still a struggle. Her mum also takes piano lessons with me, so there's already some musical involvement at home, which makes the situation particularly interesting. I don't want practising to become something she feels pressured into doing, because I think enjoying music is just as important as making progress. But at the same time, without some consistency, it's difficult for her to experience the satisfaction of actually improving. I'm curious how other teachers, parents and learners approach this. Do you think it's better to encourage a consistent practice routine, even if it's just five minutes a day? Or is it sometimes better to let children explore music at their own pace until they develop that motivation themselves? And if you've had a student like this, what actually helped them turn that initial interest into a lasting habit? I'd love to hear what's worked for you, especially approaches that don't rely on rewards or pressure.   submitted by   /u/intohope_piano [link]   [comments]