I often hear from parents that they want to stop music lessons because their child doesn't practice. I want to say, "would you stop school because they don't want to do homework?"  When the alternative is a Gameboy or Suite Life of Zach and Cody, who would want to practice...or do homework for that matter? With homework, we chase our kids around the house trying to get them to focus on their schoolwork.   Is it so uncommon that we have to do this for music practice too?   I have news for you - no, its not.  Coming from a mother of three music students, my kids don't race into the house shouting..."I can't wait to practice" - few children do. Does this mean its not worth the effort to keep nudging them toward the instruments? 

Children must learn how to do homework. They must learn how to study.  Parents play an integral role in teaching these skills.  The same is true with practicing an instrument.  The process of what to do doesn't magically appear in their brains.  They have to learn it through instruction with their teacher and encouragement as well as follow up from home.  One wonderful day, a child will figure out how to learn on their own.  They begin to understand how to apply themselves and how to follow a process.  In my experience, this starts to occur around 5th - 6th grades.  So, what to do in the meantime?  

Well, if music is important to you and you believe all the research that shows how musical training helps children in so many aspects of their lives....you stick to being the nagging parent.  Don't let them give up. Its OK if they don't practice every day.  The #1 thing you can do to help is sit with them when they practice. Show interest.  Praise them when they do well.  Ask them to explain what they are learning.  Sending them off to a room on their own defies what we expect them to do with their homework.  Remember, they are learners in training first and musicians second.  We parents have a critical role in this process - and it is to not give up!