Ditching Mediocrity and Pursuing Excellence

If you would like to help your child tap into a level of excellence they haven’t even considered possible, I have some foolproof recommendations that can help you keep your child motivated, successful, and best of all, excited about playing the violin. 

#1 – Understand the Purpose of Practicing

One of the biggest barriers between your child and excellence at the violin is a misunderstanding of what practice is for. If they think that practicing is only a way to accomplish short-term goals, like performing well at their recital, or think that it’s only a tiny part of accomplishing huge future goals, like becoming a world-famous violin player, it is common for them to feel defeated and apathetic if they aren’t making the kind of progress they expect or would hope to see.

Talk with your child on a regular basis about the purpose of practice. Only a proper view of what it means to practice will help your child understand how success should be measured, and it is only then that their fulfillment will come.

#2 – Be Present

The best way to improve the quality of your child’s practice time is to be present for them. If possible, be part of your child’s practice routine, and show interest in what they’re doing.

Remember that you’re not there to enforce things or correct them. You’re there to help them, guide them, and make practice more exciting!

The more your child sees practice time as a fun activity you get to do together, the more practice will grow into something beyond learning an instrument. You are the only one who can foster a positive environment for them, and this approach is a strong predictor of your child’s success. 

#3 – Add Creativity

The best practice sessions are ones that are specifically tailored to your child, and no one knows how to motivate them better than you do! You can work together with your child’s violin teacher to find ways to make practice time more exciting for them. 

A few ideas I recommend are finding sheet music for songs they like, arranging times for them to play with other musicians, and setting up a fun rewards system. Done rightly, these things can help your child feel exhilarated by the act of practicing. When your child sees practice as a flexible, engaging experience rather than a dull repetition of the same old stuff, progress will come naturally.

If you would like more ideas on how to set your child up for success, click HERE, and I’ll send you my free practice strategy guide to help you keep your child motivated!