Over the break I purchased James Clear’s new book, “Atomic Habits”. I’ve been “reading” it in audio format which has been nice. I had to drive to Dallas for a meeting and had James Clear teaching me his wonderful habit lessons the entire trip.
Some of the things he talked about in the book caused me to think of you guys and how we can help our piano kids have more successful practice sessions at home.
This may be a little corny but I’ve mapped it out using performance lingo. Today we’ll talk about Setting the Stage, Knowing Your Cue, Making Music, and finally Taking a Bow.
Set the Stage
One thing James Clear mentions in his book about building new habits is to make them obvious. What does this look like for piano practice?
- Make sure the piano is easily accessible. Don’t store a keyboard under the bed which has to be pulled out and setup every time you practice
- Place your books on the music rack as soon as you get home from your lesson. (In fact, have your piano kid review their assignment and play their pieces as soon as you get home. This will improve their retention massively as we discussed in PPP10: The First 24 Hours.
James Clear says to break old or bad habits you should make them invisible. If your piano kid’s piano books stay in their music bag all week, no wonder they don’t remember to practice! Seeing their books on the piano is an open invitation for them to come practice.
Know Your Cue
In this book and in his other writings, James Clear mentions habit stacking. This is the idea of connecting a new habit with something that is already part of your routine. I started this recently by doing squats in my closet when I’m getting dressed. Generally, I put my pants on every day but now that action triggers a second action. Standing in my closet now sparks my brain to do a few squats. (Trust me, you’d much prefer I do that sort of thing in the innermost part of my home than in a more visible location!) How can you work this into piano practice?
- I’ve told you before that my practice time was while my mother was cooking our evening meal. Certain sounds of pots and pans still make my brain light up and gives me the urge to go play the piano.Maybe this time will work in your home.
- Maybe your piano kid could connect practice with coming home from school. Come home, grab some water and a snack, go practice and re-energize your brain, then tackle homework.
- The truth of the matter is YOU may have to attach your piano kid’s home practice to one of your habits. Most likely you are the one reminding your younger child to go practice so connect that reminder with something you already do. Watch “Wheel of Fortune” at 6:30 then remind your child to practice when the episode is done.
- Set an alarm on your phone.
- You might tell your child, “Dad’s going to be home from work at 6:00. Go get your practicing started at 5:30 so you can show him your progress when he gets here. Also, you can stop when he gets home.”
Just this morning I got home from driving my daughter, Tracy to school and I noticed my neighbor had their recycling can down by the road for pickup. That reminded me to take mine to the road too. One action sparked another action.
Make Music
James calls this point “Make It Easy”. He says if you’re trying to start a new habit of exercise, don’t start off telling yourself you’re going to go running for an hour every day. You’re setting yourself up to be disappointed. He says start with the goal of putting on your running shoes and stepping out the door. Call that a success for the day. As you continue, you can choose to increase your activity and build up to your ultimate exercise goal. Don’t try to start at the goal from the beginning.
You’ve heard me talk before how studying piano is a constant uphill climb to learn new songs that get progressively more difficult. How can we make piano practice easy?
- Have your piano kid start with a piece they’ve mastered and enjoy playing.
- Maybe your piano kid would do better to end with a piece they can play really well.
- Practice only part of the assignment. Each week I give my students several things to work on. I don’t expect them to play everything every single day. I give them several things to work on so they have options. If they don’t want to work on a certain piece one day, skip it and try something else. My hope is that over the course of the week they will give attention to most everything in their assignment.
- Practice only part of a song/piece. Pinpoint a tricky bit in one of your pieces and devote some quality practice time to training your fingers to play that part. Tomorrow rehearse that old tricky bit and pinpoint a new spot to focus your attention.
Take a Bow
The last thing I want to share with you from the book, “Atomic Habits” is the idea of rewarding yourself along the way. He says the problem with bad habits is they give us instant gratification and the problem with good habits is they often delay gratification. James Clear recommends making the habit satisfying.
Spending: I can spend $20 now and buy that new purse I just saw or I can save that $20 and put it toward the NCKP conference I’m planning to attend later this year. Happy now or happy later??
Healthy living: I can eat that gooey donut now or I can go running. Sugar rush now or lighter scale later??
School work: I can binge Netflix now and procrastinate studying my notes or I can pace myself by studying a little each day so I will be ready for the final exam. Binge now or flying colors later??
Learning to play the piano is a long term venture. It’s difficult for students to have instant gratification when every completed piece is met with a newer and harder piece to tackle. Make piano practice satisfying by connecting it to an immediate reward.
- 30 minutes of piano time = 30 minutes of screen time
- Put a sticker on a chore chart (this can be rewarding to older students as well as the babies…..did you look forward to getting your “I Voted” sticker last November?)
- Do a victory dance!!
Find some way of declaring the end of that practice session and celebrate the success of being at the piano.
How will you help your piano kid build practice habits?
How can you make piano practice obvious?
Can you think of parts of your existing routine to which you could attach piano practice?
How can you make piano practice easy and musical?
How will you and your piano kid celebrate the end of each practice session?
Share your ideas in the comment section below. Other piano parents would love to hear what works in your home!
Thanks for listening!
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