How to practice with your child at home?

Is your child struggling to focus during practice? Maybe they’re just missing one key ingredient—your presence.

In my 9 years of teaching, I’ve worked with students and families of all kinds. One thing stands out: kids who practice with a parent by their side often progress faster, have a better attitude toward learning, and make the most of their practice time! Today, I’d love to share a few simple and effective ways you can support your child’s music practice at home:

1. Set a Regular Practice Time & Create a Ritual

Most kids don’t actually dislike practicing—they dislike being asked to do it at random. Try setting a consistent time each day (for example, 7:00–7:30 PM after dinner). Start with a light warm-up like open strings or scales before moving into the day’s assignments.

A consistent schedule + a clear beginning and end = much easier to stick with!

2. Use a Practice Journal as a Growth Tracker

Write down what was practiced, for how long, and which goals from the teacher were covered. Let your child check things off or use stickers to mark their progress—it’s a great way to build a sense of achievement.

I also offer my students a custom practice log template to help track progress and adjust focus areas as needed.

3. Not a Music Expert? Just Use Your Phone

If your child gets stuck and isn’t sure what went wrong, simply take a short video and send it to the teacher. It’s far more helpful than saying “I don’t get it,” and allows the teacher to give much more targeted feedback in the next lesson.

4. Be a Supporter, Not a Supervisor

Practicing an instrument takes focus and patience—two things kids are still developing. It’s completely normal for them to have ups and downs. When things get tough, try a little “reset”: deep breaths, a sip of water, or a short game to lighten the mood.

Sometimes, saying “I can see you’re really trying” is way more powerful than “You played it wrong again.”

When you choose to be present, your child won’t feel like they’re practicing alone.

Want to be a guiding light on your child’s musical journey?

Find me on Facebook: @Lily Zhu Violinist, and DM me to connect with other like-minded parents, exchange tips and resources, and support each other in helping our kids grow—together!!