Over the last 10 years as an educator, one of the biggest misconceptions I’ve heard from parents of my young students, is that because they aren’t musically trained or knowledgeable, they can’t be hands-on in their child’s practice or musical progress.
But the truth is, some of the most helpful ways to support your young musician don’t require any musical background at all. In fact, sometimes having a musical background can actually make it harder to provide the kind of support that really helps your child grow… but that’s a conversation for another time!
In this post, I’m sharing simple, realistic, and actionable ways any parent can stay meaningfully involved in their child’s music practice. These strategies come from years of trial and error and take into account feedback from parents, guardians, educators, and students. Adding them to your daily routine will help your young musician build accountability, gain confidence, and develop a genuine love for music over time.
Why Support Matters, Even if You’re Not a Musician
You’re not your child’s music teacher, trust me when I say and that’s a GOOD thing. Your role isn’t to correct every note, turn practice into a lesson, or anything like that. In this situation, the role you play lies in creating a positive, encouraging environment, both emotionally and physically, where your child can feel motivated and proud of their progress.
That being said, the bottom line is that involvement is one of the biggest factors in a child’s success and enjoyment with music. Countless peer reviewed studies have been done on this topic, and even if they haven’t, I can say from personal and professional experience that your encouragement and patience matter more than you think.
5 Ways to Support Musical Practice
1. Set a Realistic, Consistent Practice Goal
Work together to pick a regular practice time that fits naturally into your child’s day. Short, daily sessions, even just 10-15 minutes, are often more effective than occasional long ones. Let your child help decide the schedule to build ownership.
Pro tip: A simple way to start is one minute of practice per year of age each day. Encourage more if they want, but avoid pressure.
2. Keep Practice Positive and Enjoyable
Mix assigned pieces with music your child loves. Offer to sit quietly with them if they want company, or give them space if they prefer. Supporting their independence is key.
3. Organize the Practice Space and Materials
Help create a tidy, dedicated spot with instruments and materials easy to reach. Keeping things organized helps your child focus and take responsibility for their learning.
4. Review Lesson Goals and Celebrate Effort
Take a few minutes each week to look over teacher notes together. Ask open questions like, “What’s your teacher asking you to work on?” or “What was tricky this week?” Praise effort and persistence more than perfection to keep motivation strong.
5. Connect Music to Everyday Life
Make music a shared experience—listen to performances, explore new genres, or try music apps and games together. This helps your child see music as fun and part of life, not just practice time.
Concluding Thoughts
You don’t need to be a musician to be a powerful support in your child’s musical journey. By offering encouragement, respecting their independence, and helping create structure, you’re laying the foundation for their confidence and love of music.
Some days they’ll want you close; other days they’ll want space. But regardless, your support, love, and belief in them will be the biggest key to their musical success.
Please feel free to check out the resources below for checklists, and graphic reminders of these 5 strategies.
See you next post!
Jennifer E. Walls 
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