Practice Baggage: Unpacking the Myths (So You Can Unpack the Guilt)

  Parents, let’s be real: we’ve all seen those Hollywood montages of intense, nose-to-the-grindstone practice, complete with blood, sweat, and (for some reason) epic background music. But here’s the truth: that’s not how it goes in our studio! We’re here to lighten the load—especially the dreaded “practice baggage” weighing you down. And yes, we can almost see that voice in your head whispering, “But aren’t they supposed to be practicing constantly at home?”

  Well, let us set you free: Nope! Seriously. Here, we do the heavy lifting in the lesson itself. That’s right—90% of the necessary repetition, polishing, and perfection of each song happens right under our roof. Any piece we’ve marked “complete” is teacher-approved and ready to move on. Still, weeks later, we often hear: “My child won’t practice at home!” And to that we say, hmm, could it be because…we told them not to?

  Yes, we know it’s hard to shake off centuries of “daily practice makes perfect” conditioning. This mindset is a relic from when pianos were unreasonably gigantic, heavy pieces of furniture and kids practiced out of sheer fear of their Victorian piano teachers. But music has changed, and so has learning! We’re all about a healthy mix: balancing practice with fresh, sight-reading exercises. Push too hard on one of those skills, and the other starts to fade…and so does musical fluency.

  Now, here’s our little caveat: if you notice your child never wants to play—not even their favorite songs for fun—there may be something we need to address. Sometimes kids can slip by us for a while, relying on ear or memory instead of reading music. When that happens, more repetition isn’t the solution; instead, we’ll build up the missing part of their music-reading foundation.

  The only time we’ll ask for a bit more practice is for a performance piece, like a recital or special event. That’s different from the regular lesson songs and exercises we cover in class ("performing", like on-sight reading and practicing, is a separate skill...but more on that another time). In those cases, a little at-home polish is helpful, but even then, we’ll keep it reasonable!

  The best part of lightening up on home practice? Our approach, with its emphasis on sight-reading and balanced learning, actually leads to better results and faster progress. Building strong sight-reading skills opens up a world of music, allowing students to pick up new pieces with ease and confidence. 
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  So, can we all just let go of the practice guilt? Let’s keep it light, keep it fun, and avoid the need to transform your home into a conservatory. Music and lessons should be something they enjoy, not endure. So next time you think, “They aren’t practicing at home,” remember—that’s just the “practice baggage” talking. Let it go, and let’s make room for joy in the music! 🎶