Why Music Lessons That Rely on Home Practice Don’t Work

You read it correctly.  I've been a music school owner and educator for over 35 years, and the honest truth is: Music lessons that rely on home practice simply don't work. I get a lot of pushback on this from teachers, parents. But, based on my experience as a young student, college music student, music teacher, and music business owner -- I'm holding firm.

Recently, I received a message from a parent who said her daughter had stopped piano lessons. The child wasn’t practicing at home, had quickly lost motivation, and finally announced she didn’t want to continue. The parent was discouraged, and understandably so — she had assumed, as most parents do, that the value of lessons depended on whether her child practiced at home.

This story isn’t unusual. It happens all the time. And honestly, it’s not anyone’s fault. The truth is, the traditional private lesson model is built on an unrealistic expectation: that a child in a busy family will suddenly take full responsibility for practicing daily, independently, and toward mastery. Think about it — when have we ever asked kids to do that in any other activity?

• In dance, gymnastics, martial arts, and swimming, students make progress during class. Coaches and teachers monitor every step, so kids build correct habits while staying motivated. Sure, some kids practice at home — but nobody suggests the entire success of the activity depends on it.
• In music, though, the old model expects parents to become the “practice police,” teachers to fill lesson time with review because the student isn’t ready for new music, and kids to somehow navigate frustration with difficult pieces alone. It’s no wonder so many students quit.

This cycle is repeated so often that it has become predictable:

1. A child starts lessons and enjoys the “honeymoon period.”
2. Practice battles begin at home, reading skills lag, and lessons slow down.
3. Parents feel guilty about paying for lessons when practice isn’t happening.
4. The inevitable email arrives: “We’re going to stop lessons. She just isn’t practicing at home.”
5. Alternate email: "We just don't have time to put in the necessary practice, so we're stopping lessons."

Sound familiar?
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As the saying goes: the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting different results. Why are we still doing lessons this way?

Getting parents on board with this idea isn’t always easy — and that’s understandable. After decades (really, centuries) of traditional practice-reliant lessons, it can feel strange to imagine progress without homework. But that’s exactly what makes our program different: by shifting the focus to progress in the lesson itself, students thrive without the stress and parents see real results without battles at home.

What If Lessons Looked Different?

Imagine a lesson where:

• Students come in and make visible progress every week, right in class (getting what you're paying tuition for...imagine!).
• Parents don’t have to nag about practice at home.
• Teachers don’t spend time re-teaching old pieces, but instead guide students toward fluency and independence, and focus on what truly motivates each individual child.
• Kids leave lessons feeling confident, motivated, and excited to explore music — without the pressure of “getting it perfect” on their own at home.

That’s not just wishful thinking. It’s exactly what we do here.

At The Music Studio, we’ve left behind the old practice-reliant model. Instead, our program is designed so that progress happens during the lesson itself. Students build strong sightreading skills, pass multiple songs per class, and gradually become musically fluent — able to sit down and play new music the same way they would open a new book to read. At home, they’re encouraged to enjoy playing, share songs with family, and explore — but the core of progress happens here, in class.

We’re not perfect, but we’ve abandoned the unrealistic idea that kids can (or should) be held to the standards of a Juilliard graduate when they’re just starting out. Music is for everyone — and it should feel like progress, not punishment.

So, if you’ve ever felt like lessons were “wasted” because your child didn’t practice, you’re not alone. The problem isn’t your child, or even a busy schedule. The problem is the model. And we’re here to offer something better.  Something that gets results and lasts. Try out a lesson with us - we'll give you and your child a true account of what our program is like (no pressure) so you can see for yourself if it's a good fit. We're certain you'll immediately see how it works and that lessons can feel fun, easy, be without limit, and last a lifetime.

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