A Parent's Guide to a Successful Year of Music Lessons: Faculty Tips
August 17th, 2026
Whether you have a child who is starting music lessons for the first time or returning for another year, it's common for parents to have questions about setting their child up for a successful and rewarding year of learning.
We asked MIC faculty to share their advice on the routines and habits that help children thrive, how parents can support their child’s musical growth at home, and how their role evolves as their child grows as a musician.
Dr. Soo Young Lee | Piano & Chamber Music Faculty
The most important thing is to carve out a consistent practice time each day. Whether it is 30, 60, or 90 minutes, having a regular time during the week helps practice become a natural habit rather than something a child has to be reminded to do. Consistency is much more important than simply practicing for long hours occasionally.
I also encourage families to make music part of their lives beyond the practice room. Try to attend at least one classical concert each semester—whether it is an opera, symphony, or chamber music concert—or have a family “watch party” at home through YouTube or a reputable classical music streaming platform. Experiencing live and professional performances helps students develop their musical imagination and understand why they practice.
I encourage students to perform regularly, not only at their studio recital. With their teacher’s guidance, students can look for opportunities to perform at least once a month, even in small or informal settings and at different venues. Regular performance experiences build confidence, motivation, and the ability to communicate music to others.
Ultimately, parents do not need to become their child’s music teacher. Their most important role is to create a supportive environment, establish healthy routines, and help their child discover the joy of making and experiencing music.
Dr. Dorothy Jean Lloyd | Voice Faculty
Lessons
Find a time that you can keep regularly for your lesson.
Schedule time around the lesson so there is time to digest the experience; sometimes students rush from one thing to the next and can't always absorb the lessons of their musical studies.
Find short regular times for practice. 15 - 20 minutes regularly (daily) can be more effective than 1 long session right before the next lesson. When performances are goals - think of tapering (put in a lot of work up front.)
Set a goal for yourself. Sometimes it is a piece you want to learn, a performance, or a competition, but you can develop both short-term and long-term goals.
Parents need to be supportive
Lessons serve a purpose. They develop the skill of learning the instrument of choice in addition to the role of becoming a musician (this is a very necessary step - learning how to read music, hear yourself in relationship to the demands of a score, and developing the curiosity to 'understand' the music).
Lessons should develop self-confidence.
Lessons should fulfill a goal, even when the student doesn't feel up to the lesson, or feel like they just hadn't had their best lesson; they understand the goal, and persevere.
Parents are more hands-on in the beginning, and slowly fade in-person support over time, when the student can maintain their best habits, develop skill, and build the foundation of creating their own unique relationship to the art of playing and being a musician.
Demonstrate to your student the importance of music in your life...
Listen to performances of pieces they're learning. Have them hear professional or advanced musicians play the same pieces. This inspires and shows what is possible.
Attend live concerts together. Even short community performances help your child see music as a living, breathing art form.
Play duets or ensemble music. Encourage participation in group classes, ensembles, or informal duets with family members. This makes music social and fun.
Explore the composer. Learn about the composer of pieces your child is studying. Understanding the historical context and composer's life enriches the experience.
Sarah Montzka | Violin & Viola Faculty (Suzuki); Associate Director Barston Suzuki Center
Suzuki Education is built on the "Suzuki Triangle": parent, teacher, and child working together for the musical and personal growth of the whole child. The parent stays deeply involved throughout, but their role evolves; from full practice partner and home teacher, to supportive consultant, to chief cheerleader.
Whatever path our young musicians choose, we want them to grow into confident, capable learners. We're building skills like independence, perseverance, artistic agency, and teamwork. And parent and teacher work hand-in-hand to give more responsibility to the student as they are ready. A five-year-old's parent takes the lesson notes. By 9, the student is chiming in, asking their parent to jot down a reminder. By 12, the teacher coaches basic note-taking skills. By graduation, they've built their own system for capturing what they learn. . . no coaching required!
And it’s not always a parent in the practice-partner seat. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members fill this role beautifully too. What matters most is a nurturing musical environment, consistent practice, and enthusiastic support from the "home team"!
David Onderdonk | Guitar and Ukulele Faculty
I think that children need help in structuring their practice routine. The parent can first check in with the teacher as to what the objectives are for each piece or exercise.
Setting aside a time for practice and in the beginning, sitting down with the child during practice to help navigate the material at hand. I encourage students to take responsibility for their own progress.
Parents can gradually start letting the child develop that responsibility by letting them practice on their own, but still ask them questions about their progress. Perhaps asking them to play for them at a certain time of the week before the next lesson. If so inclined, the parent can also help locating recordings or other resources that would help the child with their progress.
Looking for more ways to support your child’s musical journey?
Explore our collection of resources and guides for helpful tips and insights for musicians and their families.
