Reshmi Patel • August 2, 2021
How We Can Structure Our Piano Practice Sessions
Once of the most common questions we hear piano students asking is: ‘how do I structure my practice?’ or ‘how do I practice this part of my piece or exercise?’
What students could you practice?
1. Areas you find difficult – your teacher or mentor may have already mentioned this in your last lesson.
2. Areas which you don’t feel confident in just yet.
3. Sections where you are stopping – this often happens in between bars or octave jumps in a piece or exercise.
At times, you will want to do a full run-through of your piece to help you figure out how far you have progressed, and that is understandable! However, that should not happen every single practice session.
How you could experiment with your practice
1. Record yourself
Sometimes when we play the piano, we have several different areas to focus on such as the rhythm, timing, hand changes, dynamic variations and the list goes on. A useful technique we recommend to students is to record themselves practicing the area they have been struggling on and then listen back to hear the changes for themselves. This also helps improve the student’s self-awareness and therefore spot errors faster going forwards.
2. Practice hands separately
Even if you have started playing a piece hands together it can be beneficial to separate the hands. It may be that your right-hand is faster than your left-hand or the rhythms are more complex in the right-hand.
3. Play the music in a different rhythm
Often when we are trying to learn tricky rhythms, we can begin to feel frustrated. A common method we use if a student is struggling is to exaggerate the longer notes and the shorter notes in a bar. For example, if we have a a crotchet (a one count note) we may play this as a quaver (a half count note) and if we have a minim (a two-count note) we may play this as a semibreve (a four-count note). Then over time we practice returning these rhythms back to normal.
Remember that when you are trying out these hacks to look at them little and often but also be patient with yourself. If you wish to know more about these hacks and resources, feel free to look around our website or connect with us directly!
From the outside, piano lessons can look simple: a weekly session, a teacher, and some practice at home. But what parents are really investing in extends far beyond those visible moments. Here’s what piano lessons include even when it’s happening quietly in the background. Ongoing Professional Thought Each lesson is shaped by more than the piece being played. Teachers consider: How your child responded last week Their confidence and energy levels What pace suits them right now Lessons are adjusted continuously and not delivered on autopilot. Long-Term Progress Planning Progress isn’t just about moving forward in a book. It includes: Developing independence Building coordination and listening skills Learning how to practise effectively Strong foundations now prevent frustration later. Emotional Guidance as Part of Learning Children learn through various approaches, depending on the child. High-quality teaching includes: Encouraging effort over perfection Normalising mistakes Supporting confidence during “wobbly” phases This emotional guidance often determines whether children continue learning long-term. Support Beyond the Lesson Behind each lesson is: Teacher reflection Professional discussion Oversight from the wider teaching team This ensures consistency and continuity even as children grow, change, or go through busy school periods. Why This Matters When you invest in piano lessons, you’re investing in: Stability Thoughtful teaching Long-term development What you don’t always see is often what protects progress the most. If you have any questions feel free to reach out and ask us!
If you’ve ever had this thought, you’re not alone. Many parents tell us the same thing: “I want to support my child’s piano learning, but I don’t read music and I don’t play the piano so I’m not sure what I should be looking for.” Tip One: Notice How They Approach the Piano (Not Just What They Play) Progress doesn’t always sound obvious, especially in the early years. Instead of listening for “perfect notes,” try observing: Do they sit down more calmly and confidently than before? Do they begin playing with less hesitation? Do they seem clearer about where to place their hands? These small changes tell us a lot. They show growing familiarity, comfort, and confidence - foundations that matter far more than speed or difficulty at this stage. When practice feels easier or less emotional than it used to, that is progress. Tip Two: Capture Progress Through “Before vs After” Videos For non-musical parents, videos are one of the clearest ways to see progress over time. How to do it: Record your child playing a short piece or exercise Record the same piece again 5-6 lessons later (or when the teacher says it’s “finished”) You’re not looking for perfection. Instead, notice: Confidence: Are they more willing to start? Independence: Do they find their starting position faster? Flow: Are there fewer stops or restarts? Even small improvements matter especially in the first few years of learning. Keep these videos private. They’re not for comparison with others, they're a reminder of how far your child has come. Tip Three: Ask for One Clear “Checkpoint” to Look Out For Progress doesn’t always mean moving up a level or starting a new book. For younger learners, it often shows up as: Starting a piece without prompting Finding hand position independently Playing through without stopping Feeling confident playing for someone else A helpful question to ask the teacher is: “What’s one thing we should notice improving over the next few lessons?” This gives you clarity, keeps expectations realistic, and helps you support practice at home without pressure. A Reassuring Note for Parents Between ages 6–9, piano progress is often gradual and subtle and that’s exactly how it should be. Confidence, comfort at the keyboard, and smoother transitions are just as important as notes and rhythm. By observing small changes, celebrating milestones, and staying aligned with your child’s teacher, you’re already playing a vital role in their musical journey even if you’ve never played the piano yourself. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out!
If you’ve ever had this thought, you’re not alone. Many parents tell us the same thing: “I want to support my child’s piano learning, but I don’t read music and I don’t play the piano so I’m not sure what I should be looking for.” Tip One: Notice How They Approach the Piano (Not Just What They Play) Progress doesn’t always sound obvious, especially in the early years. Instead of listening for “perfect notes,” try observing: Do they sit down more calmly and confidently than before? Do they begin playing with less hesitation? Do they seem clearer about where to place their hands? These small changes tell us a lot. They show growing familiarity, comfort, and confidence - foundations that matter far more than speed or difficulty at this stage. When practice feels easier or less emotional than it used to, that is progress. Tip Two: Capture Progress Through “Before vs After” Videos For non-musical parents, videos are one of the clearest ways to see progress over time. How to do it: Record your child playing a short piece or exercise Record the same piece again 5-6 lessons later (or when the teacher says it’s “finished”) You’re not looking for perfection. Instead, notice: Confidence: Are they more willing to start? Independence: Do they find their starting position faster? Flow: Are there fewer stops or restarts? Even small improvements matter especially in the first few years of learning. Keep these videos private. They’re not for comparison with others, they're a reminder of how far your child has come. Tip Three: Ask for One Clear “Checkpoint” to Look Out For Progress doesn’t always mean moving up a level or starting a new book. For younger learners, it often shows up as: Starting a piece without prompting Finding hand position independently Playing through without stopping Feeling confident playing for someone else A helpful question to ask the teacher is: “What’s one thing we should notice improving over the next few lessons?” This gives you clarity, keeps expectations realistic, and helps you support practice at home without pressure. A Reassuring Note for Parents Between ages 6–9, piano progress is often gradual and subtle and that’s exactly how it should be. Confidence, comfort at the keyboard, and smoother transitions are just as important as notes and rhythm. By observing small changes, celebrating milestones, and staying aligned with your child’s teacher, you’re already playing a vital role in their musical journey even if you’ve never played the piano yourself. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out!
