Children cannot see the long-term benefits of practicing; they rely on their parents’ support and encouragement to get them through the rough spots. But what if you are just as frustrated as your child and each practice session turns into a power struggle?

At your child’s next practice, sound a positive note by trying the following activities.

Get moving, get the wiggles out, and get the song imbedded in your child’s brain: Listen to recordings of the songs your child is learning. Music-listening is a foundation of the Suzuki method, but is also used widely by professional musicians who listen to several versions of a piece they are preparing. Listen to the songs, march to the beat or dance with the rhythm, then sing the tune before playing. If there is a tough section in the music, sing it to your child and have him sing it back to you. Keep singing it, and having him sing it back until he gets it right. Singing the notes and rhythm correctly is a magic trick for improving your child’s playing.

Shift focus on your own terms: Young children will find anything to focus on other than their music, so get creative and provide yours with a controlled distraction. Keep a box of colored pencils and a special coloring book in the practice area. Each time your child finishes a musical task, ask him to color a small, specific portion of a picture in the book, such as a character’s shirt or the dog’s tail. Have him play another section of music or the next song, then color another part of the picture. This will get him moving and provide a break from focusing. Why colored pencils? There are usually twelve or fewer in a box, and you don’t want your child to spend the whole time choosing a color.

Set up a no-risk audience: Invite all of the dolls and stuffed animals in your house to a special performance by their favorite musician. Your child can line the toys up on the couch while you get out the instrument. Announce the performer with a flourish and have her enter and bow before she begins her practice for the day. When she feels confident with her latest piece, have her perform for the whole family.

A little reward goes a long way: As long as candy is not a daily treat at your house, the lure of twenty M&M’s or jelly beans in a dish can be a big thrill. Start with all twenty or so in the bowl. If your mini-Mozart gets off-task, talks back, or tries to sabotage his practice in some other way, you get to eat one of the treats. Every time. Keep eating them slowly until he settles down. Works like a charm because he gets to eat the ones that are left – if any – at the end of practice. Best of all, you won’t resort to yelling and cajoling.

Repetition reaps rewards: When your young musician is struggling, help her identify a trouble spot, then play “wipe-out!” Place three beads, buttons or small toys on the music stand and have her repeat the troublesome measure or line a minimum of three times. Let her slide one bead from one side of the stand to the other each time she plays it correctly. If she plays it wrong, even the last time – Wipe-out! She has to put all the beads back and start over until she can play it correctly three times in a row. Start with three beads for younger children. Some teachers recommend practicing specific measures up to fifteen times in a row.

Start your child’s music practice with one of these activities, or hold them in reserve for when frustrations are running high. Spread them out and use them sparingly for best results. Whatever games you try, stop practice when your child is having fun and things are going smoothly. Ending at a peaceful moment when your child feels successful creates positive feelings which will carry over into the next day’s practice.

Heather Lee Leap is a freelance writer. She and her husband live with three daughters, a piano, a flute, a coronet, a mandolin, several recorders and two violins.

Are you ready to introduce your child to music? Here are four tips to get you started.

1. Between the ages of 1 and 3, kids respond best to music when they actively experience it. Listening to music passively like in the car is fine, but it is best to make opportunities to get your child swaying, marching, clapping, and moving to the beat.

2. Share songs that go along with simple hand motions or dance moves, like The “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” “Head and Shoulders”, “If You’re Happy and You know It (Clap Your Hands), “The Wheels on the Bus,” or the “Hokey Pokey.” For younger kids, a parent’s lap is a great place to put music and movement together. Have your child face you and be sure to smile as you bounce your knees to chants like “This is the Way the Ladies Ride” or “Open Shut Them.”

3. As for adding instruments, keeping it simple is key. Very young toddlers will enjoy instruments they can shake such as bells, rattles, shakers, tambourines, or rain sticks. As your child gets older and a little more coordinated you can try to incorporate rhythm instruments that can be banged, like drums, cymbals, or xylophones.

4. Use music to help your child make transitions through the day such as when:

• Picking up toys (“clean up, clean up…everybody everywhere” or “bye bye instruments…”)
• Brushing teeth (“brushing, brushing, brushing teeth,” sung to the tune of “London Bridge Is Falling Down”)
• Taking a bath (“Now it’s bath time, now it’s bath time, yes, it is” sung to the tune of “Are You Sleeping”)

Kids’ music can be a bit cheesy and parents may tire of it quickly but there’s no reason why you can’t share your own favorite music with your kids. A toddler who loves Beethoven, The Bee-Gees or Bob Marley? Why not? When you try new music, ask if your child likes it and discuss your opinion as well.

Though most antsy toddlers aren’t usually ready for a night at the symphony, there are live performances suitable for kids. Museums, libraries, and local colleges often host child-friendly events. The Monterey Symphony offers free youth concerts at Sunset Center, the next one is October 16. Outdoor concerts such as The Monterey County Fair (Aug 31-Sept 4), Festa Italia (Sept 8-10) or the Rods on the Wharf (October 28) where kids can run around, sing, dance etc. are also a good bet. My favorite venue is coming up this month, The Monterey Jazz Festival. Sunday, September the 17th is Family Day filled with fun activities such as Percussion Play shop, Instrument Petting Zoo and plenty of jazzy performances all day long!