There’s No Shortcut to Musical Growth, Don’t Let “Respect” Become a Free Pass

Have you ever wondered why practicing for less than 30 minutes a day often doesn’t lead to real progress?

Let’s break it down:

If a student only practices twice a week, and each session is under 30 minutes, that adds up to just 52 hours in a whole year. That’s barely two full days of total practice time! Saying your child has “studied piano for a year” under these conditions is misleading, it’s more accurate to say they’ve dabbled for 52 hours.

Muscle memory, which is essential for learning piano, requires consistency and repetition. Studies show that it takes at least 60 minutes of focused repetition for an action to settle into muscle memory, and that memory typically lasts about 72 hours. So if you don’t revisit that skill within three days, you’ll start from scratch again.

In other words, inconsistent short practice sessions over a year will bring minimal, if any, real growth.

When “Respecting” Becomes “Obeying”

Modern parenting has increasingly emphasized respecting a child’s preferences and individuality, a beautiful and important step forward. But somewhere along the way, the concept of “respect” has become distorted.

Too often, “respect” turns into compliance.

A child says, “I don’t want to play piano anymore,” and within weeks, the family is listing the brand-new piano for sale.

But think about this, how many things in life are “fun” or “easy” right away?

If we let kids quit the moment they hit a challenge, aren’t we teaching them that success comes without effort?

“I Don’t Like It” Often Means “I’m Struggling”

When a child says they don’t like piano, have you paused to ask why?

Here are the most common reasons:

• It gets in the way of playtime.
• They want total freedom and don’t like being told what to do.
• It requires mental and physical effort.
• They feel intimidated by something unfamiliar.

In reality, the first three reasons reflect basic human nature, we all tend toward what’s easy and comfortable, not just children. And the last reason, fear of the unknown, is exactly why we need to encourage kids, not let them give up.

Saying “It’s okay, let’s just drop it if you don’t like it” may feel kind in the moment, but it misses the bigger picture. It skips over the deeper values of perseverance, growth, and courage.

Children will naturally resist and hesitate sometimes. That’s normal. But adults have a responsibility to gently guide and encourage, not to give up on them.

Piano Isn’t Just for the Gifted, It’s for the Dedicated

Whether your child pursues piano professionally or recreationally, the foundation of learning is the same: time, effort, and consistency. There’s no magic trick, and no substitute for showing up and doing the work.

Not every student needs to become a concert pianist. But every student deserves the chance to discover their potential through steady learning and a bit of encouragement from the adults who believe in them.