How to set practice goals for the new year
Welcome to the new educational year! If you’re a parent in Western Australia, chances are your children are heading back to school, making it the perfect time to establish new music practice goals. Whether your child is just starting out or already on their musical journey, setting thoughtful goals can help them thrive.
Drawing on the "Practice Pro" concept by Nicola Cantan, a renowned piano teacher, let’s explore four levels of practice and how you can help your child progress through them. Each level has unique challenges and opportunities, so we’ll outline actionable steps and goals tailored to each stage.
Level 1: Little to No Practice
At this stage, practice is either non-existent or happens very infrequently. Common obstacles include:
Procrastination
Forgetfulness
Resistance to practice
Lack of clear expectations
If your child is in this phase, the key to improvement is communication and routine. Set clear practice expectations and create a consistent schedule. For instance, your goal might be: “Practice three days a week for 10 minutes each day.” Parental involvement is essential at this stage to provide encouragement and accountability.
Moving out of Level 1 is often the hardest because it requires overcoming resistance. However, achieving regular practice is a tremendous milestone and will lay the foundation for future progress.
Level 2: Regular Practice
At Level 2, practice becomes a regular habit. Children recognize the expectation and often experience the joy of improvement. However, their practice might still lack focus and strategy. They may:
Mindlessly repeating pieces
Avoiding challenging sections
Sticking to familiar, comfortable material
To transition to the next level, encourage your child to set specific, measurable goals for their practice sessions. For example:
“Play this piece at 80 bpm without mistakes.”
“Master the first two lines of the new piece by the end of the week.”
Help your child learn new practice strategies, such as isolating tricky sections or using a metronome. Ask their teacher to recommend strategies that align with their current pieces and skills. By making practice more intentional, they’ll experience faster progress.
Level 3: Varied and Thoughtful Practice
At this level, students begin to:
Use specific strategies to improve their playing
Understand the purpose behind their practice
Target specific areas for improvement
However, practice sessions at this stage might still lack consistent planning. Progress is often driven by a general sense of what needs improvement rather than a deliberate plan.
The goal for this level is to introduce planning into practice. Encourage your child to set objectives before starting a session. For example:
“Today, I will focus on dynamics in the second section.”
“I will practice scales for 10 minutes, ensuring even tempo and finger placement.”
By planning their practice in advance, your child can make their sessions more productive and rewarding.
Level 4: Deliberate, Focused, and Planned Practice
Level 4 represents the pinnacle of effective practice. At this stage, students:
Create a clear plan before each session
Focus on specific goals
Use strategies that maximize efficiency
For example, when learning a new piece, a student might:
Play it slowly 10 times to master notes and rhythm.
Use a metronome to gradually increase speed.
Revisit tricky sections multiple times throughout the day rather than cramming all practice into one session.
Deliberate practice shifts the focus from “how long” to “how effectively” one practices. Even short sessions can yield significant results when they are intentional and goal-oriented.
Start Your Journey Today
You can’t jump from Level 1 to Level 4 overnight, but every small step counts. If your child is just beginning, focus on building a regular routine. If they already practice regularly, introduce new strategies and planning techniques. Every improvement helps build confidence and a sense of accomplishment.
What level is your child at, and what practice goals will you set for this year? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or via email—we’d love to hear your feedback and support your journey!
Here’s to a year filled with progress and musical growth!
