June 18, 2025

47: How to Talk to Parents About: Practice in Music Lessons

30 minutes

In this episode of the Rock School Proprietor Podcast, hosts John Kozicki (Michigan Rock School and RockSchoolProprietor.com) and Mandy York (Music Time of Milford) dive into a common question faced by music instructors: "How much time should my child spend practicing?" Challenging the conventional wisdom of setting specific practice times, they explore the broader, more complex conversation of engaging parents in music education.

In this episode:

How to navigate parental concerns and expectations without falling into the trap of a transactional practice routine

How to transform discussions about practice into opportunities for deeper understanding

Understanding both parent and student goals can help frame how to approach practice

How to explain the pitfalls of a transactional approach to practice, and how a student simply logging time to fulfill practice requirements can backfire

How offering comparisons with other kids' activities can shine a greater light on music lessons as an enrichment activity rather than a subject to study.

Perfect for instructors seeking to build meaningful relationships with parents and cultivate a long-term passion for music in their students.

Additional episodes related to this topic:

Episode 4: What Counts as Practice - Redefining Practice

Episode 29: Dave Simon | Revisiting the "Practice Problem"

Episode 18: Why Music Lessons are Losing to Sports

And visit our Resources Page on the website for the FREE guide: How to Redefine Practice in Your Music Lesson Business

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Episode Transcript:

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By John Kozicki

99 ratings