Most young students really should not work alone. The most important contribution a parent can make is to sit with the child while they are practicing for at least 10 minutes of practice time. By doing this, real progress and the benefits of lessons be evident.

Do not have the TV on or any other sound source in the background when your child is practicing.

Be genuinely interested in what's going on with their lessons. Find out how your child plans to be ready for the next lesson.

Give encouragement and praise.

Be alert to pressures at school, perhaps through exams, and make sure they know that their music can take a back seat for a while. Inform the teacher when you feel there should be a lessening in their expectation of progress.

Encourage your child to make up their own songs or to compose their own music. Try taping some of this.

Organize. Help your child build a plan for getting everything done. Children are generally not able to structure a practice session on their own.

Praise and enthuse about each achievement, not always to the child, but often within earshot of the child where it will have its greatest credibility.

As your child becomes independent in practicing, continue to support and to feel that the excitement surrounding their progress is being shared.

In today's culture of instant gratification, the long-term undertaking of learning a musical instrument or developing the voice must be based on “delayed gratification”.