How long should a child practice?
A little every day beats a lot once a week. These are common starting points many teachers use; your teacher knows your child and comes first.
| Stage | Minutes a day | Days a week |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 4–6, first year | 5–15, in short bursts | 5–6 |
| Ages 7–9, beginner | 15–25 | 5–6 |
| Ages 10–12 | 20–40 | 5–6 |
| Teens, intermediate | 30–60 | 5–6 |
| Advanced, preparing exams or auditions | 60 or more, in blocks with breaks | 6 |
Why regular beats long
Skills settle between sessions. Twenty focused minutes on five days gives five chances to consolidate; one hundred minutes on Sunday gives one, and the last forty are usually spent tired.
Make the minutes count
- Start with the hardest passage, while attention is fresh.
- Practice small sections slowly until they are right three times in a row, then speed up.
- Finish with something the child enjoys playing.
- For young children, split the time: two ten-minute sessions work better than one of twenty.
Set the goal, then watch it fill up
Shedtime tracks minutes and practice days against a daily goal, keeps a streak, and a parent signs off the week.