By Laurie Niles: This week Diana Skinner wrote a lovely tribute to her mother, thanking her for making her practice violin as a child, and that is the inspiration for our Weekend Vote.![mom made me practice]()
"Mom made practicing as natural as eating a healthy breakfast, playing outside, or reading a book. It was simply something you did each day," Skinner wrote.
From the perspective of a mother with grown children, wow, that is one heck of a feat! It is not easy to get your children to practice, and to do it with such grace. From the perspective of a violinist who was once a child, I must say that my mother did not make me practice. Certainly my parents were supportive of my musical endeavors, but practicing was completely up to me and there was no parental enforcement. From the perspective of a teacher -- well it's great when students practice, whether it's motivated by parent, self, or a combination thereof. It certainly helps to have a parent creating an environment for practice. On the other hand, there is nothing that beats self-motivation. Usually, it has to be a combination.
What have your experiences been, when it comes to parents and practice? Did your mother or another relative make you practice the violin or another instrument? And if you are a parent, do you make your children practice? And if you don't fall into these categories (or maybe if you do!), please tell us your thoughts on practicing, and how much parental involvement has seemed to work for you or your kids.
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