It’s easy for a student’s excitement about piano to ebb and flow. Some weeks, they’re eager to sit down and play. Other weeks… well, the piano bench seems to collect more dust than practice time.
The truth is, even the most enthusiastic learners hit periods where progress feels slow or the music feels “too hard.” That’s why having clear, personal piano practice goals can make such a difference. When students know exactly what they’re working toward — in their own words — they have a built-in source of motivation to keep going, even when the initial excitement fades.
Why Goals Matter for Piano Students
When practicing starts to feel like a chore, having something specific to work toward can re-light a student’s spark.
Goals:
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Give students ownership over their progress.
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Provide a sense of direction so practice isn’t “random.”
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Help them remember why they wanted to learn piano in the first place.
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Create a tangible sense of accomplishment when checked off.
Without goals, piano can feel like an endless loop of exercises and songs. With goals, each practice session is a step toward something exciting and meaningful.
The “My Piano Practice Goals” Printable
To help my students (and yours!) stay motivated, I created a brand-new free printable called My Piano Practice Goals.
This simple, kid-friendly sheet encourages students to think about what they want to achieve at the piano, in their own words. It includes prompts like:
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One song I really want to learn is…
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One composer I’d like to learn about is…
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Write a piano practice promise to yourself.
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One skill I really want to improve is…
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One fun thing I’d like to try on the piano is…
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Someone I’d like to play piano for is…
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When I feel like giving up on piano, I will tell myself…
You can download the printable here and fill it out with your child. Post it somewhere near the piano so they see it every day! And be sure to revisit goals and update them accordingly!
Using Goals When Quitting Feels Tempting
Here’s the thing: when your child hits that “I want to quit” wall, you can come back to their practice goals.
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Remind them of the song they were excited to learn.
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Ask about the person they wanted to play for.
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Read their “piano practice promise” aloud together.
These little reminders can be enough to help them re-focus and keep going — even on the hard days.
Final Encouragement for Parents
Piano is a long-term investment, and staying motivated can be tricky. But with consistent encouragement, realistic goals, and a reminder of why they started, your child can learn the joy of pushing through and seeing the payoff.
You may even find that the process of setting and revisiting goals builds not only their piano skills, but also their resilience and self-motivation.
So next time your child is struggling with practice? Pull out the My Piano Practice Goals sheet and help them reconnect with the reason they started.
🎹 Click here to download your free printable now
