Creating a Music Space Your Child Actually Wants to Use

If you've ever walked into one of our locations at The Music Studio Atlanta, you've probably noticed that we don't want our studios to feel like tiny, sterile practice boxes. We want them to feel happy, comfortable, creative, and musical.

There's a reason for that!

Your surroundings affect how you feel—and when you're asking a child to spend time practicing something that can occasionally be challenging, it certainly doesn't hurt if the space feels like somewhere they actually want to be! The same idea applies at home.

And before anyone starts mentally planning a $12,000 music-room renovation, let me reassure you:

Your child does not need a Pinterest-worthy music studio to practice well. 😉 They just need a comfortable, inviting place where making music feels natural.

Don't Hide the Instrument!

This may be my biggest piece of advice. If you’ve read my book, there’s a whole chapter devoted to this subject. Let me sum it up for you though: If possible, put the instrument somewhere your child will see it and walk past it.

I've seen beautiful pianos tucked away in formal living rooms that nobody enters unless company is coming. I've seen guitars zipped into cases and stored in closets. And then we wonder why nobody thinks to play them!

There's something to be said for making music visible.

A piano in a family room gets walked past. A guitar on a safe stand near the kitchen gets noticed. A child sits down "just for a second" to play something while hanging out with Mom...and ten minutes later they're still there.

Obviously, some instruments need to be stored carefully, and your teacher can help you determine what's appropriate. But whenever possible, make music part of the environment rather than something that has to be unpacked and assembled every single time. The easier it is to see, the more likely kids are to start.

Create a Space That Feels Good

Think about the lesson rooms we have here at TMSA. They're functional, of course, but we also want students to walk into them and feel comfortable. You can create that same feeling at home without doing anything elaborate.

Good lighting matters. A comfortable bench or chair matters. A sturdy music stand at the correct height matters.

Even a few personal touches can make the space feel special—a favorite music poster, framed recital photo, Musical Stripes achievements, or something that reminds your child, "This is my music spot."

It doesn't have to look professional, it just needs to feel inviting.

Keep Everything Within Reach

Nothing derails a 15-minute practice session quite like spending the first seven minutes looking for the music book.

"Mom! Where's my book?"

"I don't know! Where did you put it?"

And we're off. 😂

Try keeping everything your child regularly needs in one place:

• Music books and sheet music
• Pencils
• Metronome or tuner
• Instrument accessories
• Cleaning cloth or supplies
• Assignment book or practice notes

A basket, shelf, drawer, or small cart works beautifully. Again, we're simply removing obstacles.

If sitting down to practice requires locating six different things in four rooms of the house, you've made practicing much harder than it needs to be.

A Little Distraction Is Fine. Total Chaos...Maybe Not.

Your child's practice area doesn't need to be completely silent.  In fact, for younger students, I often like the idea of music happening near family life. It lets parents hear what's going on, offer encouragement, and make music feel like a normal part of the household.

But there's a difference between family life happening nearby and trying to practice while the television is blaring, a sibling is playing a video game three feet away, and the dog has decided this is the perfect moment to demand a walk. Try to find a happy medium.

Your child should be able to concentrate, but they don't necessarily need to be banished to the farthest corner of the house to do it. And NEVER in the basement!  Basements are scary, sometimes.

Take Care of the Instrument, Too

Instruments can be surprisingly sensitive little creatures. Extreme temperatures and humidity aren't great for many instruments, particularly those made of wood. So the garage, screened porch, attic, or room that turns into Atlanta's version of the Sahara every afternoon probably isn't your best choice.

Keep instruments indoors in a reasonably stable environment, away from extreme heat, cold, and direct sunlight. Your teacher can also give you specific advice for caring for your child's particular instrument.

Make the Space Reflect Your Musician

This is something we have a lot of fun with at The Music Studio Atlanta. We want students to feel like music belongs to them. Your child's practice area can do the same thing.

Maybe they display a recital photo. Maybe there's a picture of their favorite artist or composer. Maybe they keep their stole with achievement pins or Musical Stripes Goal Sheet nearby.

Maybe your teenager wants absolutely none of that and simply wants a clean corner, a guitar, an amp, and for everyone else to please leave the room.  Haha, that's okay too. The point isn't decorating, the point is ownership.

The Best Practice Space Is the One That Gets Used

You can have the most beautiful music room in Atlanta, but if nobody wants to go into it, it isn't doing much good. I'd much rather see a keyboard in the corner of a busy family room that gets played every day than a grand piano sitting untouched in a perfectly decorated room.

At The Music Studio Atlanta, we've worked hard to create locations where students feel comfortable learning, experimenting, making mistakes, trying again, and ultimately making music, and you can borrow that same philosophy at home.

Make the instrument easy to access, keep supplies nearby, and give your child a comfortable setup with a little personality. And most importantly, let music become a normal part of your family's home, rather than something that only happens during lesson time.

Because sometimes the best practice doesn't begin with: "Go practice!"

Sometimes it begins because a child walks past their instrument and thinks: "I want to play that song again."

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