Piano Practice for Ages 7–10 — Smarter Reps, Not Longer Reps

Once students reach ages 7–10, their attention spans and motor skills allow for longer, more focused practice—but “more minutes” isn’t always better. The secret at this stage is quality over quantity.

The Power of Deliberate Practice

Deliberate practice means choosing one specific goal for each piece—like “keep the left hand smooth in measures 5–6”—and repeating it with focus. Videoing a short section, listening back, and fixing mistakes creates a loop of feedback and improvement. This focused approach leads to faster growth than simply playing through songs over and over.

Mix It Up: Interleaving Practice

Instead of spending 15 minutes in a row on one section (blocked practice), rotate between different tasks:

• Work on rhythm for 3 minutes,

• Switch to dynamics for 3 minutes,

• Play a different song for 3 minutes.

Research shows this “interleaving” technique improves retention and adaptability—yes, even if it feels harder in the moment.

Tools for Success

• Metronome Moments: Use a metronome for 1–2 minutes at the end of a section to build steady timing.

• Progress Cards: Write down specific wins like “Played mm. 9–12 at quarter note = 72 with legato.”

• Split Sessions: Two shorter sessions (10–15 minutes each) can be more effective than one long one.

Sources:

• Ericsson, K. A., Krampe, R. T., & Tesch-Römer, C. (1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review, 100(3), 363–406.

• Taylor, K., & Rohrer, D. (2010). The effects of interleaved practice. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 24(6), 837–848.

• Duke, R. A., & Simmons, A. L. (2006). The nature of expertise: Music performance. Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance, 433–450.