A few years ago I had a new student, a five year old beginner piano student. Every week she came into her lessons knowing her songs really well, which is unusual for a beginner. I had to ask her parents what they were doing at home.
It turns out she and her dad would play a game every night after dinner. They would gather all of her stuffed animals + mom as their audience. Dad would play her piano songs for the week then she would play. It was a competition to see which one of them got the most applause.
By the way, dad did not know how to read music or play piano. He was learning with her (not in the lessons, just figuring it out on his own and asking her questions). Not once was she asked to "practice". She taught her dad, she competed with him, and in the end they were both winners!
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