Your kid campaigned to play a musical instrument—but now revolts against daily practice. These tips from Catherine Cho, violin professor at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, will be music to your ears.

Set the stage. Find a regular time and special spot to give your child a sense of comfort and continuity connected with practice. You can also nurture good feelings with positive talk and attitude, like telling him you love it when his playing fills the house with music.

Give a little free play. Encourage your child to break up music-reading practice with a bit of improv time. This mini break can help him maintain focus on his instrument during the practice period. He’ll realize that there is a time for technique and discipline—balanced with free movement and experimentation.

Offer an audience. Let your budding musician put on a weekly performance, and have your family gather around and listen to him play. Along with a creative energy outlet, your child also gets recognition of his progress—a natural motivator to keep up with practice.

Video: Practice Tips with Alex Pauly