Why am I not hearing alot of music playing when my child practices?

Your musician is multi tasking the minute they decide it's time to make some music. 

Get out the instrument and/or books.  Is their stand out?  If they are a bowed player they need to tighten their bow, rosin and then tune their instrument.  That's a lot of thought process for a younger musician.  

If their instrument sounds awfully quiet, or it seems their bow is sliding off the strings, ask if they have rosined. 

Woodwinds and Brass have to assemble their instruments too!

Okay, now all the implements are in place.  Let's start making music.  How about a scale?  What key is my new assigned piece in?

Key of D.   D E F.....oh wait, that should be F#.  Go back and start over.  D E F# G A B C D....hmmm, didn't sound exactly right.  Oh yeah, C is supposed to be sharp.  Go back and start over. 

Now that they are warmed up finger/reed/airflow wise, let's get to work on their assigned piece.  Key Signature check, Time Signature Check, quick scan of the music.  Start playing...…………..  now, based on some discussions with parents, this is where practice might go a bit awry.....

First off, the piece is new.  If frustration is setting in, and you are aware of it...……..perhaps it's time to go to a review piece for a few minutes.... something that they KNOW they can play and have it sound 'like music'.  Review pieces are good for warmup, regrouping or just plain having fun.  

Okay, back to the new assignment.  Key Check, Time Check.....one two ready TRY...….  That's all I ask of my students.  Just try.  I'm sure if it's new you weren't assigned all of it (speaking in terms of intermediate students)….if you were assigned all of it, take a bite.  Do a phrase or two.  Do it again. Play that section a third time.  Hear the improvement?

Practice.  It's a process and not all about the song.