Practice Makes Perfect
I cannot stress this enough: It is a waste of time, money and energy to take music lessons without regular home practice. It's analogous to going to the gym for half an hour a week and expecting to be able to run a marathon or lose 25 pounds in a few months.I expect each student, regardless of age or skill level, to practice at least four days a week and to do their theory work as assigned before each lesson. This allows the student to learn new skills and repertoire in our lessons, as opposed to practicing or doing homework at the lesson.
Because practice is so crucial to any sort of progress, I set up a realistic practice schedule with each student I teach from the beginning of our time together, and I work with the parent(s) to make sure it is supported during the week between lessons. I will make sure each student leaves each lesson understanding the assignment and how to practice it. Younger students especially need parental help in finding quiet time to practice and knowing how to practice. As students mature, they should be able to take on the responsibility of practicing daily and practicing correctly.
Beginner Tips
Here are some great beginner tips to make practicing easier on the whole family:
- Schedule
- Children respond best to continuity, so setting a consistent practice schedule - at the same time every day - will maximize their performance.
- Practice Chart
- Create and fill out a weekly practice chart. This should be signed off by the parent and I will be checking it as well. Setting, working towards and attaining goals – even small ones – builds confidence and self-discipline.
- Environment
- Make sure your practice area is well-lit, quiet and free of distractions.
Make sure your piano is tuned and all the keys/pedals function properly. I am happy to provide contact info for several area excellent piano tuner/technicians. An older upright/spinet piano is far preferable to an electric keyboard or digital piano, as the touch, action and sound are remarkably different.
- Repetition vs. Length of Time
- Practice using repetition as a benchmark (5 times per piece is the magic number for beginners, 7 for intermediate and 10 for advanced students) as opposed to a specific length of time. This is by far the most enjoyable way to practice. A variation on this can include placing 5 pennies or 5 small pieces of candy on the lowest or highest 5 notes of the keyboard. Each time the piece is played successfully through, they "earn" that penny or candy.
Practice is not about playing through the piece once or twice, nor is it about a one-day intensive cramming session. It is far more productive to do a little bit every day.
- Isolating Problem Areas
- Practice should involve stopping to work on troublesome notes or rhythms, and repeating that section until it is correct.
- Positive Reinforcement
- Positive reinforcement is the most motivating psychological influence, by far. I always provide plenty of positive feedback and praise, as well as a wide array of fun stickers, for my students. Praise, listening and encouragement are the parents' greatest tools in helping a young musician.
Intermediate & Advanced Tips
For intermediate and advanced students, click here for some great ways to make your practice more effective and interesting.
