PRACTICE TIPS FOR AN EXCELLENT LESSON: Part 1

Practice at home, not at your lesson.

Excellent lessons are lessons where students demonstrate their accomplishments so your instructor can teach you something new!

Create and keep a regular practice schedule.

Keep a daily practice schedule that emphasizes quantity and quality. A general rule of thumb is 30-minutes for beginners, 45-minutes intermediates, 60+-minutes for advanced students. Use your time wisely. Plan your goal and use your time to improve or achieve your goal.

Practicing is a part of your busy schedule.

Practicing is a part of a family’s busy schedule, rather than your busy schedule interferes with practice. Help to create a schedule that includes daily practice.

Don't practice frustrated. Take a break.

Don’t let your child practice frustrated. If they get frustrated, have them take a break. You’ll probably be surprised that they will be better than they expect when they return. Our brains need a break to make sense of our learning. Give your brain a break or sleep on it and come right back to the challenge.

Practice within the first 24 hours since your lesson.

The most important day of practice is the first 24 hours after your lesson. When you study the new material right after your lesson, you will make the rest of the week will go more smoothly.

Parents are active positive participants.

Parents can help by supporting a consistent schedule and engaging in their child's accomplishments and challenges. Attend lessons as often as you can. Refrain from threatening or punishing when your child resists practice. The nature of practice is doing that which is hard. It's important not to replace your child's interest in music with their disinterest in practice. Practice Tips for an Excellent Lesson: Part 2 will address more on the strategic differences between practicing music and playing music. Positive ways you can engage in your child's practice

1. If they are young, practice with them

2. Encourage them stay on task, “help me understand what is hard about this part?”

3. Celebrate little victories. "You sounded really nice in that section".

4. Plan the day before the lesson for your child to demonstrate what they've learned.

5. Communicate frequently with their instructor.