Practice Tips

1. Make music a part of family life

  • listen to recordings

  • attend concerts (many orchestras have special concerts just for children)

  • read books about composers and types of music

  • encourage participation in summer music camps or orchestras

  • continually encourage your student in his or her progress

2. Establish a practice schedule and stick to it

  • a regular practice time is essential in forming a "practice habit"

  • pick a time each day that works for the whole family

  • consistent and quality practice is key (It is far better to be focused and practice well for fifteen minutes than to practice for thirty minutes with distractions)

  • make practicing a priority, not allowing other chores or responsibilities to interfere with it

  • for younger children, oversee the practice time; make sure your student is following the teacher's instructions

3. Stay motivated

  • keep track of practice time and offer incentives for number of minutes spent practicing or for completion of a particular musical goal

  • use a lesson assignment sheet and check off each item as it is practiced

  • record songs at the beginning and end of the week to hear progress

  • have "performance" nights regularly where a student may play for the family or friends

  • be encouraging to your child; learning an instrument takes time and hard work

  • do not allow your child to give up easily, and talk to me for additional suggestions of ways to help.

  • explore other musical genres and traditions as well as classical music to foster a love of music in general and a broader musical intelligence