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Break the fight for practice cycle



So many parents come to me with the subject 'we are tired about fighting with them to practice'.  

It shouldn't be a fight.    It shouldn't be part of a bargaining tool.  It should be a part of daily life.   Do you brush your teeth everyday?  You should make music, every day.

I think sometimes, that the word 'practice' get's a negative sheen.   Perhaps having the musician 'serenade' during meal preps would work. Let's 'make some music'.   Mommy and I feel like dancing slowly, what have you been working on that will suit the mood?    We want a concert!  Let's make programs, put on a nice outfit, set up the living room as a performance hall.  Music making should be a fun rewarding outlet for the entire family.   It should not be stressful.

Find a routine that works for your family.   Is your musician an early bird, always looking for things to do before leaving for school?  Perhaps play your music after breakfast and brushing teeth.   Or the meal prep idea.  What about after dinner, while clean up is happening?  It should always come before TV and video games.

If you include making music into your daily schedule, it will all fall into place.  Even busy households can find 10 minutes a day.  It's the way that you go about it that will determine if it becomes part of the flow, or part of the fight.

Another thing we hear often as music educators is they didn't know what to work on.  In our studio, we tab assigned pages, as well as date them.  Sometimes we also have an assignment notebook.   If a student of mine (or their parent) says I had nothing to work on, I ask for them to hand me their books, and I point out the tabs.

I am a no nonsense type of person.   I do not accept the sentence "I was too busy to practice" especially from elementary students.  If this is true, then they are over scheduled and overwhelmed.   I only accept "I was too busy" from adult students who have families, children and careers.     It should be more truthful to say I didn't make time to practice.

The musician who makes playing their instrument part of their daily routine..........even if just 5 or 10 minutes each day is the one that will flourish.

So parents, make it known from the first lesson.  We will make music at 'this set time'.  We will do it every day.  We will play our tabbed pieces several times each day.   It's how you will become a stronger musician.  As your musician learns more skills and techniques, these habits developed in the early months will continue on.  What used to be 10 minutes will naturally become 20-30 even 40 minutes as their repertoire grows.

Remember, the best musicians didn't just touch their instrument at their lessons.  The best athletes are the one's who were practicing in the backyard for hours.   Let's help develop great music habits from day one.
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