Maintaining Normalcy with Music in these Stressful Times

We are in our 5th day of offering online lessons.  So far so good, with the main issue being connectivity.  Even the youngest students have been doing well.  As one high school student put it, it's just like a normal lesson, just not in the same room.  

I’m sure you’re  all feeling overwhelmed with everything that’s currently going on around us. With kids now home from school I know that your life has drastically changed. As someone who has been a part of your family's life each week, I wanted to reach out.

In a time when your children’s schedules and routines have been turned upside down, there is one thing that can remain: music! Music has always given people hope, and people have always turned to music in difficult times.

With all of the changes that have happened so rapidly in our lives, the piano/violin/guitar/woodwind/brass instrument can be very helpful in maintaining a sense of normalcy in the weeks and months ahead. During these times of social distancing, your children will find themselves with more free time. Playing their instrument can help fill the void that the loss of other activities has created while also providing a sense of purpose, control, and accomplishment.

Ensuring piano practice happens regularly will also keep your children’s skills polished, and prevent the loss of all the musical knowledge they have gained recently. You and your musician have worked so hard to progress, and that progress can be maintained and boosted with regular practice over the coming weeks.

While you begin to create a new schedule for your family, I thought it would be helpful to share some tips for incorporating home practice into your new routines.

1. Set aside time each day that will always be “music practice time”. Post a schedule on your fridge and stick to it as best you can. Your children will appreciate a predictable routine right now. Practice is more likely to happen if it takes place at the same time each day. I recommend practicing in the morning as your children will be fresh and free from other distractions that will inevitably happen over the course of a day.
2. Try to be present during your children’s practice, even if you are just listening. Depending on age, your children may need basic assistance (organizing materials, reading my lesson notes, troubleshooting) or they may simply appreciate your physical presence in the room. Sit and have your morning cup of coffee as your children make music. You’ll likely look forward to this “break from reality” too!
3. Keep your music area free from distractions. For playing music to become a happy reprieve, turn off the TV, remove younger siblings or pets and make the practice space welcoming. Be sure to de-clutter and organize materials so they are easily at hand. Your children may enjoy taking on the project of creating an "instrument practice nest” (making their practice area cozy and welcoming).
4. Be encouraging and positive about your children’s attempts at their practice. Don’t worry about fixing mistakes you may hear (that’s our job!) and instead be a cheerleader to your children’s learning efforts. Mistakes can be easily fixed. Right now, the focus should be on being enthusiastic about the learning process.
5. Provide “reasons” for your children to practice. I know that family members who are not in physical contact with you right now would LOVE to have recorded performances or live FaceTime performances of your children’s music-making. Prepping for any sort of performance can be very motivating to children.
6. Play piano games with your children! We all are finding ourselves with extra moments in our days now when we would normally be driving around to extracurricular activities. Take advantage of this newly-acquired time and have some fun while building important musical skills. I am attaching a music scavenger hunt to this email. 

We at Keys and Strings will  continue to provide your musicians with fun, motivating material that they will be excited to practice and I look forward to helping the piano be a constant in their lives during this time.  Just as their lessons at school have continued, I hope you will all continue their musical progress as well.  Recital is in our future!

 See you on the computer screen!

Ms. Sandie, Ms. Joanna, Ms. Gina, Mr. Miles, Mr. Dan, Mr. Jay and Mrs. Ma too!