Francilia Schofield
(520) 458-5747
FRANCIE'S PIANO LESSONS
Tips for Parents
Without practice it is almost impossible for a student to continually improve at the piano. Extra practice is extremely important for every piano student on the road to improvement. Although we cannot be in your home to oversee a consistent practice schedule, we have implemented ways of increasing the likelihood of more frequent practice sessions and we have listed here some ideas on how to encourage practice without a fight.
How often should each student practice?
Ideally, each student should practice at least once a day. We realize with our busy lives practice can be hard to fit in, but aiming for once a day usually ensures enough practice throughout the week.
How many people look back and wish their parents had encouraged them to play piano? Many of us started music lessons and didn't finish because our parents allowed us to quit or didn't encourage us to practice. We have met many people who regret quitting piano lessons, but none who regret sticking with it.
Common Misconceptions
A common misconception is that a parent should not have to remind their child to practice. When a child complains about practice or doesn't practice without reminders (Ok, let's call it nagging) parents often misconstrue these normal behaviors as a sign that their child should quit piano because they weren't meant for it or don't love it enough. It is normal for children to avoid practice. After all, practice is hard!
But as we all know, great accomplishments do not come easy. Practice can be grueling at times, but improvement in any instrument or at any activity requires hard work. Every student (and teacher!) has days where they don't feel like practicing, but we all do things we don't want to do when we are working towards something valuable. Getting your children to practice, even when they don't want to, is just one part of the process when your child is learning an instrument.
Children go through stages… some months they love playing the piano and you won't even need to ask them to practice, and some months they are sick of it and feel it's just too hard. Teaching a child to stick with something and take the committed route, through thick and thin, is an important life lesson. By using some of the tips below you may be able to avoid some of the nagging and add a sense of enjoyment and accomplishment to practicing!
Tips for Encouraging Consistent Practice
Below are some tips and common motivators to help get your child to practice piano. Remember different motivators work well for different people. The key is to figure out which motivators work the best with your child.
Follow a Weekly Practice Schedule
At each piano lesson our students are given a practice schedule, depending on skill level and age, to be followed at each practice session at home. The schedule lists each piano piece to be played and typically something fun and enjoyable to finish off with. We will also encourage your child to go beyond the practice schedule after their practice session is over, if they feel inspired. Because most children thrive on consistency and structure, try to set aside a specific time each day for practice.
Use a Timer & Enforce a Daily Consistent Time Length
Many of the parents of our most successful students use a timer to make sure their child gets in enough practice. Try to find a silent timer (without the constant clicking noise) and set it at the proper time length depending on your child’s age and skill level. This is a great way to add structure to each daily practice session. Go over their practice schedule prior to a practice session and explain that they must play the practice schedule repeatedly until the timer runs out.
Use Rewards
Bribery is a great motivator! You don't want to spend your life savings on bribing your kids to practice. (We know it gets expensive!) Try offering up something they will likely be getting anyway: a cookie, their allowance, a trip to the park, whatever works. You can even use a future large present (summer camp, a sleep over, a toy they have always wanted, an animal) to motivate them to practice as they earn their reward over time. Make a chart and have them practice 6x a week for X amount of minutes for X amount of weeks and remind them they are working towards a goal to get {insert bribery item of choice}. We also provide a list of online piano and music theory games to parents as another source of bribery. Most students enjoy computers and video games. This is a great way to reward them and teach them at the same time!
Use Consequences
Set rules that they must practice before they engage in their favorite activities. Every child has something they normally get to do that they get excited about. It could be going out to play with friends or getting to watch their favorite TV shows. Set rules so that they know if they don't practice before the TV show or before they go out with their friends, they will have to miss out.
Tips for Students
Without practice it is almost impossible for a student to continually improve at the piano. Here are some ideas that will help you get more out of your practice sessions. Remember, in the case of piano practice, it's about the QUALITY and QUANTITY of your practice sessions - One won't work without the other.
Be Consistent
Practice every day if possible. Sticking with a routine will bring about improvement much faster and help you keep up your motivation to practice. Spread out Practice Sessions: Less Time, More Sessions you will be more focused and get more out of your practice sessions if you spread them out and practice for less time, but more sessions. For example, try to practice 3x a day for 15 minutes instead of 1x a day for 45 minutes. When you practice for longer amounts of time you lose focus, get tired and practice becomes less effective.
Prepare before you Practice
Make sure your fingernails are trimmed and your hands are clean before practice.
Make sure you aren't hungry or too tired. To get the most out of your time, you should be refreshed and ready with
no distractions.
Warm-Up
For warm-up, play your scales and arpeggios or review a piece you have mastered.
Study Before You Begin
Be sure to study your music before you start. It will be much easier to learn if you are prepared by knowing all the important information about your piece. Check the Time Signature and the Key Signature. Look for any accidentals, and Time Signature or Key Signature changes. Figure out if any sections in the piece repeat themselves in other parts of the piece. Looking ahead should make your practice sessions a
little easier.
Practice Slowly
Begin learning each new piece by playing slowly. It will take triple the time to get it right if you start out
playing too fast. When you play too fast it's easier to make mistakes. Once you can play the piece evenly and
smoothly, gradually work up to the right speed. You won't get it right if you start out too fast, and it's never
good to practice mistakes over and over again. Play Your Pieces in Sections If you find yourself having problems
in certain parts of your piece, try practicing just that measure by itself until you have mastered it. If a piece becomes overwhelming, try just playing the first page or first section until you have it down and then move on to the next part. You will be amazed at how easy the hard parts may become when you work on one hard measure at a time.
Don't Keep Practicing the Same Mistakes
Correct mistakes before they become bad habits. It is much harder to fix a mistake when you have practiced it over and over. Be sure to correct your mistakes the first time you notice them. Play the problematic measure by itself as many times as it takes to make it correct. Then play the piece again.
Try New Pieces to Keep you Motivated
If you are losing the motivation to practice or if you are just tired of the pieces you always play, try picking out a new piece to start. Keep practicing the pieces you have been working on, but add something new that might break up the monotony of playing the same piece over and over for weeks or months.
Record Yourself
It is extremely beneficial to be able to hear yourself play in a recording. You will not only be able to hear mistakes you may have missed while playing, but you will also be able to hear how much you have improved as time goes by.
Have Fun!
Have fun while you practice! Have a good attitude. If you are dreading practice and feeling negative, you won't play as well. Get excited about practicing something new or about mastering something you've already played. Try to set small goals so you know you will have accomplished something during each session. The more fun you have during practice sessions, the less you will dread them!