-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Sue on Learning Difficult Music Too Early
- tom winchester on Learning Difficult Music Too Early
- Sue on Choose the Perfect Instrument for Your Child by analysing Temperament, Physique, Intelligence, Initial Expense and Transport.
- klara rosaline on Choose the Perfect Instrument for Your Child by analysing Temperament, Physique, Intelligence, Initial Expense and Transport.
- Sheryl on Two Stress Busting Practice Ideas
Archives
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
Categories
Useful Links
Author Archives: Sue
Does Your Child Have Potential for High Achievement
Once upon a time there was a young schoolteacher, who was very excited about starting his first job, with a class of second graders, in an inner city school. Before he met his class, he looked through the class records, … Continue reading
6 Tips to Inspire Your Child to Love Music Practice
Many children are enrolled in music teaching lessons by parents who enjoy music. We teachers and parents are sometimes guilty of assuming that children will become automatically infected with our own passion for music. We often assume that it will … Continue reading
Posted in music lessons, Music practice, Uncategorized, Violin Lessons
Tagged music, music lessons, music practice, practice
Leave a comment
Squeezing Practice into Busy Family Life
Squeezing music teaching practice into busy family life doesn’t work… or does it? Read on, for how one teacher used this simple tip from The 100 Day Practice Journal. Our teacher has announced that Hannah has to practice every day. … Continue reading
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
Tagged 100 Day Practice Journal, busy family life, focus, practice
Leave a comment
Encouraging Correct Repetitions in Music Practice
We all know that skill comes from repeating an action correctly and we teachers are fond of encouraging students to perform a number of correct repetitions in a row, typically asking a child to go back to the beginning if … Continue reading
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
Tagged correct repetitions, focus, music practice, practice, practice tempo
Leave a comment
The 100 Day Practice Journal
It was shortly after giving a talk, about making music teaching fun, to a group of professional ladies here in London, that the idea of The 100 Day Practice Journal was born. “How many of you ladies had music lessons … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Review your practice today for success tomorrow.
Suzuki families know all about “Review” and how studying and improving earlier repertoire helps to nurture ability . Did you know that review is also a neat trick to stop you and your child from becoming overwhelmed by over a lengthy … Continue reading
Does Practice Make Perfect?
“Practice makes perfect and nobody’s perfect, so why practice?” Billie Joe Armstrong – American musician 1972 Does practice make perfect? Unfortunately, the answer is, “NO!” Practice makes permanent and only perfect practice makes perfect. Oh dear, there appears to be … Continue reading
Posted in How to practice, Music practice
Tagged excellence, music practice, practice
Leave a comment
Practice is boring
“Variety’s the very spice of life. That gives it all its flavour.”– William Cowper, British poet 1731-1800. “Practice time, darling.” “I don’t want to practice today. Practice is Boring!“ What follows next, is a quarrelsome half-hour, during which you attempt … Continue reading
Posted in How to practice, Music practice
Tagged practice, practice is boring, practice task
Leave a comment
How Do I Get My Child to Slow Down.
My abiding memory of childhood music teaching lessons:- Whiz whiz whiz, fumble, stumble, crash, “Slow Down!” Whiz whiz whiz, fumble, stumble, CRASH! “Slow Down! Go slower, Susan!” Repeated ad nauseam. Oh if only I could have shut out my teacher’s nagging … Continue reading
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
Tagged how do I get my child to slow down, practice, slow down
Leave a comment
What is the Best Age to Begin Violin Lessons
Some of us start our children on violin lessons, at an ambitiously young age. What is the best age to begin violin lessons? There is something that we should consider, before plunging in. Did you know that playing the violin … Continue reading
Time for Spring Cleaning. Let’s Polish up our Practicing.
What a long winter we’ve had this year! Finally, spring seems to be just round the corner and as the weather warms up, I’m enjoying a little spring cleaning – out with the old stale practice habits and in with … Continue reading
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
Tagged lucky dip games, practice, practice cards
Leave a comment
Is music practice fun or tedious?
Time flies when music practice games are fun. It’s all a matter of focus. Have you ever noticed that when you are happily engaged in an activity, the minutes just fly by. Before you know it, the children are home … Continue reading
Posted in How to practice, Music practice
Tagged focus, fun, music practice, practice
Leave a comment
Played any good practice games recently?
Played any good music practice games recently? Even if you are a child, the answer will probably be, ”No.” Many of us adults have forgotten to appreciate the educational benefits of games, but when you see high powered executive coaches … Continue reading
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice, Music Practice Games
Tagged focus, games, instant focus, practice, practice games
Leave a comment
My Child Won’t Let Me Help With Music Practice
Jack and his mom have turned up for yet another music lesson, without having made any progress on his practice task, which was all about making bow holds together. Jack is looking sour. He clearly isn’t in the mood for … Continue reading
In Praise of Micro Music Lessons
If I had a penny for every small child, I’ve seen acting out at music teaching lessons and practice sessions, I’d be a millionaire. Micro music lessons rock! Here’s why… When my children’s first Suzuki teacher advised doing several small … Continue reading
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
Leave a comment
Music teaching sabotaged by technical complications.
Music teaching is fraught with technical complications. If you don’t get the foundations right at the beginning, the whole thing come crashing down, as your child moves on to more advanced techniques. For example, how do you help a young … Continue reading
Practice is Fun When You Play Music Games
George was a bright 4 year old Pre Twinkler. George’s mum thought that practice would be a grand opportunity to play fun music games. As a caring parent she really wanted her child to benefit from music lessons, so it was … Continue reading
Creating a music practice habit.
“But it’s true – hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice.” Ray Bradbury (author) Would you like to create a music habit for your child – making practice an automatic part … Continue reading
Making music fun with music practice games
Have you ever wondered what to do when your child gets a bad case of the fidgets? Harping on about standing still, only serves to inflame the situation, so when a kid needs to move it’s best to go with … Continue reading
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
Leave a comment