Category Archives: How to practice

Review your practice today for success tomorrow.

BufferSuzuki 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

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Does Practice Make Perfect?

Buffer“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

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Practice is boring

Buffer“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

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How Do I Get My Child to Slow Down.

BufferMy abiding memory of childhood music 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 voice, … Continue reading

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Time for Spring Cleaning. Let’s Polish up our Practicing.

BufferWhat 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

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Is music practice fun or tedious?

BufferTime 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

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Played any good practice games recently?

Buffer 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 … Continue reading

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In Praise of Micro Music Lessons

BufferIf 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

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Music teaching sabotaged by technical complications.

Buffer 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 … Continue reading

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Practice is Fun When You Play Music Games

BufferGeorge 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

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Creating a music practice habit.

Buffer“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

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Making music fun with music practice games

BufferHave 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

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The Key to Making Music Fun – Learn Slowly

Buffer“If you learn something slowly, you forget it slowly.  If you learn something very quickly, you forget it immediately.”  Itzak Perlman. In the 21st Century, we are bombarded with quick results, instant gratification and quick fixes. If we are feeling … Continue reading

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How not to Start the 100 Day Practice Challenge

BufferIt was years ago, that I took my first 100 Day Practice Challenge.  Full of enthusiasm, I started with a bang and surprised myself with a super huge practice.  Glowing with self-satisfaction, I collapsed into an armchair, with a well-deserved … Continue reading

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The Challenge of the 100 Day Practice Challenge

Buffer A couple of days ago, I received an email from a mother who I met through the 100 Day Practice Challenge. She wrote,  “We’re a week away from 600 days.  Anyone else still going? My oldest practices cheerfully, largely … Continue reading

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3 Reasons Why Some Kids Don’t Like Music Practice

Buffer“An hour of practice is worth five hours of foot-dragging.” – Pancho Segura, tennis player, 1921 Most of my friends had music teaching lessons when they were children.  Most of us gave up as soon as we could, because we … Continue reading

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Two Stress Busting Practice Ideas

BufferFitting practice into a busy family day seems to cause more stress every day, what with both parents holding down jobs, extra school work and other improving extracurricular activities.  I am going to share two stress busting practice ideas which … Continue reading

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Back to Work With The 100 Day Practice Challenge

BufferIt’s the beginning on the school year and an ideal time to make a good habit of regular music practice, with the 100 Day Practice Challenge. Years of trying to keep up with my peers, who started violin and viola … Continue reading

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How to Practice your Teaching Point

BufferIn all my years of having music lessons, I had never heard of a Teaching Point.  That was until my children started Suzuki lessons. Sometimes, at the end of a music teaching lesson, the teacher would announce,  “Your Teaching Point … Continue reading

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Review – Making it Fun Gets the Job Done – Tuesday is publication day

BufferThe previous 2 posts have focussed on the problems that parents and teachers have in getting kids to review.  In this post, parents and teachers were invited to wave a magic wand, to find their own ideal solutions for music … Continue reading

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