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Category Archives: music lessons
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
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
Tagged how do I get my child to slow down, practice, slow down
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What is the Best Age to Begin Violin Lessons
BufferSome 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.
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
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
Tagged lucky dip games, practice, practice cards
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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
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice, Music Practice Games
Tagged focus, games, instant focus, practice, practice games
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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
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
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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
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
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
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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
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
Tagged making music fun, violin lessons
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Listen, Listen
Buffer Like most children of my generation, I learned to play the piano, strictly by eye. The music was plonked on the stand and I attempted to decipher it, note by note. Even by the time I got to the … Continue reading
Posted in music lessons, Music practice
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Making Music Fun With Specific Practice
BufferEveryone who knows me knows that I love creating and playing music practice games. They are fundamental to making music teaching fun. It makes my day, when my students tell me, that they would rather play my fun music games, … Continue reading
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
Wake up their ears
BufferWhen playing the music, it is really important to be able to use your ears. Some young musicians are visual – spatial learners and have problems with auditory learning. While lightening the pressure in lessons and practice sessions, by teaching … Continue reading
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
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
Tagged Gets the Job Done, Making it Fun, practice, review, reviewing
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Review – Making it Fun, Gets the Job Done – only 2 days to publication.
BufferOnly 2 days to go to publication of the Review – Making it Fun Gets the Job Done, an ebook on how to make it fun and get the job done. Yesterday I wrote about some of the the anxieties and frustrations … Continue reading
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
Tagged fun, Making it Fun Gets the Job Done, review
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Review – Making it Fun Gets the Job Done
BufferReview – Making it Fun, Gets the Job Done – only 3 days to publication. Meanwhile, I’d like to update you on the results of my recent survey on review. I asked you for your biggest anxieties and frustrations about … Continue reading
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
Tagged Making it Fun Gets the Job Done, review
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13 Ways to Grow Musical Talent
BufferHow do you help children to grow musical talent? Here are some comments on how 13 key points from the Talent Code by Daniel Coyle can be applied to growing musical talent. 1. The elite got that way through many … Continue reading
Posted in How to practice, music lessons, Music practice
Tagged music practice, musical talent, musician, talent
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Music Practice Builds a Better Brain.
Buffer “Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul, on which they mightily fasten, imparting grace, and making the soul of him who is … Continue reading
Help Your Child Learn How to Review
BufferReviewing is at the heart of the Suzuki Method. All students review their previously learnt pieces every day. Or that is what teachers hope for. Please help me to make this wish come true by clicking on Take our PopSurvey! As … Continue reading
Learning Difficult Music Too Early
BufferThose of us who follow a set syllabus such as the Suzuki Method are sometimes faced with a child who can’t wait to learn music which is clearly out of their reach. These children will be exposed to more advanced … Continue reading
Posted in music lessons
Tagged difficult music, learn music, Learning Difficult Music Too Early
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Music, The Key to Learning
BufferOver 40 years ago, I saw a group of Suzuki violinists on television. Those impossibly tiny children were playing Bach and Vivaldi concertos like seasoned professionals! The ability of these youngsters so moved me that when my own children were … Continue reading