Can you remember the initial excitement you had for your child’s first piano or music lessons? The first book for beginners, the first songs? Did she sit in on her practice session every day or did she pass words of encouragement through the door?
A lot has happened since then, your child’s playing has gone from strength to strength, but maybe he’s struggling to encourage regular daily practice time, or maybe he just didn’t achieve the success he hoped for on his last music test.
Well, here are some tips to get you both back on track!
1. Establish regular daily practice sessions
It may not work for you to schedule a session every day of the week, so scheduling three or four times, realistically half an hour in a day, multiple times during the week between lessons, can have a huge impact on developing skills. your son. as a musician for several months. Your music teacher should notice the difference and pass on the comment. Practice may not lead to perfection, but it will increase confidence, enjoyment, and musicianship.
2. Use every practice session wisely
Start with a short, gentle warm-up: long notes for wind players, perhaps sight-reading some hymns on the piano, slowly going through two-octave scales, or playing an inspiring piece like Bach’s first prelude, or his Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. Take a moment to feel flexible and decide what you want to achieve in particular this week. Next, start with a slow piece, maybe start with some difficult bars in the middle section, or play the coda dramatically! Always work towards dynamic performance! Now play a piece that is easy for you. How could you improve it? Record or video yourself! Continue with two more difficult pieces, a few bars over and over at higher speed. Add some scale practice, slow, even, safe. Finish by warming up with a piece that you really enjoy. Leave feeling motivated and good about yourself!
3. Ask someone to listen to your practice session
Once a week, ask an understanding friend, teacher, or family member to listen to a few moments of your practice and comment sensitively. Do you feel an improvement from last week? Are you still excited? Does the music follow your personality?
4. Develop realistic timelines with your teacher.
The main flaw with my piano lessons and other music classes as a student was simply that my tutors expected too much of me week after week. I constantly struggled under the deep impression that I was lazy and not up to the task. After more than twenty years teaching all ages, levels and abilities, I know how disingenuous this method was and I strive to stay on top of each student’s needs each week. Encouragement is paramount. I suggest practice ideas to follow the amount of time the student has – everyone learns at their own unique pace.
5. Work mainly on pieces that you really love!
As a student, I worked on exam pieces and performance preparation with my teachers, but privately spent hours learning Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven sonatas, jazz standards, and later, blues and boogie music! You’ll play for hours effortlessly if you love the songs you choose. So do your teacher’s homework, do some scales, but immerse yourself in the music you love! That’s why you have lessons! Learn to play for pleasure.
6. Use YouTube to find pieces you might like
It can be very inspiring to spend some time tracking videos played by both students and concert musicians. Watch your body language: be flexible and relaxed when you play. Write a wish list of ten songs you want to master!
7. Play your exam pieces to friends and family before your exam
Try to choose contrasting pieces that go well with your personality. Try to have them ready a week or two before test day and arrange a private performance for a few members of your family. Help your nerves, and they’ll love hearing you play!
8. Get ready on test day!
Plan everything in advance and arrive early so you can warm up. Feel safe! Play to dazzle, entertain and delight the examiner! Learn from previous exam mistakes and show your best relaxed style. An opportunity to make a big impression! If a scale or piece isn’t going well, put it aside and try to play the next one perfectly.
We developed our ability to play and perform well through years of trial and error. Essentially you want to enjoy music for yourself as a challenge and for relaxation, as well as a means of self-expression. Don’t let anyone stop you. Listen to advice but ultimately trust your own judgement.
Music practice and test preparation empower a young musician to calm their nerves, determine their own musical style, focus on their strengths, learn new pieces, and broaden their enjoyment of the arts. The benefits of music lessons over several years are priceless in teaching orderly preparation, gaining confidence, developing technical difficulties and engaging in performance.
Give your child the space, time, and encouragement they need to acquire good musical skills, and remember that it takes years to become a fully competent musician.
