Routine

Developing a routine for practice ensures positive results and growth

Each time your child’s schedule changes, it’s important to sit down with your child and figure out what time will work best as practice time. This should be a time that is mutually convenient for both parent and student. If the parent cannot set aside a time each day to sit and practice with the child, the chances of the child doing it himself are slim. Remember, the idea is for the parent to be the teacher at home. Many parents, however, due to their work schedules or other factors, cannot make the commitment to their children to help them practice. In cases such as these, the parents have to be very understanding when problems of lack of practice arise. Other methods have to be employed that will help the child establish a consistent practice routine. Let me say, they are far less effective than total parental commitment and constant positive reinforcement. However, all hope is not lost. Far from it. The parent can still sit down with the child occasionally. Most importantly, the parent should still try to figure out what practice time will fit best into the student’s schedule. This should generally be the same time each day as once a routine is established it makes the rigors of practicing much easier to stomach. Some are evening or afternoon people. Try to find out when your child works best. Many students have an abundance of after-school activities and cannot possibly get into a consistent routine of practice at that time. Some students have favorite TV programs in the evening and would not want to choose between practicing and missing the program. I have found that relating the practice time to some event in the family schedule such as right before or after dinner, or possible as soon as he wakes up works well. Whatever time is chosen, the important thing to remember is that the same time be set aside each day for practice.

Making Music Lessons Rewarding

Music lessons develop concentration, the ability to memorize, coordination, sensitivity to patterns and sensitivity to beauty.

Many parents innately sense that music lessons will be beneficial to their children. However, most parents have no idea of just how many musical skills are common to other areas of learning. Music lessons develop concentration, the ability to memorize, develop coordination, sensitivity to patterns and sensitivity to beauty. They promote self-esteem and give children the feeling – from a young age – that success and high levels of accomplishment can be achieved through perseverance and the setting of high standards. Most importantly, education in the arts is really the education of feeling. And the role of music in developing and refining our feelings in a computerized, impersonal world cannot be overemphasized. Though you may have started music lessons with the idea that they’ll be a fun “extra” for your child, it is important to understand that music lessons are very bit as important as any subject in school. Without that dedication the temptation will be too great to stop the lessons any time the going gets rough.