We are now into the very busy time of year and will soon be thinking recital time! Here are some more techniques to think of while at home practicing the students’ festival, recital, or other pieces.
When the student is sitting down to practice, every song does not have to be played every time. This is very important, especially for the more experienced students as the pieces become harder and longer. Sometimes it is best to only work on a single section, or one/two songs the entire 30/45 minutes. While practicing, make sure the student is focusing on only one task at a time. If the student is working on one song, but worried about another piece and the progression of that one, it will not end well, unfortunately. Set a goal within each practice session and work towards that goal. Once you achieve it, go to a new goal. As you will see, I always write certain things for the student to focus on or to pay attention to in the notebook every week. Setting a timer is great for self-discipline and showing that you, as the parent, are involved with the practicing.
Make sure the student warms up a little first. It is never good to go right into the piece without warming up the voice or fingers. Do a simple C 5 finger scale a few times up and down or do a few vocal warm ups moving up and down. After this, your student will feel much more prepared to get started.
Be sure to start slowly. Every time I mention this to my students, they think I am crazy. When the student sees or hears a song that he/she knows, the student wants to automatically go fast. My piano teacher always told me “If you can’t play it slowly, you can’t play it fast.” That was one of the most important things I learned from her. The student must start slowly and develop the muscle memory. As the song become easier, then the student can gradually speed up. This will help a lot and avoid a lot of frustration that could happen.
Parents, please feel free to remind and encourage your student during practice. If you hear the student struggling in the other room, feel free to praise them after the student achieves their goal. I know from experience how a particularly difficult piece can really make you feel defeated. I think back to when I took lessons and how frustrating it could be at times. Often there were certain sections in a piece that I “just couldn’t get.” At that point it is very easy to get upset, and there is temptation to quit that piece. Parents, please encourage your student that even though it is difficult, they are doing well! Maybe take a break from that song and go to a familiar one. Praise your student and tell them how good it sounds. Parents encouraging and praising students will help the student feel more self-motivated to continue.
Another good idea is to make a chart for practicing. I have heard from some parents how they have made it fun by writing down how many minutes the student practices every day. Once the student reaches a goal of time, the parent rewards the student. You can do this even with placing stickers on a chart or notebook every time the student practices. It’s amazing how exciting something like a sticker can be!
Thank you to all who continue to encourage your student. Practicing can feel like a chore at times, but with help and encouragement at home, it can make all the difference! As always, please let me know if there is any way I can help you or your student. Getting into a great practice routine will make all the difference!
Happy November!
Sephra