Here are some frequently asked questions about practicing. If you have any additional questions, or if you would like advice that is specific to the type of practice that I think would benefit your child most, please email me at David.Tourtellot@lsr7.net
How much should my child practice?
I encourage my students to practice at least 4 times a week - it is better to spread your practice out over the course of a week than it is to do it all at once.
5th Graders should shoot for 60 minutes a week on average, and 6th graders should try for 100.
Why does my child need to practice?
Practicing is essential to success in Strings. Playing a String instrument is a physical activity, and takes a lot of very delicate muscle control - by practicing at home, your child is exercising the muscles it takes to play. If your child does not practice at home, they will not develop their muscles, and will not physically be able to play at the required level.
Also, a big part of what we learn in Strings Class is note reading. This is something that is introduced in class, but takes a lot of repetition, and must be practiced at home in order to be mastered.
What is the best way for my child to practice?
The book we use in Strings class is called Essential Elements For Strings, and has many useful play-along tracks. You can find those by clicking here, and entering the student access code from the first page of your copy of the book.
Does my child need to turn in a practice card, or some sort of record of how much they've practiced?
No, I do not require practice records to be turned in to me. I do not require this, because it has been my experience that students will often lie about having practiced when in actuality they have not, and some parents will even sign dishonest practice records. I can tell by a student's performance in class if they have practiced at home or not, and will assign various assignments that will require home practice.
My child likes Strings class, but hates to practice at home. What can I do to get him/her to practice?
This is very common. The best way to get your child to practice is to establish a routine - have them practice a little bit (just 5-10 minutes is great) at the same time every day. Soon, they’ll be in the habit of practicing, and they’ll see a big improvement in their playing. It is far better to practice for just a little bit of time several days a week, than it is to practice for a large amount of time just once or twice a week.
What should practicing look like?
Practicing can take many forms - the most common type of practicing is playing the music that we've learned in class, but there are many other ways a student can practice. In class, we've learned exercises students can do to help their posture. All students have received flashcards that they can use to help them learn to read notes. Finally, doing some of the exercises or playing the musical games on my website also count as practice.
I’d like to help my child practice, but I don’t have a musical background. What can I do?
You don’t need to have a background in music to help your child practice. A great way to help your child is to have them teach you what they learned in class. Every week, have them show you what they learned, and have them perform a short concert for you.
Every student has received a set of flashcards, and you can go through these with your child. They have enough information on them that you don’t even need to be able to read music to help them be successful!
Here is a link to a great article about practicing, and how to maximize your practice time.