Embedded Files
About Your Musician
About Your Musician
Remember when you want to plug your ears that every bit of practice is progress. One day you will look back and say, “Remember when he/she could only __?”
Growth Mindset
Growth Mindset
A person’s true potential is unknown (and unknowable); that it’s impossible to foresee what can be accomplished with years of passion, toil, and training. ~Carol Dweck, Mindsets
A quick note about you and your musician’s mindsets…
Mindset is a set of beliefs or a way of thinking that determines one’s behavior, outlook, and mental attitude.
There are two kinds:
There are obvious advantages for musicians having a growth mindset about music and musical ability. It might be easy for beginners to have seen and heard professional musicians and assume they will sound like that after their first lesson or rehearsal.
However, becoming proficient at a musical instrument (including your voice) takes hours and hours of effective practice and effort. It takes embracing and overcoming challenges. It takes dealing with criticism and learning how to react to the success of others.
Effective Effort
Effective Effort
Research shows that not all students know the connection between effort and achievement (Seligman, 1990, 1994; Urdan, Migley, & Anderman, 1998), and that student achievement can increase when they see the relationship between an increase in effort to an increase in success (Craske, 1985; Van Overwalle & De Metsenaere, 1990).
Therefore, talk to your musician about their effort!
Remind them that…
The harder you try, the more successful you are.
I Quit!
I Quit!
What should you do if your musician wants to quit mid-year?
Ask why do you want to quit? What do you like about your instrument? What do you not like about your instrument?
Point out how far they have come since starting their instrument/singing. Ask what sorts of things can they do now that they couldn’t do before?
Try setting up “practice with a friend” times.
Speak with Miss Sherman.
See if there is another instrument or ensemble that might better suit their likes.
Encourage them to finish out the year, promoting commitment and perseverance.
Gift Suggestions for Musicians
Gift Suggestions for Musicians
Keep in mind you can get these anywhere! Support one of your local music stores (David French or Music & Arts), check on Amazon, or you can follow the links I included.
Appropriate for All:
Music Stand (very important for proper posture)
Instrument Stand (maybe having the instrument out and visible will prompt some practice?)
CD's/recordings of masters on your instrument
Play-along Music books for your instrument (they have them for movie themes, pop singers, etc.)
Easy duet books...they can get together with a friend to play!
Flute
Clarinet
Rovner Dark 1R Clarinet Ligature/Cap (oh my goodness this has made my sound so much better)
A new box of reeds (check what strength first...generally beginners on 2's and 2nd year on 2.5's...if they are playing a lot of high notes a 3 might be handy; also notice you can get a pack of 3, 10, or 25 reeds)
Saxophone
Rovner Dark 1RL Alto Saxophone Ligature/Cap (oh my goodness this has made my sound so much better)
A new box of reeds (check what strength first...generally beginners on 2's and 2nd year on 2.5's; also notice you can get a pack of 3, 10, or 25 reeds)
Trumpet
Cleaning brush (for the mouthpiece and/or valves)
Trombone
Cleaning brush (for the mouthpiece)
Percussion
If you are thinking of starting to build a drum set for future growth (mostly beyond Neary), best to start with a snare drum and a high hat
Report abuse