Practice Expectations

I am sure you have seen a favorite band or musician perform live. It's incredible and rewarding to experience live performance, especially if it is your favorite music. Keep in mind what you are seeing and hearing is the product. Many of us never see the creative process behind our favorite songs- The time spent figuring out accompaniments, bass lines, lyrics. The creative process requires time, space, quiet, focus, and most of all the allowance to experiment. What one may hear as a series of mistakes allows us to grow. Through this process we learn what sounds "right", which is broad for working the specific music elements of tone, pitch, rhythm, intonation, phrasing, etc. Please give your child the space and time they need to grow on their instruments. Quality materials, dedicated time free of distractions (including electronics, pets, and siblings), and positive support. The time they need on their instrument depends on the student. Some kids need more than others. Most importantly, they all need consistency. Their homework is in the form of practice. Practice is essential to studying any instrument and will take your child where he/she wants to be with an instrument. At the beginning of the school year your child may be able to grasp the material quickly, without much practice. However, instrument study is progressive. The skills and concepts build with each lesson. It's important that your child works on even the simple tasks in order to lay a strong foundation for higher levels.

Students who know how to practice effectively make the most progress...and they are not necessarily the students who practice for the longest. They are the students who have an effective music practice technique. Please see tips below.

If your child ever tells you they don't need to practice because what they are learning is too easy, please reach out to me. There is always more to learn and deeper skills to master. That's a beauty inherent in developing skills on an instrument. The work is NEVER DONE. Musicians embrace this because we love what we do so much that it gives us great joy to work.

Students ARE expected to input their practice time on the practice calendar posted in their Google Classroom. I check this weekly.

Instrumental students receive assignments on a weekly basis at their instrumental music lesson. Assignments are written on assignment sheets at the conclusion of every lesson. The assignment is based on the lesson.

10 Ways to Optimize Your Practice

How to Practice Effectively, According to Science

Practice Tips (also for memorization)

Bands, Choirs, and Orchestras Teach Kids Resiliency

Some students really like a journal. You are welcome to use this template.