Music Practice Guidelines

As we all know, practice makes perfect.  It is only through regular practice between lessons that boys will improve on their instruments.  The most productive practice is a combination of the number of practice days per week and the length of time spent practising. 

Here is a useful guide for length of practice sessions at 5 practice sessions per week.

Beginners: 10 minutes

Grade 1: 15-20 minutes

Grade 2: 20-25 minutes

Grade 3: 25-30 minutes

Grade 4+ :  30 minutes or more

This "little and often" approach is far more effective than one long session the night before a lesson.  In fact, long sessions are counter-productive for children, as fatigue cements mistakes.   Also, it is best practice to devote the first quarter of a practice session to any scales/technical exercises that have been set.

Practice strategy:

Children, on the whole, are not naturally inclined to practise.  However, by finding the ideal time of day and getting them into a routine, children do begin (in time) to practice of their own volition.  

JB boys get one homework subject per night.  If they do their instrumental practice immediately before homework, it becomes a pleasant and enjoyable prelude to homework, rather than another chore to do afterwards.  It is also good to have instruments and music stands set up in the same part of the house where homework is done, to create a quick transition form one to the other.

By implementing the above strategies, children begin to notice measurable improvement  before long and derive much greater enjoyment from their music-making.

Mr L-O'K