put it on the calendar -- if it isn't there like an appointment, you won't do it. parents -- use a family calendar that everyone sees, or get your students their own to track their practice days.
set a timer -- whether you're 5 or 55, set a time for 20 minutes. one of two things will happen: 1. you'll practice and be done when the time is up or 2. you'll continue because you're on a roll and don't want to stop. either way, you've stayed accountable.
5 days of 7 is better than 1 day of 7 -- you wouldn't eat salads only for one day out of the week and expect to feel or look different by the end of the week. Make sure your minimum days of practice are set to 5 days.
quality > quantity -- we want you to be a detective of your own work. that means you critique yourself and your output. if your assignment is to practice scales, then use the metronome at varying speeds to challenge your skills. if your job is to practice just the first page, can you memorize it? can you play it smoothly, or are there breaks? can you play it the opposite of how they want it to be played, i.e., slowly instead of quickly?
your performance improvement does not happen in the studio during your lesson time -- it takes watering and sun to "grow," which means more than our 30-minute lesson.
be a learner -- something that is very important in our family is to get exposure to various genres. you don't have to love them, but you should be familiar enough to categorize them yourself. Listen to jazz, country, instrumental, lo-fi beats, rap, pop, reggae, classic rock, etc. there are things to learn from songs when you really slow down and listen well.
watch someone better than you -- whether you go to a concert or watch someone on YouTube, be inspired by someone better than you. watch how they play. notice their body language. find out how much they practice.
love what you're doing -- if someone is paying for lessons for you, it's a gift. thank them for the opportunity. if you're paying, it's an investment and something you'll remember forever. you'll be glad you were part of your musical journey and we hope it lasts a lifetime!