When your child first begins music lessons, they are very excited about the new songs and exercises and the process of learning. For the first few months there is lots of energy and enthusiasm. After some of the newness wears off, the routine of practicing begins to cause problems for parents and children. This is the critical time when parents will need to "jump in" and save the day!
Parents need to help their child organize their schedule to include a regular daily practice session. You will need to be firm and persistent about regular practicing as you teach your budding musician self discipline. Plan to supervise your child's practice sessions. The fact that you are showing an interest in their music will go a long way towards getting your child to practice.
First, remind your child to practice slow and play it correctly. It's a common mistake people make when learning to play an instrument to try and practice a song or exercise faster than they can do it correctly. It is more efficient in the long run to play it slowly and correctly at first. Next, pick up the speed little by little, still playing it correctly.
Second, practice playing in time. Rhythm is an important though sometimes a neglected element of music. It's common, especially for beginners, to slow down on difficult passages of a piece and speed up on the easier ones. Unfortunately, this gets to be a habit!
•Start slow - as slow as you need to play the song or exercise correctly
•Pick up speed little by little.
•Finally, occasionally use the metronome as part of your practice session to work on timing.
•Pick up speed little by little.
•Finally, occasionally use the metronome as part of your practice session to work on timing.
Finally, break it down into bite sized pieces. Your child may be afraid of that new, big long lesson assignment! It can help to break down a long song or exercise to smaller pieces. If eight lines of new music just looks impossible, have your child work only on the first line or two the first practice session. Next time, play those two lines and suggest that your child now add a third line. Little by little! On day three, you might have your child try for four lines of music. At the half way point of the new piece your child will probably begin to sense that the entire piece is possible to play!
Remember to praise all your child's practicing. Encourage them to perform recitals for you at home to showcase all their music!
Leslie WilkesMaxwell Bloomingdale School of Music 630-351-0023 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leslie_Wilkes_Maxwell |  |