For some, practicing your instrument or artistry (and yes, your voice is your instrument if you’re a voice student) can feel hard to begin. Sometimes you lack motivation, or if you’re a parent, maybe you have a difficult time motivating your child. This has been an ongoing issue for a loooong time. It’s not just you! If only someone could guide me through how to practice…🤓
Well, VOILA! (no, not viola 🎻)
Here are some helpful ways to get engaged in practicing, and things to think about to help motivate you! If you’re a student, keep these things in mind for yourself, and if you’re a parent you can use these as little secret weapons :)
Decide How Long You Will Practice
Even a small amount of practice daily is going to set you apart from those musicians and artists who don’t practice at all. 15 minutes flies by, and that small amount of time will help you retain the information you’ve been learning and set it in stone into your mind. Parents may want to consider beginning with small increments of time for practice, even just 5 minutes, until it becomes a natural activity for students. Who knows, they may even start looking forward to it!
Think About Your Goals
What do you want to accomplish? What are your reasons for taking lessons? Maybe you want to be the next Johann Sebastian Bach 🎹, Mariah Carey 🎤 , Jimi Hendrix 🎸, Charlier Parker 🎷, or Vincent van Gogh 🎨. Do you know what these people all had in common? They all practiced and committed themselves to mastering their skills! Consider setting small goals to progress yourself. Thankfully, we have The Musical Ladder™ program to help you with this, so be sure to set goals with your instructor!
Take Notes in Your Lessons for Practice Time
Weekly lessons go by fast! You’re either in the room with your instructor for 30 or 60 minutes, and that time can often be filled with a lot of information. Taking notes and writing down goals will give you a place to go back and remember what was said and what you should be working on. For young students, our instructors will write notes and goals in your Lesson Journal if they have one so the parent can review what the student is learning and working on. Use these notes for practice to stay on track! And if you need more info on the student’s lesson, just ask 😎
Give Yourself a Break (literally and figuratively)
It’s easy to get frustrated when you don’t get that scale, guitar lick, or vocal exercise right the first time. That’s why you’re in lessons! Remember that everyone starts somewhere, and you’re doing the work to be the best musician or artist you can be. Take a breath and try again. And then again. And again. And when you do get it, celebrate and DO IT AGAIN!
Be Realistic
Did you know that most professional classical singers are in lessons for 11 (ELEVEN) years before they are ready to perform? Really puts things into perspective! If the student is young, be patient as they’re working through the small things that may feel tedious and too simple. If you’re an older student just beginning, you will need to move through some basics before mastering the big stuff! Work hard and enjoy the process, and be realistic with your progression!
For the Parents: Don’t Punish Students with Practice Time!
In the old days, this was a common practice (pun intended). “Johnny got in trouble, so he has to practice the piano for 30 minutes”. This does not build a healthy relationship with music for the student! It’s one thing to teach students to commit themselves to their music education and incorporate practice into their schedule (and you should!), but creating a punishment with it is damaging and the student will learn to resent their practice time. Artistry progression is a skill students will retain for their entire lives, and it should be taught to be an enjoyable process!
Reward Yourself!
You should celebrate your achievements! When you master a new song, skill, or technique, take a moment to congratulate yourself, and maybe grab an ice cream cone or slushy to pay yourself on the back. If you’re the type of person to be laser focused on your goals, it can be east to simply move on to the next task and not acknowledge your accomplishments. Thankfully, we incorporate The Musical Ladder™ into our lessons so students are recognized for reaching goals in their lessons!
This article and its contents are property of 601 Studios, Music & Arts Academy and are not to copied nor reproduced.
