Practicing
General Guidelines
Studying music is enjoyable, but it is also hard work!
Students should practice a minimum of 15 minutes a day, five (5) days a week. Ideally, students should plan to be practicing for the same length as their lesson. Please have a quiet area to practice with minimal distractions.
Consistent practice and attendance at lessons is vital. Students who routinely miss weekly lessons and/or skip practice sessions will have significantly slower progress. Progress will not occur if the student only touches their instrument during the lesson.
Schedule practice time to ensure it happens. A few minutes of focused practice is better than skipping a day.
Lesson notes should be reviewed at the beginning of each practice session. It is helpful for students to review and make additional notes after their lesson.
Focus on improvement and problem-solving during practice, not the time remaining. Mental engagement during practice, not endless repetition, helps determine student success.
Students need encouragement and support to develop good practice habits.
Violin and viola students who have been taught to tune their instruments should always tune at the beginning of each practice session. Please do not practice on an out-of-tune instrument.
Special Note for Violin & Viola Students
Music Theory
Students with music theory workbook assignments are encouraged to complete a small portion of their assignment each day. This helps keep material fresh in the student’s mind. Questions about assignments should be asked at the next lesson.
My goal is to answer all student questions by the end of each lesson. However, there may be times when extra help is needed before the next lesson. Please email any questions. This encourages good communication and prevents the student from feeling discouraged and/or frustrated. If I can’t help the student through email, I’m aware of the issue and can help at the next lesson.
Questions Outside of Scheduled Lesson Time
Some teachers regularly assign students to listen to recordings. There will be times that I may do this, but only for a short time and with a specific purpose. Students should not depend on recordings to learn assigned music.
In place of regularly assigned listening, students are encouraged to listen to all types of music and attend concerts. More advanced students might beencouraged to listen to other works by the same composer.
KVNO, a radio station on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, is recommended for listening to Classical music. (Link will open in a new window.) Performances from orchestras around the world, along with many other fine programs are broadcast.