Management of Practice
- Establish a regular practice time when both you and your child are rested and at your best. Try some time in the morning, before school.
- Encourage your child to expand his/her efforts, but avoid pressuring him/her. Provide lots of positive comments; words of praise first, on even the smallest accomplishment; then, constructive comments for improvement.
- Remember that there are basic ingredients to be included in each practice session.
- Warm-up, or tonalization, if your child is at that level.
- Preview work on new material, the most difficult spots
- Polishing of current material
- Review and concert performance pieces
- Reinforcement of good playing posture and habits at all times
- Note-reading will eventually be introduced and this, too, must become a segment of the practice time. This involves, at first, simple recognition drills using the staff only, and then finding the notes on the instrument. Even if you are not a musician, you can quickly learn enough to keep one step ahead of your child in these early note-reading games.
- More advanced players will also be assigned additional technical studies such as scales or supplementary material not in the Suzuki literature. It is expected that these note-reading games and technical studies will be practiced every day.
- Even if you don't have a solid 45 minute block of practice time, grab the odd 10 and 15 minute periods available for warm-up and positive practice. Spacing out the practice time not only makes practice possible in busy families, it also provides optimum learning. (Concentration is greater when mental and physical fatigue are eliminated.)
- Be courageous! When things get dull, everyone's patience wears thin and progress seems slow, but don't be stymied. Think up new games and ways to practice.
- Occasionally, a plateau or particularly trying time may call for a change in practice. Periodically, the substitution of a home concert or review is better than no practice at all.
- During practice sessions, involve the child in the process. Instead of telling him "it's out of tune," ask him what he hears. Remember you are teaching your child how to practice. Ears, eyes, and brain need to be trained to analyze problems and provide solutions. Eventually your child will be practicing without your help.
- Even if you don't want to be a pushy parent, be advised that you must provide the initial motivation. You can't wait for your child to get in the mood to practice. You must pull your child through discomfort and discouragement to success. From then on, your child's own motivation will be stronger and will carry him/her to further successes.