Episode Highlights:

Practice must be Regular

It’s just what you do.

Aim to practice at the same time every day.

I suggest my students practice three times their age.  A 7 year old student should aim to practice at least 21 minutes daily.

Be the parent.  Expect your child to procrastinate and argue about practicing.  This is normal.

Setup a good practicing environment

Give your child a good, quality instrument.

Minimize household noises. Turn off the TV.

Strike a good balance between being present to help your child and giving them privacy to make mistakes and learn work on their own.

Give your child support and encouragement.  Tell them your favorite pieces and let them play for you.

Remember what it feels like to learn something new.

What to practice once you get to the piano

Know your teacher’s expectations.

Know your child’s work tendencies.  Do they prefer to start with the most challenging pieces? Do they prefer to warm up with pieces they already know?

Practice within 24 hours of the lesson for the best retention rate.

Learning new pieces is tedious and awkward. Students face new challenges every single lesson

Links mentioned in this episode:

James Clear’s Two Minute Rule

Gladewater Opry in Gladewater, Texas