When children don't practise at home, we can't help but feel frustrated and at our wits end. All we wish from them is to progress in a tangible way and hope they fall in love with music.

There is no one solution to this issue but there are some ways you could turn this around when the going gets tough so that your child will continue to enjoy their music learning journey.

We have collated our 12 top tips as attached and highlighted in summary a few below.

For the younger students, I suggest you establish a weekly practice routine. Carve out just 3 or 4 blocks of 10 to 20 minutes in your week and set them aside for your practice time with your child. Your child will soon be accustomed to focusing and taking on new learning at these set times. It will eventually become habitual and everything just becomes easier.

2) Make the practice fun and not make it seem like a negative chore. You could include for instance challenges - time based challenge in note reading or doing a scale challenge. Learning music should be fun.

3) Your tone of voice and words when encouraging practice should be supportive. Make practice a positive experience at home just as our teachers endeavour to make every lesson a positive experience for your child.

4) You can support your child by:-

a) taking an interest in and sitting in during lessons and/or listening to him/her practise. Young children need you to sit with them and direct activities according to the weekly practice plan given by his/her teacher;

c) making positive comments and noticing improvements. Whilst you work with them to correct glitches, make sure you celebrate what they do right - little successes!

d) doing little things like setting up family concerts for visiting friends or relatives is a great way to highlight progress.

5. Use the Practice Buddy Our online practice app is the best practice tool for students learning from one of our Forte courses. There are play-along audio files and videos which are fantastic in getting the practice going at home. It is fun too!

6. Participate in our Practice Program. We have our latest Pooh Bear who is always hungry for more honey (reward stickers). The reward stickers lead to gifts to reward practice efforts. We do this to foster interest. Talk to Ms Pik or one of our teachers if you like your child to join this fun reward scheme. Here is the form as attached to chart your child's practice.

7. If the going is still tough, talk to us. With any long term activity, we can expect challenging periods, As we all know the ability to play a musical instrument brings immeasurable lifelong joy and well being, we will certainly endeavour to work with you to overcome the challenges.

Forte School of Music Mt Waverley

We seek to inspire musicality through our creative teaching

Music Notes 3 /2023 copy · 01 Jun 2023

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