When Practice Lags

Nearly all students start with the best of intentions. Somewhere along the way things go off the rails. It is a discouraging moment. Life has gotten in the way. Or, you are bored. What to do?

Some solutions from my students:

1. Tell the teacher that over the next few weeks or months practice will be taking place in lessons only. Teachers understand and most will cheerfully spend an hour with you each week waiting for the storm to pass.
2. Other activities taking over previously sacred practice time? Well we can't ride two horses at once. A clear-eyed look at competing priorities is needed. 
3. Family crisis? Maybe you just need a break for a while. Two options. Option one pay to hold your spot for a week or two. Option two, take your chances that a spot will be open upon your return. But family comes first. 
4. Bored? This is most common cause of lagging practice. Some questions to consider. Are you practicing properly? Have you scheduled enough time in the week to meet your goals? Please scroll though my blogs below for my thoughts on practicing. 

Now for a story. 

I have a 12-year-old student. She loves piano, she respects me, she is cheerful in class, but she hasn't been practicing for some time. I was thinking she was about to age out. (If you are an adult restarting or parent of former students you know what I'm speaking about.)

So last week I gave her an instrumental pop piano piece of Andrea Dow. Yesterday, at lessons she plays it through with only minor bumps. Hmmm... We next try some pop lead sheet exercises from the same composer. She plays them right away.

I say, "I need to speak with your mother". She looks worried. I say, "don't worry I want to say something nice about your work this week". Mom comes bounding in the room and before I can say a thing happily asks me what did I do last week in lessons? Her daughter has been practicing 45 minutes every day!

The question answers itself. As we age, we change, our motivations and musical preferences change. So, we need to change our repertoire to reignite desire and fun in the practice room. 

best