Practice doesn’t make perfect…
Practice makes permanent.
Happy New Year!
Getting back into routine after a break can be challenging. Some of us will jump back into routine without missing a beat, but others not as smoothly. For many of us, that includes encouraging our students or children to practice their instrument.
Consistent practice can be hard to achieve, but is very rewarding. If we can find some time every day, our comfort level and proficiency at our instrument increases dramatically. I’ve watched students struggle to ‘break’ a new song – to get to the point where the song isn’t so hard anymore. That great place when we know what the song is supposed to sound like and we’re fairly confident that we’re getting it right most of the time! It can be frustrating until we reach that point, but once there, the enjoyment of playing our instrument returns.
All of my students have grumbled about practicing at some, or honestly many points in their lesson career. One of my jobs is to help make the process of practicing just a little easier, strive to find an element of fun even in the repetition of practice. I’ve tried stickers, rewards, bribery even. Some combination of these works with most students, but not all.
Students need our support to make the time to practice. Whether a younger student that needs to be reminded or an adult student that needs to “find” the time, we need to support them. They will find their way to ‘breaking’ their songs and enjoyment that brings.
“Practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes permanent.”
