Practice

"The right sort of practice, carried out over a sufficient period of time leads to improvement.  Nothing else will."  Anders Ericsson


Don't panic! A student WILL improve without practice but just not as fast.  Piano playing requires co-ordination between then hands, arms, feet, back and shoulders;  it requires listening, interpretation, memory, recognising patterns, reading music...etc... etc.  Because of the way I teach with attention to foundation skills and understanding what you are doing, lessons without practice will mean a student will be able to play and understand what they are doing just not at a very complicated standard and may not be able to do exams if that is what is wanted.


How much time should I spend practising?

"Students should practice to achieve goals set in the lesson or by personal goals set at home, therefore the amount of time is not relevant, it is the effectiveness that is important."  Lucy Gwynne-Evans


I can't get started!!  ðŸ™€

"If you're having trouble getting started then the first step is too big."  ADDitude magazine: inside the ADHD mind


This is one possible reason out of many why practise isn't done.   Building a routine is a great method of success and to start the routine off just focus on playing one note! ... but at the scheduled time....


For an easy & useful read about helping your child to enjoy music practice please buy the short physical or online book called:  The Practice Pie by Nicola Cantan.  It should take you an hour at most. 


Learning music is like learning another language.  If you learn how to say "Could you tell me where are the toilets please?" in Spanish one week, you cannot expect to remember how to say it one week later if you do not go over it in between time. 


Anders Ericsson PhD (Professor of Psychology at Florida State University) spent 30 years investigating practice and the idea of talent versus hard work and deliberate practice.  What makes an expert an expert? 


In his book Peak written with Robert Pool, he describes his experiments, research and findings - and by the way - it's a really easy and fascinating book to read or listen to.  There are various short youtube videos describing some of his theories also such as:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoUHlZP094Q&t=154s


Anders work was where the 10,000 rule came from - the idea that once you've done 10,000 hours of practice you are an expert.  However, from his research  he corrects himself.  The 10,000 hours needs to be deliberate effective practice not just random practice without brain engagement taking up time.


To learn something new, our brains need to create new neural pathways.  If you only do something once, the path will be fragile but if you keep repeating it correctly and with brain engagement the pathway will get stronger and thicker. 


So - how to practice effectively?  Well for sure, if you don't know what you're doing or are new to something then time spent at home practising could even create the wrong neural pathways!   As a beginner it is better not to do any practice if it's going to result in a bad technique or incorrect fingering etc.


Effective Practice the Merry Music Way

As I've said elsewhere on this website, I will accept all levels of commitment even if families can't build practice into their lives but if that's the case please please encourage listening to music and a variety of styles not just pop.  As a musician we need to do active listening though.  There is a small paragraph on listening below but I will be explaining active listening on another page. 

 

The notebook is there to remind students what we did in the lessons and what to practice in the week.  If they can't read my writing - please read it for them!  So parents - please encourage the students to check their notebooks every practice session. 


Often, I won't have time to describe in detail the way to practice something or how to do a new technique.  This is where Seesaw comes in.  I will post explanatory videos / descriptions as necessary with time allowing.  Similarly, students can message me on Seesaw for clarification on things. 


I will also put general messages on Seesaw on "how to practice". 


For a beginner, the main thing is to get into a routine and regard piano practice as a natural part of life like brushing your teeth.  The amount of time isn't relevant, it is building that routine that is important. Even if it's just playing 1 note in time while listening to a favourite song or drum beat or making up their own little tune.  Or even - listening to a piece of music and clapping along.   Listening is vital.  


Listening

When we learn a language as a baby/toddler we learn by listening first and copying the sounds.  We do not start with reading.  The same should be viewed with music. We will be playing different styles, students cannot hope to emulate or understand blues/jazz/country etc if they haven't heard it before. 


Interestingly, recently, I have found out that neurodiverse conditions such as dyslexia and ADHD have issues with listening.  People with such conditions find it hard to listen, focus and connect what they are hearing with what they are seeing (reading). 


Nagging versus encouragement


The ideal would be if children went joyfully to the piano when asked without argument. Unfortunately this is rarely the case.  


In summary - try this...

  • Be interested in what your child has done in their lessons - show me
  • Set up the piano space with the books on the stand or nearby, stool ready, nothing littering the piano stopping it being opened.
  • Sit down with your child and work out a piano playing routine.  
    • Together - they need to take ownership - look at the week's schedule and let the child find a 10 minute slot preferably 5 times a week that they can agree to.  Write it down!  Print it out! Stick it Up! 
  • Gently remind your child at the agreed time.  (They won't remember) 
  • Sit with young children and listen / help them read the notebook / look in their music books for the dated pieces. (I tick the ones we have finished with in the lessons but they can still be played at home). 
  • Get family members from across the world to listen to little concerts via digital video platforms. 
  • Give loads of enthusiastic encouragement.  
    • "Wow - you're working really hard at that!"  
    • "That sounded good - what's it called?" 
    • "Can I join in and play one of your notes?  Which one shall I play?  Can you teach me?"


You decide whether to use screen time or similar as a reward factor or not.  Maybe it's a "you can't go on the ipad until you've done your practice" and if you set this up from the start it will become expected and not an argument - but whatever your motivation tweaks you need to consistently keep it going and yes it's hard but once the routine is there it's easier. 


Please do not expect your child to be desperate to practice.  It can often be viewed as being boring especially as they need to stretch themselves a little to improve and repetition is key.   Often the enjoyment factor comes in achieving that difficult passage or hand position change.  With effective/deliberate practice strategies the brain can be prodded into curiosity and creativity - reducing boredom.


Also - in my experience - it is the thought of practice that is off putting and that once a student sits at the piano it's not so bad!!


Paul Harris, world renowned music educator, teacher and exam adjudicator has created a book on effective practice.  Written for teachers, it's really handy for parents too!  

The Practice Process by Paul Harris