Setting up a Practice Space
By now you’ve probably learned that daily practice is important. Daily practice helps move our skills into long-term memory. But how do we foster this daily practice at home? It starts with a great practice space.
It doesn’t take much room to practice, but you need an area of the home that is free from distraction. If the TV is on, siblings are cruising by, or you don’t have what you need at hand, it’s going to be difficult to focus. So find a corner of a quiet room that has an area for the student’s instrument and supplies. You could add an inspirational quote or picture to the wall. Post a calendar or laminated daily practice sheet. Adult learners might like a chair. Parents of children will need a chair so that they can be at the child’s level. Children will need a space for their twinkle mat.
Practice should remain a positive experience. Make sure that practice time isn’t when the child is hungry or tired. Make sure that the practice parent has the time free to sit with the child during practice. Children won’t always want to practice, but if practice sessions happen at the same place and time every day, it will become a habit. Parents should enforce daily practice in a positive and loving way. The teacher will provide tools to help with this such as a practice mat, practice dice, multiple engaging exercises, and other small practice toys.
Adult and children learners should record their practice times in their practice log and bring these to the teacher each week.
Finally, avoid making practice time a transactional experience. Avoid bribing the child or offering material incentives to practice such as stickers or treats. Avoid punishments like “if you don’t practice you can’t have screen time.” Instead dig deeper and focus on the fun relationship that you are having together and model to them how you practice your own full-size violin for the pure enjoyment of it. Listen to the beautiful recordings together and attend fine concerts together. (For more information, google “transactional parenting.”)
