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Some Helpful Hints in Making Practice Effective, Rewarding, and Fun

Same Time Each Day:
Set the same time every day to practice so that it becomes part of a routine or habit. This works particularly well for children. Generally the earlier in the day practicing can occur, the less reminding required by parents to get their child to practice.

Repetition:
We use this method quite often when setting practice schedules for beginners. For a young child, 20 or 30 minutes seems like an eternity. Instead of setting a time frame, we use repetition. For example, practice a section of a piece 4 times every day and this scale 5 times a day. Focusing on the number of times something must be practiced rather than a target length of time allows for more concentration on getting material right rather than just making it through the next half-hour.

Rewards:
This works very well for both children and adults. Some adults reward themselves with a cappuccino after a successful week of practicing. Parents can encourage children to practice by granting them occasional rewards for successful practicing. In our school, we reward young children for a successful week of practicing with stars and stickers on their work. Practicing allows for better performance in lessons, school, and concerts, which is much more satisfying then not giving the effort to do well. Praise tends to be the most coveted award; there is just no substitute for a pat on the back for a job well done.

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