As we enter the home stretch for Piano Guild, I would like to offer a few tips to make the most of the opportunity and keep it fun!
It's important to recognize that the hardest part of any project for children (or adults) is the homestretch. They have been working on the project for a long time, and they are expected to have all the songs sounding good at the same time. This takes discipline and children aren't typically know for discipline 😉 This makes the adult's role very important. You don't need to spend a lot of time polishing up the songs, but you do need to spend a little time together with your young musician this week in particular.
Please plan to sit with your child for 10 or 15 minutes each day, as it will pay off greatly. An added bonus is that this is a chance to connect in a busy world and for them to see 👀 you are prioritizing their music and not just saying 🗣️ it is important. 👍
You can start by having them play through each song by memory. This will help you see any areas that they may need to practice more. If you hear pausing or jerky playing, even if you are not a musician yourself, you can let them know it needs to be smoothed out.
One way to help break up the practice, if you need to, is to incorporate another activity that they enjoy with practice. For example, if your child enjoys playing a game like Connect Four or checkers, you can play a short game and then have them play through half of the program. Play another game and then have them play the rest of the program.
If your child is having a challenge memorizing the final part of a song, you can use the same technique of mixing fun with practice. Have the child play the challenging part 5x's and then take a few turns at the game, and return to another 5x's of the part of the song. Work in sections, rather than from start to finish every time.
It takes more effort to plan a game to play, but it will be more fun and you may be met with less resistance during this type of unexpectedly playful practice. And when they are all grown up, they will remember how you helped them keep practice fun. 🤩
If your child is 100% ready and you don't need any practice tips, congratulations! 🎉 You can just have them run the program once a day until their Guild appointment. You can double check that they know the scales and chords that go with the songs, and that your child is playing all the dynamics. f for forte= loud and p for piano=soft (quiet)
As always, please reach out with any questions. We are here for you and your family.
Comentarii