Four common mistakes concerning piano practice

1. Giving the child a set amount of practice time for each day, but not supervising the practice.
When I graduated college I taught private lessons for a while in the prep department where I graduated. I once had a young student who simply was not progressing like she should from week to week. The parents were concerned about her lack of progress. They told me how she practiced every day all on her own. As it turned out, the child was spending all of her time at the piano banging around and playing music from previous recitals. She was spending adequate time at the piano, but not really "practicing". She was not practicing her new music at all nor was she completing her written theory assignments. While do not want to extinguish the child's exploration at the keyboard or repetition of old music, we do need to encourage the child to accurately practice new assignments before composing their own pieces and working on old songs. New concepts can also be incorporated in the child's exploration in order to reinforce the new theory lessons learned each week.

2. Simply "running through" the pieces assigned without giving adequate time to the music.Another common mistake is to simply run through all of the assigned pieces like running through a checklist. Sometimes the student plays through the assignments too fast, and does not play accurate rhythms or notes. Other times, there may be a more difficult passage within the music that needs more attention. When a mistake is made, the student needs to go back to the point of mistake, study the music and isolate that section slowly until it improves. It is worthless to mindlessly practice music without trying to make improvement each time. Work to set goals each time you practice. Ask your child to set these goals in practice. Ask, "What can you improve about your performance of this piece?" "What do you think you could do better next time?" Seek a more specific answer than "I want to get more notes, or I want to play it faster." Specifically ask about their use of expression, their rhythm, or their memory work. Let the child learn to critique himself.

3. Practicing the same WAY each time.
Get creative in practice. Don't just sit and have your child play the same thing over and over in the same way. Count it out loud. Say the letter names of the notes. Search for hidden patterns in the music. Sing the words. Listen to the recording. Have you child teach the song to YOU, or to a sibling. Make it a game. Interact with your child during the practice but keep it light and fun. Instead of always generically praising your child for a job well done, point out specific things that you noticed during practice. Or better yet, ask your child to point them out. Asking them how THEY felt about the way they played a piece can help build confidence from within that is not based on outside praise.

4. Pushing the child too hard to practice a certain length of time, progress to the next "level" or learn a new piece.
It is much better to have a few short practice sessions than to try to push your child for a longer period of practice. If the child feels pressured or overly critiqued, they will not enjoy practice time. Let them progress at their own pace. Reward them for their time, praise them and make it a game.

One of my favorite Maria Montessori quotes is "teach teaching, not correcting." We do have to correct mistakes from time to time, but let's try not to ALWAYS be correcting. We want to set the child up for success by progressing at the child's pace and presenting each lesson in a way to prepare them ahead of time for the more difficult concepts.

Keep practice fun and always try to end the session on a positive note. You want to leave your child looking forward to the next practice session and lesson.

Let's Paint the Town Purple!

January is our "Paint the Town Purple" month! We will start out the month with our "bring a friend" week, January 13, at 10:00 am. Bring a friend to Kindermusik class and enjoy the magic of music together!

So, forward this post to your friends, or click on the facebook share button to the right of this page, and post it to your profile.

Classes at the Cherubs Clubhouse are only about $9.00 per week plus materials. This not only includes your class, but also playtime on the Cherubs Clubhouse play equipment after class!! Invite your friends to come play and make music with you next week!

Music Class Demo Week in Pelham

We have had a great demo week for music classes at the Cherubs Clubhouse in Pelham! I had originally scheduled the Kindermusik demonstration class for Wed. at 10:00 and piano class for Thursday at 4:00, but due to weather concerns, I had to try to "beat the snow" and reschedule for Wed. afternoon. We had a fantastic turnout at both classes yesterday (even with the reschedule) and are looking forward to music classes starting in Pelham next week.

I have also scheduled another Cherubs Clubhouse piano demonstration class next Thursday at 4:00 due to the possibility of today's class being cancelled due to snow. I have 6 spots available in my demo class, so please call 437-3478 or email me to reserve your spot.

Piano and Kindermusik will begin next week at the Cherubs Clubhouse. In piano, we will begin by establishing a strong steady beat and sense of rhythm. In Kindermusik, we will begin establishing a class routine, work on singing, movement, experiment with instruments and imaginative play.

Private lessons began this week at my Bruno and Inverness studio. We had a great week back after the break and are looking forward to more music classes here in Birmingham!

January Demos!

Give your snowman a break! Come celebrate the kickoff of our spring music classes at the Cherubs Clubhouse in Pelham! We will have a FREE Kindermusik session on January 6 at 10:00 for kids 4 and under as well as a free piano session on Wednesday at 4:00. On Thursday, January 7 at 4:00, weather permitting, we will have a another FREE demonstration of our group piano class for kids 4 and up. Come see what music classes we have to offer at the Cherubs Clubhouse. There are still spots left in most of our classes so come try out a class and see what you think! We have students coming from all over the Birmingham area to our classes so be sure to come see for yourself what all the buzz is about!

Come play on our WARM indoor play gym for 15 minutes after our 30 minute class. Check our website for a complete list of our classes! Our January term will start on January 13.

What should I buy my child as a first instrument?

Someone at one of my classes today asked me my opinion on good first instruments for young children. I thought I might be able to elaborate a little better on my blog.

For preschoolers and toddlers, there are three things important in an instrument 1. Safety and durability 2. the instrument should be developmentally appropriate 3. the instrument should have a pleasing sound to the child

1. First and foremost, be sure that any instrument you purchase is safe. Some cheaper instruments tear up and pose a choking hazard for your child. I have tried out many different kinds of instruments and more often than not, the cheaper instruments do not last long at all. Read customer reviews on any instruments you find online. Kindermusik international sells durable instruments that are specifically made for children and made to take a beating. I also love Remo drums. They are beautiful instruments and durable as well.

2. Make sure that the instrument is developmentally appropriate. Before rushing out to by a 2 year old a guitar or a piano consider the attention span and fine motor skills of your child. You want your child to like music right? Then buy them an instrument that they can feel successful at. They may enjoy banging away at a glockenspiel or keyboard but it probably will not last long. The simple instruments like rhythm sticks, egg shakers, and drums can provide hours or imaginative play as as well as working on steady beat and motor skills. These instruments can be played in so many ways which not only provides your child with a creative outlet but also works different sets of fine motor skills and hand eye coordination. The simple instruments prepare them for success at the more advance instruments later on.

3. Be sure that the instrument you choose has a pleasing sound to you and the child. One thing I like about Kindermusik instruments is that they have a good sound. Some of the cheaper instruments that you might find have a loud brash sound that grates on the nerves after a while! The Kindermusik egg shakers in particular have a nice pleasant sound as well as the Remo drums. For drums, you can also vary your drumsticks. I prefer using paintbrushes, paper towels rolls, and wooden spoons over the loud drumsticks that come with more drums.

Sometimes, the best instruments can be found for free! Tupperware containers, coffee cans, pots and pans and cardboard boxes make great drums. Water bottles with beans inside make good shakers. Body percussion is even cheaper than homemade instruments. Put on your favorite CD and find different ways to tap and move your body. Put hand motions or sign language to your child's favorite song. There is so much that can be done at home for free. Also remember, if you take a Kindermusik class at the Cherubs Clubhouse, you will get a quality, developmentally instrument and a CD as part of you materials for you to continue the music at home.

Recital at the Cherubs Clubhouse

Many thanks to the Cherubs Clubhouse for helping me put on my piano recital tonight! I think it was a big success. I would like to thank Kathy and Sharon at the Cherubs Clubhouse for helping with the set up and behind the scenes work. I would like to thank my mother and husband for helping with the food and watching my son during and after the recital. I would also like to thank the parents of all my students for helping them practice at home and for bringing them out on such a rainy night.

All the students performed well and had a great time. I was very proud of how prepared and poised they all were. It looked like they were all pros at performance! The younger kids had a blast on the play equipment after they played while the older kids enjoyed playing games on the Wii. This was a first recital for many of my students and the relaxed atmosphere at the Cherubs Clubhouse was perfect. This was definitely a one of a kind recital experience that I hope all the students will remember in a positive way. We made a recording of the recital which I hope to be able to put on a CD for my students to take home next week.

We have a busy week this week at the Cherubs Clubhouse. This Thursday, Dec. 3 we have our first group piano class at 4:00. Please call and book your spot so we will know how many materials are needed. Classes are $8.00 per child. We are also going to have our Kindermusik Christmas parties at 5:00 on Thursday and 10:00 this Friday, Dec. 4. Please call to reserve your spot at the Kindermusik parties as well. Check out my website for more info on our group classes starting a January. Imaginations Music Studio

Group piano
Imaginations Music Studio presents group piano lessons using the Mayron Cole Piano Method which is a unique, innovative and enjoyable way for students of all ages to learn to play the piano. Hallmarks of the program include teaching the student to think for him/herself and developing musicality in each student. To achieve these goals, the program emphasizes note reading, consistent counting, and creative thought in each lesson. The method currently contains nine levels, from Pre-Primer to Early Advanced, plus three Older Beginner levels. In this method students concentrate on learning to read notes-not hand positions and finger numbers. Typically, students taught by this method are very proficient at sight-reading, counting rhythms, and keeping a steady beat. It is an excellent method for presenting and constantly reviewing theory concepts. It presents analyzing theory with each composition while constantly reviewing "old" concepts. When students have friends their own age in a class, they are usually more motivated to learn, form a cohesive group, and have a lower dropout rate. Practice and performance levels are usually raised due to each student striving for greater correctness on scales and pieces. Students seem to work harder at pleasing their friends in group piano lessons than they would work for a teacher at a private lesson. Group games make learning theory fun and improve socialization skills. Students usually have a strong peer motivated desire to practice. The kids enjoy weekly low-pressure performance opportunities. In addition, longer class periods permit the incorporation of ear training, solfege, rhythm drills, and ensemble skills which are essential to developing skilled musicians. This method helps the student develop not only skills but a life-long love of music. The group method is an excellent method for beginners and continues through nine-levels. This method provides a solid basis for those students who transition into private lessons as they become more advanced.

Upcoming Events

We have several upcoming events at the Cherubs Clubhouse in Pelham! Next week, we will be having a piano recital at the Cherubs Clubhouse on Dec. 1!

Then we are having our Christmas parties Dec. 3 at 5:00 and Dec. 4 at 10:00! Come for playtime, music time, and a visit from the North Pole! Each family will go home with a Kindermusik Christmas CD to enjoy all month long! Admission will be $8.00 per person.

Our introduction to piano class, for 4 to 7 year olds will be on Thursday afternoons at 4:00. Cost is $8.00 per class. No piano is needed for these introductory classes. Come sample a few classes!