Got the Practice Blues? A few Solutions

We all want our kids to do well in all they do, but sometimes we hit rough patches where we need to change things up so keep the momentum going.  I know I am the same way with even the hobbies I love the most.  A few parents have given me permission to share some things that are helping them keep practice fun and effective, so I'll share them today and a few others that have been a hit at our house.  For more ideas for every level and on multiple concepts, see the Making Musicians LPM blog, as well as searching this blog for posts labeled practice helps.

First Year --

• Keep practicing specific things to a few minutes 3-4 times a week so kids don't get bogged down... then leave the bells and CD in an easy to access place so that the kids will naturally experiment and make their own discoveries.
• Make your own autoharp or download an app so they can practice honing their chord playing and develop their ear for when chords should be played.  More info HERE.
• Let the kids be your teacher.  Have them point at the bells to play for a specific song.
• At the grocery store, let your child practice baby steps and skips using the floor tiles.  The very next tile is a baby step, hopping over one is a skip, and more than two tiles is a leap!

Second Year --

• There is a fabulous video on the LPM blog demo-ing a game for Yellow Arrow students to learn their note names with the alphabet pieces game.  CLICK HERE
• Trade places and have the kids point while you play the piano.
• Have kids try to balance a smartie or other small candy on their bubble hand as they practice playing the fingers you sing.  If it stays on they get to keep it.

Third Year --

• Look for unique times and ways to reinforce concepts.  One mom shared their bathtime solution (pictured above).  Writing on the wall is usually a no-no, but with a wet erase or dry erase marker, windows and bathroom surfaces can turn into a classroom with a captive audience.  GREAT IDEA!