100 Days of Practice Challenge may change your child’s practice habits….but only with your help.
By Allison Trumbo
When I was younger, I was bad at practice. I had swimming on Mondays, piano lessons and violin lessons on Tuesdays, ceramics on Wednesdays, swimming again on Thursdays, gymnastics on Saturdays... I probably only practiced before a concert, recital, or audition. It wasn’t until I got older- like high school- that I saw the value in practicing more frequently… but I still didn’t do it enough. I had soccer practice, homework, and probably way too much chatting on AIM with my friends.
Why didn’t I practice? Because it just wasn’t part of my routine. I didn’t know what I was doing when I opened up my book to practice, and I didn’t know my goal. My goal was something that only my teacher knew, or my dad knew- it wasn’t something that was shared with me, or even manifested by me. Goals were concerts, recitals, and auditions. I didn’t have enough goals in a year to sustain the daily practice.
This is the key- the goal.
Why is it that we do something every day?
We have goals. We want to lose weight, be healthier, smarter, more recognized, feel accomplished.
Sometimes, these goals aren’t as clear to our younger students. In addition, your goal for your student may be different than theirs. Your goals for your child may be related to building discipline, widening their skill range, giving them options and outlets of expression, and providing them with as much education for their development and skills for their future.
They do it because it’s fun, because their friends are in the class, or because they like their teacher. But when it stops being fun and starts getting hard, how do we help reinforce the goals?
We created the 100 Days of Practice to help create healthy practice habits, a routine of practice, and to create extra goals throughout the year surrounding concerts and recitals. Will the 100 Days of Practice be enough to motivate your students to practice every day for the rest of their lives? No. Is a trophy enough to motivate your child to feel a sense of accomplishment for their 100 days of dedication and focus? Most of the time, yes, but there are other things that can be done, and should be done, to help motivate your child throughout the year, and throughout the 100 Days of Practice!
Daily Listening:
Is your student preparing for future skills, techniques, and repertoire by listening to assigned recordings? Get your student excited for what is possible for them in the future, just by listening to recordings of their assigned repertoire, and future repertoire!
Attending concerts, and Watching other artists on YouTube:
Look up artists that also share your child’s discipline, attend concerts and events, and look for ways to show your child a broader community of artists that have the same artistic interests as your child. Looking for recommendations? Ask your child’s teacher!
Suzuki Book Graduations, and Book Recitals:
Did you know Music House celebrates book graduations to students that complete their whole book, and are able to perform it entirely by memory? This Graduation allows for students to showcase their mastery of all the skills within the book!
Parents in the practice, and the lessons:
Are you touching base with your student’s teacher after each lesson, observing lessons, or observing practice? Did you know your involvement and encouragement could make a huge difference in their commitment to their instrument? Children are interested in what their parents are interested in. When you show an interest, they internalize this interest as their own! Practice with your child, and show them you’re proud of them.
Giving your students opportunities to widen their abilities with other styles:
There are so many different ways to be an artist. Diversify your student’s abilities by introducing them to Jazz, Folk, Modern, and more! You never know what may “click” and create a spark within your young artist.
Phoebe Im receiving her trophy for 100 Days of Practice in August, 2020
