I know, I know! Groan, ‘Practice’ boo, hiss.
As a musician and a music teacher who works with music 5 days a week, the idea of practicing my instruments outside of work drives me bonkers too. However, I know the benefits and how little time you actually need to spend regularly on practice in order to be a great musician.
Don't tell any of my old teachers (and my poor parents for spending all that money), but when I say I didn’t practice a single instrument, I didn’t practice at all! Not one bit. There was no dedicated practice on my end whatsoever until I got to eighteen. So I feel like a huge hypocrite when I ask my students to practice, but it does make me very sympathetic to students who find it difficult.
I took up teaching singing and guitar lessons in the Wrexham and Chester area because I knew there were some teachers out there whom I do not trust and who were, to say the least, deeply uninspiring and patronising. Now that I am a teacher, I can’t imagine not supporting students in genuine ways and not caring about their development as musicians. I know how music can help them grow as people. If I had a teacher who cared and wanted to understand how best I learn, I think I would have practiced much better as a child and teen.
So these are some of the best ways to encourage practice for your child and develop practice for yourself.
1) 5 Minutes a Day IS Enough!
Starting out, 5 minutes of practice is more than enough. Getting into the habit of just picking up the instrument is sufficient. Sometimes you will go over those 5 minutes, sometimes you won't, but it doesn't matter. 5 minutes a day is so much better than an hour once a week. Especially when learning guitar or ukulele, which requires muscle strengthening; starting with five minutes and getting used to regular practice is invaluable! I have one student who spends 5 minutes every day at the same time, and when I say he grew from strength to strength in the span of a year, he could play full songs both with chords and tabs and started to understand music theory like a small genius. TRUST me, 5 minutes is not a waste of time.
2) Download a Habit Tracker
Any habit tracker that works for you—download it, use it; it is your best buddy. Get that little dopamine spike as you check off the habit. The other option is stickers on a paper fridge chart. I know adults who love stickers too. If it works, buy those little dino stickers; you deserve them!
3) Relevant Music Lessons
Making sure you pick a teacher who takes the time to explain why what they are learning is useful and all the fun things they will be able to do with what they’ve learned is the best way to inspire students week after week to practice! I never understood why scales were useful as a child. It felt boring and like more school, but I always try to explain why the technical stuff is useful and ways that they will be able to use it in the real world and how they can play their favourite song or write better songs once they get to grips with it. Again, for singing, explaining why you are teaching them how to sing the pentatonic scale or minor scales makes the lesson more enjoyable and encourages students to practice!
4) Getting back on the Horse
If you haven't practiced for a week, in the grand scheme, it won't matter. It just matters that you pick it up and try again! Sometimes, honestly, a week off can do you some good. A good reminder is that if you are neurodiverse, you won't practice like neurotypical people. Find the ways that work for you. You might have to change your practice plan a few times. You need variation; it isn't a bad thing. Work with your brain, not against it!
These are some things I wanted to share about practice for singing, guitar and ukulele and I hope they were useful. Take the pressure off! It is supposed to be fun for you or your child. Everyone wants to do well, and with a decent chunk of kindness and the right kind of support, I believe everyone can!
Wishing you the best day!
Bella x
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