How often should my child practice?
Students should practice 4-5x a week. I know that sometimes life will get in the way of this goal, but you can always do a practicing reset after a lapse!
How long should my child’s practice sessions be?
This varies a lot from student to student and even from week to week. For very young students, it might be 5 minutes; for older students it could be 30 minutes or more. Rather than focusing on a specific amount of time, it's better to make sure that everything assigned is practiced to a point of improvement each practice session. This generally means practicing each piece or exercise several times, focusing on specific improvements (3x is usually optimal).
Should I help my child practice?
From Pre-K through 4th Grade, I encourage parents to be active during your child’s practice session. Go over any notes from me with them and offer positive feedback as they practice. If you have an older student (5th grade and above), do still check in periodically to make sure they aren’t forgetting any important assignments.
We had a bad practice week, what should we do?
It’s okay! There are still two very important things you can do to help your child succeed at lessons this week. First, let me know (or ask them to let me know). This will help me adjust my lesson plans to include review. Second, on the way to their lesson in the car, have them listen to the recordings and/or watch the videos that go with their pieces (if applicable). This will help get them ready for their lesson. More on this here!
We're trying to get into a good practice routine at home, but my kid is resisting and seems stressed out. What should we do?
Let me know. I can help! Every kid is different and we can strategize together, based on your child's unique needs.