Parental Involvement

Many parents ask me what they can do to motivate a student’s progress. Without question, the teacher-student-parent triangle constitutes the team effort necessary for a student’s success. Here are a few suggestions:

• Listen enthusiastically to pieces your student enjoys playing (even if you’ve heard them 100 times already!)
• Make a recording or video of your student for a record of progress. They make great gifts to family members too.
• Decide on a practice time and gently remind the student when it’s time to practice. Let her/him decide what to play first. Encourage the student to stay focused until all parts of the assignment are completed (or divide into 2 sessions).
• At least once during the week, check the notebook to see if the practice techniques suggested at the lesson are being used. (Hands separately, eyes on music, eyes closed, section practice etc.) Check to be sure the theory assignment is completed each week.
• Listen to the CD recordings I assign with your student or help them browse Youtube for videos of their pieces being performed.
• Listen for technical work such as scales, arpeggios, chords. I usually assign these with the metronome. (Metronome practice is required for all intermediate and advanced students.) If your student is racing through a piece, ask what his/her goals are for that particular piece that week.
• Avoid making corrections of your own. This may drive you crazy when you keep hearing a wrong note, but it’s difficult for a student to learn from two “teachers” at once. Let the student have the chance to make the discovery or allow me make the correction at the next lesson.
• Take your student to concerts, the symphony, chamber music.
• Listen to piano music in the home. Young students love sonatas or concertos by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, Chopin waltzes, Scott Joplin rags, jazz trios etc. Listening is of vital importance to the developing musician. Make gifts of music that the student enjoys listening to.
• A trip to the music store to browse can be fun and motivating. I welcome music selections brought in by the student.

Artistry at the piano takes many years to develop. Be patient if your student is in a slump or doesn’t want to play on every OMTA recital. Keep in mind the big picture. Our role is to observe and encourage music as it finds its way into your student’s life.

Ellen at: ellenmcquilkin@gmail.com