How do I get my child to be motivated and practice?

“How do I get my child to be motivated and practice?” 

 

The answer is - Help them achieve a feeling of mastery by creating an environment in which they will learn more easily. Hearing sounds they will make with their instrument creates a familiar inner vocabulary that doesn’t feel like a foreign language.

Listening really is the secret to progress with the Suzuki method. But is an aspect that can so easily be forgotten or neglected. 

I notice students who listen the most, really do seem to learn their pieces with more ease, with more accuracy, and with less anxiety! This is because they have heard the example enough times that they have internalised it, and are then quick to figure it out themselves and self correct at home, be it notes, intonation, rhythm and even bowing. Lesson time is then not spent so much with me ‘fixing’ things, or ‘teaching notes’, rather spent on tone, technique, musicality and teaching points for the next piece. Thus obviously making quicker and more satisfying progress for all involved.

 
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What we hear when we are listening

  • An excellent example of what we are aiming for

  • Intonation 

  • Tone quality

  • Articulations

  • Bowings

  • We hear what kind of options are available to us

  • Phrasing

  • Timing

  • The style of the piece

  • Interpretation

  • Dynamics

  • The accompaniment.

  • We get inspired.

 

How much listening?

Dr Suzuki required 6 hours a day for his book 1 students! 

I know these are different times and we all have very busy lives, so I would say as often as you can but really really try and make it a daily routine, with a special focus on the piece that has just been learnt, the current piece and the next piece. Aim to have heard those 3 pieces 5x each per day. But ideally the whole CD through at least twice a day as well.

Where to listen

  • In the car

  • During breakfast/getting ready for school

  • Falling asleep - even while sleeping has proven to have a remarkable effect.

I would also encourage you to listen with your child, not only does it mean you will also recognise when things are not being learnt correctly, but it shows them you value it also.

Active v Passive listening

I encourage my older and more advance students to do active listening as part of their practice. This means following the music or score while listening to their piece. I could ask them to listen out for specific things like phrasing, accompanying parts, or interpretation etc. For younger students active listening, could mean singing, clapping or dancing along, or making up stories to what they hear.

Passive listening means just having it on quietly in the background, and would be the majority of your listening.

 
 
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