End on a Positive Note

Thanks for reading my first blog! Three cheers!!!

The topic for today is End on a Positive Note. The key is knowing your child well enough to end your practice session slightly BEFORE your child is ready to stop—while your child is still enjoying herself. This leaves a positive feeling in your child’s mind and makes the child more eager and willing the next day to practice.

Often, as a parent or teacher, we have a hard time letting go of wanting to cram as much work as possible in one practice session. You think to yourself, “I’ve worked this hard to get her here on the bench, now I’m never letting her go!” [Insert maniacal evil laughter here.] You know well the signs that a child is nearing the end of his ability to concentrate: legs start to swing agitatedly, body turning to liquid on the bench, thinking or talking about anything except the piano. Yet, heroically, despite all odds, you push on—“we’ve just got to finish everything on the practice assignment!”

Accept that your child has a limit to her concentration, and work within those limits—even if it means not finishing everything on the practice assignment. You can get to it next time. End your practice session BEFORE the child wants to and you will find that, over time, the child’s desire to practice will grow. His ability to concentrate for longer periods of time will grow, too. It is possible to have a fun, positive ending to your practice sessions! Try it, and let me know how it goes!