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30DSR Day 12: Enquire about Student Practice Habits in your Studio

Practice, practice, practice. Students not practicing (or not practicing well) is the biggest frustration I hear from music studio teachers. Today I want to encourage you to take a different approach to cultivating good student practice habits.

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Vibrant Music Teaching members, you can access this resource inside the VMT library. Not a member yet? Find out more about becoming a member here.

30 Day Studio Refresh day 12 Enquire about student practice

Student practice habits

We’re going to ask parents how we can help them with piano practice. And we’re not just asking the parents of students that are having trouble – we’re going to ask all the parents.

Every so often I like to remind my piano parents about their role in my piano studio. When parents are involved and educated, our students make better progress and everyone is happier.

For more tips on getting parents involved in practice time, you might like to read this post: What I Wish I Knew About Teaching Piano Practice 12 Years Ago.

Proactive Enquiries

In this part of the 30 Day Studio Refresh I want to reach out to your music studio parents to find out how practice is going for them. I don’t know about you, but I’d prefer to hear about practice strife or bad student practice habits before they get worse.

Before it becomes so bad that they run out of gas in the tank and they just…quit.

no-gas-in-the-tank

Perhaps none of your students have practice habits that bad. Most students’ practice can be improved though and parents can help make practice better, if you help them first. 

If you’re having trouble putting coming up with an email you’re welcome to use the one below as a starting point. Put it in your own words so it fits your style and voice.

Then send it out and wait for the practice stories to come back.

“Hi *Parent-name*,

     I just wanted to check in with you to see how practice is going at home. Have you and *Student-name* settled into a practice routine that you’re comfortable with? Do you find *Student-name* practices better on *her/his* own or when you’re sitting with *him/her*?

     I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you have about practice time. Your role in helping organise and encourage *Student-name’s* practice is very important, and I know it can be challenging at times.

Let me know how it’s going for you and if there’s anything I can do to help out.

Warm regards,

*Teacher-name*”

Action Steps

  • Craft an email to your piano parents, or use the template above.
  • Wait for replies from piano parents and answer their practice questions.
  • If parents don’t reply, make a note to briefly follow-up with them at the next lesson or the next time you see them.

How is your students’ practice going?

When do your students practice? Do you recommend certain amounts of time or numbers of repetitions they should do?

Share your practice stories, mishaps and anecdotes in the comments below or over in the Vibrant Music Studio Teachers group on Facebook.

Vibrant Music Teaching members, you can access this resource inside the VMT library. Not a member yet? Find out more about becoming a member here.

Did you miss any of the posts in the 30 Day Studio Refresh? Check them out by clicking here.

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