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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Organising the Practice of two instruments

35 replies

Acinonyx · 03/12/2013 15:57

Dd plans to take up a second instrument when she is 9 and I'm wondering how best to organise practice. At the moment, we do 20-30 mins of first instrument after dinner and some random other times (and usually miss 2 nights for one reason or another) and this is working really well. Not sure about the second one - best one after the other, apart, same time each, every day??? Xmas Confused Not aiming for professional standard but keen to do it well.

OP posts:
OldBeanbagz · 04/12/2013 10:29

When she was at Primary my DD used to practice one instrument before school and the other after. Now she's having to leave earlier to get to high school she does them both in the evening (one before dinner & one after).

Both schedules seem to have worked well and she manages this every day of the week but I'm guessing the music will take up more and more time as she progresses through the grades.

Original poster
Acinonyx · 04/12/2013 09:19

in the morning!!! (Freudian slip due to expense of instruments and lessons????)

OP posts:
Original poster
Acinonyx · 04/12/2013 09:18

I do think having a regular slot works for us - it's a good routine. Maybe one short slot (10 mins) in the money of one and a longer one of the other after dinner - alternating maybe. I'm going to need a spreadsheet at this rate Xmas Confused

OP posts:
Juliet123456 · 03/12/2013 21:56

At one stage we had 3 children with 3 or 2 instruments each which is quite a lot of practices. Currently we just have 1 doing one and one doing 2 which is easier. They both won music scholarships and they don't practice each instrument every day although it would be better if they did. So I suppose my point is if they don't do one one day it's not the end of the world although much better to do 5 minutes every day than 30 minutes once a week.

Most children do it better if there is a regular time. One of mine has 5pm or did until his very recent exam as the practice time at weekends. If I suggested it earlier to get it out of the way he wasn't happy. If I went in at 4.58 he sent me away even.

SilasGreenback · 03/12/2013 21:00

Maybe you could explain to her that to do the second instrument she will have to do 15-20 mins before school so how is she going to fit it in?
I assume from your comment that if she speeds up that would be half the problem solved - so say your suggestion is get up 5 mins earlier, eat and dress quickly and prove she has the time by doing her practise on current instrument then. If that doesn't work then she can't do the second one.

Mine do 2 after school and it can be a problem. It was much better when they did one each before school, but drums before dawn seems a bit antisocial!

Original poster
Acinonyx · 03/12/2013 19:55

Yes that is my impression too - it's a lot after school. Perhaps we will have to be more organised in the morning and Xmas Shock get up earlier Xmas Sad

OP posts:
beatricequimby · 03/12/2013 19:38

One before school, one after on weekdays, more flexible at weekends depending on what we are doing. I think 2 lots of practice after school can be quite overwhelming if they also have homework to do and maybe an after school club or a friend round to play.

Original poster
Acinonyx · 03/12/2013 17:09

We have a lot of stuff going on after school (too much probably) which is why we've got an after dinner slot organised. She's happy to do that at the moment (i.e. I prompt it but she's happy to do it - without prompting it would be more like every other day) - but I can definitely imagine problems with two sessions. She's mad keen to do instrument no 2 but I'm anxious she doesn't drop no 1. I seriously doubt we could do it in the morning as she is SO slow getting dressed and eating.

I do sometimes worry that adding this one more thing will bring down the house of cards!

OP posts:
BanjoPlayingTiger · 03/12/2013 17:00

Ds does one before he leaves for school in the morning and then one in amongst homework. It really isn't easy to organise and this morning he didn't do his practice before going out, so he'll have 2 lots to do this evening.

If you are having to hassle her to fit it in, I would suggest leaving it until she wants to do it (it being the practice, not the instrument). In my experience it just produces too many battles in when they aren't that keen.

marmitecat · 03/12/2013 16:56

We just do one then the other every day usually before dinner. Takes about 30 mins or perhaps up to 45 if ds os feeling particularly diligent or has an exam coming up. I don't deliberately ask him to do the same time every day bit I do insist on daily practise unless he is ill.

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