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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Can I ask how you get your DC to do piano practice?

35 replies

bigTillyMint · 27/09/2009 17:18

DD has been doing piano for over a year.

She did a joint school lesson with another girl last year (25mins per week), but she found the teacher and the music she was given dull. I did manage to get her to practice say 10mins 5 x a week - the pieces were pretty easy.

She has now swapped to a 1:1 lesson outside of school with a fantastic new teacher who she loves. However, I have discovered that last year's teacher did not teacher how to read music properly, nor did she learn scales. She has also given her quite a challenging but lovely piece of music which she really needs to work on properly for at least 10mins a day.

She is doing the practice half-heartedly and with very bad grace, and is being rude to me when I try to get her to do it (with my help!)

Any hints please?!

OP posts:
KembleTwins · 27/09/2009 18:01

I started learning the piano aged 6. My sister was 8. I really wanted to learn. She didn't. Nevertheless, we did half an hour practice every day. We sometimes had to be reminded, but there was never any argument about it. TBH my teacher was (to a 6 year old) fairly scary, and I didn't want to risk her (imagined) wrath by not practising. I think even at that age I understood it was important. I think it's sad that it has to come down to "how do you get your DC to do the practice". Surely the knowledge that if practice is not done, nothing will be achieved is enough? Sorry. Am poss very naive, and not terribly helpful.

OP once your DD starts to find improvement happens quicker if she puts the practice in, perhaps it will spur her on to do it without nagging.

Original poster
bigTillyMint · 27/09/2009 17:59

Well, that is what I have said too! But when I remind her that will happen, she goes into a meltdown about not wanting to stop lessons, and does the practice really poorly.

OP posts:
newpup · 27/09/2009 17:56

My DDs have lessons. A lovely teacher recommended by a friend comes to the house and they have half an hour each, once a week. They already play an instrument each and had got into the habit of practicing for 10 mins a day before school. They both really wanted piano lessons and as they were doing well at practicing the other instruments I agreed BUT on the condition they do 10 mins a day on piano as well or the lessons stop. They have kept to their word and love the lessons. If the practice trails off then the lessons stop. That was the deal.

They actually both love their music and I rarely have to remind them to practice.

sarah293 · 27/09/2009 17:55

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Original poster
bigTillyMint · 27/09/2009 17:51

Oh Riven, that makes me feel a bit better! It is an arranged version of fur elise, not the original!

OP posts:
sarah293 · 27/09/2009 17:45

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Original poster
bigTillyMint · 27/09/2009 17:31

Thing is, she really LOVES the teacher and LOVES going to the lesson, and the piece is Fur Elise, so not boring - she is just having trouble reading the music. I agree about not forcing her, but she is desperate to go to the lessons.

Do you think I should just not remind her at all this week and she can look a total tw*t when she goes for her lesson?

I can't believe I paid for a whole year and she still can't read the music

OP posts:
LadyGlencoraPalliser · 27/09/2009 17:27

I find that DD1 goes through periods where she is incredibly motivated and practiss loads and other periods where I have to nag her. When that goes on too long, her teacher generally has a word in her ear, which is far more effective than my gentle reminders.

sarah293 · 27/09/2009 17:24

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sarah293 · 27/09/2009 17:22

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