Forgetting all music grammar after holidays

[Frogusha]

DD is 7, she took Grade 1 piano in June and didn't do any music for the whole summer holiday until yesterday. Yesterday we sat down and she says she can't remember any musical notation - I knew she'd forget her pieces but she can't read music, can hardly remember which keys are which on the piano, and barely managed to play C-major. Is this common? She and I are daunted by learning everything from scratch again. I'm thinking if I should give her an intense crash course (like a week of daily lessons) to get her to recall quicker what she's already learned or with her usual regular lessons (she has 30 mins twice a week) she'd get back on track eventually? She's quite demotivated now, not being able to remember anything.

She might find it starts to re-emerge if she practises every day before her next lesson.

I used to practise throughout the holidays because it's easy to lose the hang of playing/reading if you have a break at this early stage.

unfortunately music is something you really do need to carry on practicing all year round, even top musicians still need to practice daily. My girls do dancing not music but it is the same thing, if you go all summer holidays not doing any then you will start to forget stuff. HOWEVER she will get it back with some work over the next few weeks. Yes she will have to knuckle down and do it and will have to get motivated but it won't be gone for good and will quickly come back, it won't be like learning again from scratch. I haven't played an instrument or read music for many many years (and I mean MANY) but if I actually sit down for an hour or so I find myself starting to remember notes on music. I always struggled to read music too and used to play by ear generally. She will get it back. I would explain to her that she has had a long break from it so her brain has filed it away as not being needed but it it still there and if she practices half an hour a day for the next few weeks then it will all come back and she will get back to as good as she was. Hopefully that might give her enough motivation to give it a go again.

My dd does dance and music and has learnt the hard way this summer she needs to practice both or will de skill. There is only so many times you can tell them. I think it's come as a shock to her too how hard she will need to work to get back to her previous level, especially in dance where she's reliant on muscle strength.

Practising through holidays would be ideal and in fact crucial if you are super serious about it. But as a hobby I think it's quite norm not to practise during holidays and I know plenty children who don't and they are all fine.

DS hardly practices piano during holidays especially summer as he has no access to piano. His progress may have been quicker if he had practiced daily but still it didn't stop him improve and certainly he didn't forget 'everything' after each holiday ( he passed grade 7 with distinction and plays grade 8 standard now). His learning mode usually gets switched on once lesson starts.

Your dd is still young and also at early stage (grade 1) so it may take a bit to get back but I am sure she'll pick things up again soon especially once lesson starts. Tell her not to worry. No need to feel demotivated or daunted. She'll be fine.

Thanks everyone! DD got back in the swing on things (though still patchy on sight-reading), she's playing at a "cake concert" at her school next week. As everyone mentioned about the need for continuous practice I decided to buy her a small touch-sensitive keyboard which she can take when she goes to grandparents - although it won't replace piano at least she can practise a little every day - scales and arpeggios at least.