Here are a few usueful pointers to help you or your children with practising at home.


Firstly, it is important to bear in mind that the piano lesson in and of itself is not sufficient to support your learning needs entirely therefore,here needs to be time set aside at home and outside piano lesson time where you can review and internalize what was introduced in the piano lesson. This time is what we refer to as Practice Time or simply, Practice.


 Practice Time essentially should be jointly negotiated between the teacher and pupil and expedited with the parents' guidance asit is the parent that will have a thorough understanding of the set up arrangements in the home. 

It is ultimately the pupil's resposibility to ensure that the assigned elements are addressed and improved on by the next scheduled piano lesson if indeed there is to be steady progress from week to week. As parents  (the fee payer) will indeed have a vested interest in this process I hope that these few words will also serve to support parents in organising things at home so that an effective practice regime is installed which will give rise to more progressive future lessons

HOW vs HOW MUCH

It is not so much as how long  someone practises that is important but rather HOW that time is used. Rememeber always... QUALITY over q u a n t i t y!!! To ensure that pupils practice effectively it is imperative that the following process be followed:

  1. LESSON NOTES IN HAND
    • Obtain your most recent lesson notes 
    • Find them on your email or parents email
    • Find them in MMS by logging in
    • Send Alan a text now!
  2. CLAIM YOUR SPACE
    • Minimize distractions where you practise; turn the tele off, shut a door or 3, plug your headphones in
    • Tell everyone around you that you're practising!!!

  3. ORGANISE YOUR STUFF
    • Lesson notes
    • Music
    • Pencil & rubber
    • Metronome
    • Clock
    • Glass of water
  4. WARM UP
    • With scales or exercises 
    • 15 minutes
  5. P R A C T I S E !!!
    • Take one piece, what do the lesson notes say to look out for or do
    • Slow practice?
    • ABCDE practice? Dont just play through, break it down into sections.
    • Separate hands? Weakest hand then join the other
    • Quicken? Speed up the tempo gradually, you could use a metronaome for this
    • Dynamics! Listen and play carefully.... REPEAT
    • Phrasing & Articulation! Listen , Feel, Play Carefully ...REPEAT
  6. COOL DOWN
    • With scales or exercises 
    • 10 minutes

SEE DIAGRAM FOR PRINTING AND INSTALLING NEAR THE PIANO TO ASSIST YOU