STUDENT QUESTIONS

QUESTION 4

The thing I have the most problems with is actually getting to that place where the music actually starts to come together and is fun to play. I hate to admit it, but most my practice time comes from my lesson. There will be a week here or there that I do practice every day, but it's just hard for me to get motivated enough to actually work at it. My worst habit is sitting down at the piano with every good intention to practice and work out that section that I can't play yet, but I always seem to get side tracked and either start to write something or just mess around until I find something better to do. There's so much that I want to do and so much to accomplish, but I just don't seem to have the work ethic right now to accomplish much of anything. And it's been this way awhile. But one thing I'm definitely not going to do is give up trying. =)
Shelley, age 15

MARY GAE GEORGE answers:

You will succeed in music, Shelley. I know this from your closing sentence: "I'm not going to give up trying."

First of all, let's transform "trying" into "doing." It is obvious from your e-mail that you want to accomplish good work at the piano, so let's find ways to make practicing as meaningful to you as a good performance is.

Here is our plan:

1. You need to become your own cheering section and your at-home teacher to give you a sense of the importance and thrill of accomplishing specific goals.
2. Make carefully thought-out plans for your daily work and when you have accomplished the plan find some small but meaningful way to reward yourself for meeting your goals. (One of my favorite rewards is savoring one delicious, fresh raspberry!)
3. I want you to plan your next six practice sessions in a pleasing way. Write down what you will do and the order you will do it in. Here are some suggestions:
A. Start with something you enjoy and can do easily (like part of a piece you play especially well).
B. Then tackle something challenging (like part of that same piece that you want to improve).
C. Use the skills you have learned at your lessons to make definite improvements. You may even want to imagine your teacher there with you, encouraging you and making suggestions.
D. Remember to set realistic goals for yourself so that you are encouraged by your success.
E. After accomplishing your challenge, plan to do something easier by way of a change of pace.

In this way, plan one or two short sessions for each day, alternating between what you can do easily and what needs to be done. But do not let ANYTHING get in the way of accomplishing your goals.

Your progress will be your sweetest reward, Shelley, and it will be something you give to yourself through your own planning and effort.

After several days, you will begin to feel the delight that steady and disciplined application brings. Then you are on your way.

Practicing has its own pleasures, but they are most obvious when you go to your lesson well-prepared and are given new things to work on. Over a period of weeks, you will find your skills and accomplishments growing and blossoming. Soon you will see your daily practice as a special time that you very much look forward to. You will be in charge, and you will have control over what happens each day.

Many people find it helps to have a Practice Log in their assignment book. Set up a whole page to show the duration of your work for each day of the week on each line, and the week's total practice at the end of the line. Here is a model for two weeks of practice: