Consistent practice leads to confident musicians! The People’s Music School team weighs in with some simple steps to help students succeed at home, from setting a regular time to building a distraction-free practice space.
Set a time
“With busy schedules and a lot of things vying for attention, providing a set time and place a couple of times per week for a student to practice will give them the space to work on what they need to to keep improving.” – Michael Thompson
Keep it short
“Create a routine for your child’s practice schedule and stick to it. Set aside 15 minutes per day for your child or student to play their instrument. Short, consistent practice sessions are usually more effective than one long practice session.” – Kelly Dennis
Create a space
“Create a space in your home or designate a space in your child’s room that is clear of distractions so that they can have a great practice session. Students: make it a special space so that you can set yourself up for success.” – Stephanie Londoño
Repeat, repeat, repeat!
“When a student can play a section of their music 5 times in a row correctly, then they’re ready to play it faster or move on to learning the next section. If they make a mistake on the 4th or 5th time, they need to start their count over and continue working on it. Accurate repetition makes a big difference!” – Natalie Butler
ABOUT THE PEOPLE’S MUSIC SCHOOL
The People’s Music School is Chicago’s oldest and largest 100% tuition-free music school, serving 800+ students across the city. Our mission is to deliver access to the benefits of high-quality, tuition-free music education. Through intensive instruction and performance, our students achieve excellence in music that transfers to other areas in life. They grow musically, socially, emotionally and intellectually, and develop a foundation of responsibility, self-esteem, resilience and purpose.