Make a practice plan....

Do your students understand WHY they need to practice? Do your students know HOW to practice?

At the beginning of every piano school year, I talk through the 5W’s (and an H) of practicing. We revisit this sporadically throughout the year, especially if a student is struggling to build a habit of practicing.

Who practices?

Who can help you practice? (parent, sibling, teacher - CALL ME!)

What do you practice? (I show them how I mark their assignments - sticky notes on their assigned pages - written assignments in their assignment book - get your Practice Book here)

Where do we practice? (at home - NOT DURING LESSON TIME!!! Lesson time is for learning and performing, practice is done at home - this is especially important to emphasize with older students and really good sightreaders)

Why do we practice? (help them discover and take ownership of the purpose)

How do we practice? (Discuss strategies based on students age, skill level, and need. Options - time amount, 3x each, focus on certain pieces, chunking, working backwards, playing by ear, scales, finger exercises, etc.)

After we go through the 5W’s, we make a practice plan. I ask elementary (and sometimes middle school) students to work with their parent to come up with the day & time they plan to practice. I encourage them to pick a spot in their schedule (before breakfast, after school, before dinner, etc.) rather than a specific time. For my older students who have a little more say into their daily/weekly schedules, I have them set their practice time and write it in the worksheet.

Purchase a downloadable copy of the 5W’s and Piano Practice Plan from TPT HERE.