Music, like any activity, is easiest to maintain if you make it part of a daily schedule. The same routines that help keep our lives balanced can also sustain our hard-won skills and abilities. Encourage your students to set aside the same time everyday to practice. Get parents on board to help with the scheduling and encouragement. Suggest morning practice sessions, as children are often freshest and most eager to learn earlier in the day, and play later in the day can be seen as a reward for their practice.
Students are more enthusiastic when they listen to and play the music they love. As part of your holiday exercises for your students, ask them to learn and play a favourite song or soundtrack. If possible, find sheet music of their favourites or write out melodies for them to practice. Encourage more adventurous students to learn songs by ear.
Pre-pandemic, your students may have been fortunate to perform holiday-themed songs in public or a community setting. Students can still find opportunities to work on their performance skills, but this year they will do so only with their immediate families. Encourage students and their families to play, practice, or sing their holiday favourites as a group.
Depending on your students’ level, setting goals for them over the holidays can include memorizing a small number of pieces, improvising using songs they already know, learning to sight read, advancing on a level, or learning scales or chord sequences.
Children love technology! An easy way to keep them focused on their practice and performance routines is to have them record their performances, with their parents’ help. These performances can be shared with family and friends who may not be able to visit in person during the holidays. Having students rehearse performances will also help them feel more confident and prepared for virtual recitals.
By now, your students will probably be accustomed to online lessons and learning. There are a number of apps designed to boost musicianship skills online that can complement your lessons, including the RCM Online Ear Training Tool and other resources. For young children, RCM Music Theory apps put a fun spin on the building blocks of music, with lively narration and engaging games. These learn-anywhere apps are a good way to keep young musicians motivated over the holiday season.
Helping your students stay engaged over the holiday break will ensure that their musicianship skills and abilities stay sharp and fresh.
Sign in or sign up to join the conversation.
