Practice

Practice is the most important aspect of learning to play an instrument. It is very important that you practice every day, even if only for 15 minutes.

As a guide, someone up to grade 1 standard should aim to practice for 20 minutes a day, rising to at least half an hour for someone of about grade 5 standard.

For students of grade 6 and above, it will vary, but by grade 8, you should be aiming to practice for at least 1 hour a day.

Remember to do some sort of warm up when starting to play - breathing exercises, scales, whatever your teacher recommends. If you are not sure, ask. Make sure that things like studies and scales are not skimped on - like vegetables, they are good for you. They develop technique, and will invariably help you to play the pieces you are working on. This will then make preparing for an exam/audition etc etc easier than just going at the music cold.

Remember - playing scales is the only time in an exam situation where you will know both the questions and the answers before you start. Use this advantage wisely!!

Provide somewhere quiet with you nearby

Decide on a regular time of day and length of time

Don't make practice a punishment!!

Make sure that they tick their practice record

Praise good playing and ignore the rest

Get them to play to friends and relations

Don't laugh at their mistakes

Let them play different music if they want to

Make sure that they clean the instrument

Talk about their lessons

Take them to hear live concerts