Music Scholars Time for Practice
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Music Scholars Time for Practice
Are the any music scholars' mums or dads out there?
I'm a newbie here and my DS has just started the big school as a music scholar. Everything is fine, but we struggle to find time to practice his 2 instruments when he comes home at 6:30 in the evening. How do you guys do it?
And most importantly: how long is the practice per instrument? I'll talk about it at the first parents meeting, but I'm hoping to get some advice from here until then.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Edit: Forgot to add the busy 3 - 4 evenings with extra activities (you know, the usual: scouts, orchestra, sports etc).
I'm a newbie here and my DS has just started the big school as a music scholar. Everything is fine, but we struggle to find time to practice his 2 instruments when he comes home at 6:30 in the evening. How do you guys do it?
And most importantly: how long is the practice per instrument? I'll talk about it at the first parents meeting, but I'm hoping to get some advice from here until then.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Edit: Forgot to add the busy 3 - 4 evenings with extra activities (you know, the usual: scouts, orchestra, sports etc).
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- Location: Buckinghamshire
The answer depends on the instrument and the standard they are already at.
Both my children (1 at Independent and 1 at Grammar) have music lessons interleaved at school.
We found that you will struggle to get more than about 1/2 hour per day from them due to homework and other commitments. This probably isn't sufficient for them to progress quickly enough so we found the best thing was to supplement the lessons and ensembles etc with 2-3 day intensivem instrument workshop. These intensive sessions really helped them to progress quickly
For my daughter this was some of the flutewise residental courses in Brighton and Staffordshire; and for my son a Sax Summer school in Harrogate. They both did the piano as there other instrument but this takes a lot of time.
Apart from the School ensembles and orchestras that also both joined the B/Ham Music service groups which practice every Saturday.
Later on they both did Grade 5 theory evening classes.
Both my children (1 at Independent and 1 at Grammar) have music lessons interleaved at school.
We found that you will struggle to get more than about 1/2 hour per day from them due to homework and other commitments. This probably isn't sufficient for them to progress quickly enough so we found the best thing was to supplement the lessons and ensembles etc with 2-3 day intensivem instrument workshop. These intensive sessions really helped them to progress quickly
For my daughter this was some of the flutewise residental courses in Brighton and Staffordshire; and for my son a Sax Summer school in Harrogate. They both did the piano as there other instrument but this takes a lot of time.
Apart from the School ensembles and orchestras that also both joined the B/Ham Music service groups which practice every Saturday.
Later on they both did Grade 5 theory evening classes.
Pencilone,
It is not how much you practise but how well you practise. 15 minutes of diligent practice,paying attention to problem passages or bars in the scores will be more effective than trying to cram in a set half an hour per instrument, especially when tired.
Having attained a music scholar level, your DS will be able to hone his practice to make sure he is improving day by day. It won't be so critical then if he missed a day of practice if he makes it up with good quality practice on other days.
It is not how much you practise but how well you practise. 15 minutes of diligent practice,paying attention to problem passages or bars in the scores will be more effective than trying to cram in a set half an hour per instrument, especially when tired.
Having attained a music scholar level, your DS will be able to hone his practice to make sure he is improving day by day. It won't be so critical then if he missed a day of practice if he makes it up with good quality practice on other days.
Nicholas
Tipsy
Uppingham run summer school course for children and adults for a variety of instruments
http://www.uppinghamsummerschool.co.uk/ ... weeks.html
Also look out for a number of summer school courses abroad. My daughter went on a very good 10 day flute summer school in Croatia a few years ago. Check out some of the good music shops such as John Packer or Top Wind - they will be able to advise.
Uppingham run summer school course for children and adults for a variety of instruments
http://www.uppinghamsummerschool.co.uk/ ... weeks.html
Also look out for a number of summer school courses abroad. My daughter went on a very good 10 day flute summer school in Croatia a few years ago. Check out some of the good music shops such as John Packer or Top Wind - they will be able to advise.