“Play” your music every day!

Want to be a great musician? “Play” music every day!

Between baseball, soccer, art class, dance class, doctor appointments, school work, laundry and dishes, shopping, visiting family and all the other goings on of the busy families of today…when are we supposed to fit practicing in?

Ideally students need to be spending time every day working on their music to progress with ease resulting in satisfaction for both the parent and student. I realize that life is busy and that, more often than not, students are involved in many activities. Sometimes it just feels that there isn’t time to fit it all in. Sometimes the idea of “practice” seems too tedious and well…just too much like work! I would like to suggest that really it is the organization of time and the approach to music activities that is key to helping your little musician tackle their weekly assignments.

How much time is spent in the vehicle travelling to and from activities throughout the week? A half hour ride in the car is a wonderful time to  review music concepts. Bring the tin sheet along. Mom or Dad can sing a pattern, the child can build it. Mom or Dad could call out note names and the child can find them. Sing  the critter songs, talk about who comes next or before. Another great tool is a small whiteboard, available at dollar stores. Mom or Dad can say a rhythm and the child can write it.

Why not play with your food? Can you make a “stepping up” pattern out of cereal or raisins? Build rhythms out of Cheerios or Ritz Bits and pretzel sticks. Have your child sing the patterns they see in everyday life. Three windows in a row make “standing still”.  Ask, “If the first note of that pattern is C what would the other notes be?”

During bath time use soap crayons to draw rhythms in the tub or build patterns out of sponges. Sing bath time songs using a variety of tempi (speeds) and dynamics (quiet, loud).

While waiting in the grocery store line gently tap a rhythm on your child’s back  and have them guess what it is or tap it back to you.  Draw rhythms on a piece of paper and clap while passing the time waiting for an appointment. 

For older students, pack a few Bright Idea pages when headed out to watch brother or sister’s hockey or dance practice or swimming lesson.

By planning ahead and bringing a few extra materials with you as you tackle the other activities lined up for the week, music practice can sneak into all kinds of unexpected places. Of course, time at the piano is required to learn to play the pieces and develop the skills assigned week to week. You cannot learn to play an instrument without spending time developing the physical skills necessary, but there are many activities that can be done without a piano that still help your child to understand and read music.

Be creative. How can your child work at their music skills in a way that is fun for you and for them? Make it less about music practice and more about “music play”!