When your music students don't practice do this

[@aenema22]

Very helpful video. I work with a great variety of students, and the bottom line is that not every student is studying piano for the same reason. Some of my students are autistic nonverbal and the goal of the lessons is to teach them different ways to communicate. Another of my students is taking piano specifically because she fidgets and has trouble focusing. She will only ever practice the pieces she likes, so the trick is to get her to love the pieces. Progress has been slow but steady. With students like this, I will usually just casually mention, "Hey, we've been on this song/unit /chapter for a while now, how much longer do you think until you'll be ready for the next one?" I'll then flip ahead in the book, or grab the next one off the shelf and play them some of the upcoming pieces. Rote and memory pieces also work great. In an ideal world, I would love it if every single one of my students practiced every day, but as music teachers and more importantly as musicians, we all know this is never going to be the case. Establishing expectations is very important between the student, teacher and parents, whatever form those expectations may take. A lot of the time, the parents won't know what they want out of the lessons, and the student may be too young to know, so it's up to us as teachers to lay out the options and approaches we have in our skillset.

[@ColourfulKeys]

Very true

[@TheWandererNotlost]

I'm a long-time pianist but just started teaching this year. Wanted to say I discovered your channel and videos recently and I'm finding them very helpful and inspiring - thanks!

[@ColourfulKeys]

Glad you’re here!

[@BenjaminGessel]

If (whatever musical instrument) music lessons are not one of the top 3 or 4 priorities or DESIRES of a music student, it’s gonna be not fun when things get for REAL with music lessons (usually that’s at the intermediate or late intermediate stage). Gotta put the time in for lessons to work…

[@barbmiller9285]

Besides Crossing the River, what other VMT games can a student do if they are totally alone when they practice?

[@ColourfulKeys]

Look up the Practice Plays in the library. 😊

[@BenjaminGessel]

Sometimes it’s a repertoire issue. (The kid hates what is assigned.) Sometimes it’s confusion about what to focus on more/how to practice more efficiently. Sometimes it’s a parent-student (their kid) conflict. Sometimes it’s truly being overbooked. Sometimes it’s parents not being there/practicing is too unstructured. Sometimes it’s the method just being too “academic” for a kid…. Lessons should be hard work, but I guess some parents/kids just want to have fun. Mixed feelings about that crowd, yes indeed…. Sometimes it’s schedule conflicts within the family. Sometimes it’s distractions. Sometimes it’s viewing the teacher as the “bad guy” all the time. Sometimes it’s just focusing on the tunes, not the technical exercises, etc. Sometimes other stuff is taking over. Sometimes the teacher is trying to push the student too much. Occasionally perhaps, not enough…

[@boboschme2193]

I am a Guitar Teacher. Done this Job for over 14 years now and i have around 60 Students at the Moment from which only 5-6 really practise. One of my Students (10yrs old) doesnt have the lesson book. I told his Mother several times: "Please buy hin this Book so he can practise at Home." This is going on for the last SIX MONTHS!!! Last Week he came in. I asked him if his Parents bought the book finally. He repiled: "No, they think 15 bucks are too expensive." Being a Music Teacher is a horrible profession and - after the years - i hate everything about it. Always wantet to be a performing artist or sideman, sadly never worked out the way i wanted and now i stuck forever with this agonizing crap of a Job.

[@ColourfulKeys]

I’m sorry to hear your frustration. It really doesn’t have to be this way. Try reading some of the business articles on our blog to set things up better for yourself at colourfulkeys.ie/business

[@boboschme2193]

@@ColourfulKeys Thanks!

[@dalmanoide]

About being a performing artist, just go outside and play as much as you can on the street. The more you practice and are visible outside, the better :) (I'm not as good as you, but it's what I'm trying to do these days)

[@boboschme2193]

@@dalmanoide I also started developing a complete hatred für music in general. In the last weeks i on a couple occasions said to my student that music sucks and they should quit playing their instrument.

[@Angelo-z2i]

​@@boboschme2193At this point, just use the lesson time to make them practice. Put the book in front of them and go do something else while they practice.