If piano students want to progress, then regular piano practice has to be a priority. Consistency really is key! But as any piano teacher knows, inspiring students to practice is not always an easy task.
That’s why I always tell teachers to “mix it up”. Piano practice, like a desk job or an exercise routine can quickly become a mundane task. And when piano practice becomes mundane, piano playing becomes mundane. And when piano playing becomes mundane… everyone is in trouble!
How can we keep piano practice fun?
One way, believe it or not, is to get kids off of the piano. I know, it seems counter-intuitive, but it might just do the trick. Musicality, an important trait in any piano player, does not always have to be developed at the piano. There are many beneficial (and not to mention exciting and fun) ways to develop musicality in our piano students without making them sit at the piano bench for an hour every day.
Music Activities Online
A great way to keep piano students inspired, all the while developing their musicality, is to take advantage of the many great learning apps and sites that exist for free on the internet. One such site is the Exploratorium, operated by the science museum in San Francisco that goes by the same name.
This site has a fantastic “hands on” division where piano students can have fun learning about the science of music. Several activities on this site reinforce concepts such as rhythm and composition.
Remember… This Doesn’t Replace Piano Practice
Online music activities should not replace daily piano practice. But encouraging piano students to halve their time at the bench twice a week to explore alternative musical activities will certainly not hurt.
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