Below you'll find a list of my 7 favorite ways to make your cello lessons really "stick." If you're not a student of mine, that's okay, these still apply to any teacher, regardless of the instrument or subject matter they teach. 1. Make practicing and private lessons sacred.
Schedule vacations and business meetings accordingly. Turn off your cell phone & email dings. Make a designated spot in your house for practicing. Take a deep breathe before beginning. Light some candles even!
2. Be sure you’re on the email list and subscribe to my blog.
I try to post twice a week on my blog, sometimes more and send out a Studio Newsletter once a month. So if you're only receiving one, you're missing out on some really great stuff!
Sign up for the newsletter here &
subscribe to the blog here. Each of these will have
practice tips and tricks,
games to play with your child in practice, general writings on
holistic teaching,
fun inspiration,
videos to watch, and that was just over the past couple weeks! (Also if you tweet, follow me! -
@emilyapeterson)
3. Get familiar with the Studio Policy.
This will help you further understand my expectations and help the administrative side of my life go
way smoother, then I can focus on you guys!
View the Studio Policy here.4. Gather your own practice toolkit & USE IT.
Rosin, blank flashcards, WASP cards, dice, numbered cards, metronome, electric chromatic tuner, pencil, paper, highlighters/markers/crayons, extra copies of your music, water, timer, and anything else that helps you practice.
5. Attend concerts, especially Emily’s.
I make a point of accepting
performance opportunities that my students would enjoy. Going to concerts and getting yourself out of the practice room is really great for cello inspiration. Take note of your observations and share them in your lesson. Talking about those observations make for some great lessons, regardless of the genre of music you heard! There are countless community orchestras in the Seattle area, get their calendars and get a move on!
6. Get Creative
You or your child will greatly benefit if you keep your eyes and ears open, pay attention to details, and take small steps, all while thinking outside the box. There is no right way to practice, but there is such a thing as inefficient practicing. This is especially true if you’re not making practice a fun, unique, diverse, and effective.
7. Communicate
If you’re experiencing a roadblock or speed bump in your road of progress, let me know. I have enough experience to help you find the right solution. Same goes for my teaching methods, if something is not working, I can’t change it unless I know about it.
