“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good.
It’s the thing you do that makes you good.”
It's already mid-summer! Sometimes the lazy days of Summer can pose a challenge for music parents. To remedy this, we have our Top 5 Music Tips to ensure that you and your child have a fun and musical summer.
With regular school on pause, it may be challenging to encourage your child to continue practicing with their instrument. Summer practice is necessary to maintain some of the gains they have made during the school year.
There are so many fun ways to inspire summertime music-making. Below are our top ideas for children to do during the last days of Summer.
1. Sign up for Music Camps
Check out our website www.LeadingNoteStudios.com for the two camps we have in August. Each year we have a fun theme, and this year is our Western Theme. They are called Rock-y Mountain Band Camp and Pioneer Intro Camp. Our camps run from 9-12 pm daily.
Making music with other kids can help to encourage practicing at any time of the year. In addition, camps give the child the chance to make music friends and let positive peer engagement work its motivational magic.
2. Go To A Concert!
Summertime concerts have the attraction of being cost-free, such as the local bands and orchestras in public parks. In addition, the fun of attending a live performance can spark a child's interest in making music themselves.
3. New Music & Scavenger Hunts!
Our teachers encourage children to branch out and try different kinds of music that they might want to try on their instruments, for example, movie music from Star Wars or Pink Panther!
Young children love scavenger hunts! For example, try hiding index cards around the house (or in a basket) for your child to find. On the cards include the names of songs or exercises to practice.
4. Reward Systems.
Many parents use various types of reward systems. Some use “reward minutes” and are given to their child to cash in on weekends to play Wii video games, or IPad and TV time. Rewards are a beautiful way to bring acknowledgment for the time spent practicing.
You can also place a cotton ball in a jar each time your child does a good job practicing. When the jar is full, choose an activity as a reward, like watching a movie, or going on an outing. Education experts say that rewards—if used in moderation—can be effective motivators.
5. Shining Examples and Role Models
Parents who also learn to play an instrument can model good practice behavior by fitting in some practice time themselves, even during the dog days of summer. Music should enrich everybody's life"—even a busy music parent.
Summertime music activities have the unique advantage of helping kids stay connected to their studies to be ready for full-time lessons in the fall. And finding a fun activity to help stay connected to music.. Well, it just Rocks!!!