Reimagining Practice: A Praxis for Musical Mastery

The Essence of Teaching MusicTeaching music goes beyond the simplistic act of progressing through a method book or introducing students to new scores. As a private music studio teacher, I’ve come to realize the importance of teaching students how to practice. It’s not just about making music; it’s about equipping students with efficient and effective strategies for problem-solving difficult passages.

Practice as Progressive Activity

The notion of practice often brings to mind repetitive and monotonous actions. However, practice should be conceived as a progressively engaging activity, akin to learning to ride a bicycle. When a learner practices, they should be gradually doing the activity until they reach an interim goal. The concept of stopping at a mistake, correcting it, and then resuming from that point, fails to provide contextual understanding. Instead, the corrected passages should be integrated back into the flow of the surrounding music.

Nurturing Interest and Improving Skills

The material chosen for practice should resonate with the student’s musical interests to foster an inherent desire to improve and make discernible progress. It’s crucial that students “hear” the music in their inner ear, allowing them to identify and correct their own mistakes.The introduction of scales, arpeggios, and exercises should be timed appropriately, ideally when a student is fully able to master new notation and is at the point of needing to perfect technique. Premature introduction of these elements can lead to disinterest and stagnation.

Strategic Skill Development

Teachers play a key role in guiding students to tackle new music that presents more advanced stages of skill development. It’s about teaching students to take challenges out of context, focus on them as momentary skills, and then stringing together a series of these challenges. This approach allows the music practice to flow, similar to how a basketball game strings together a series of discrete skills.

Quality Over Quantity

The effectiveness of practice should not be judged by the amount of time spent, but by the quality. The aim should be to promote intelligent practice. This involves dedicating time in each lesson to practicing strategies, identifying difficult sections, and receiving feedback from the teacher in real time.In conclusion, reimagining the practice of music as a praxis for continuous learning and improvement can transform how students approach music. It’s about fostering a culture of curiosity, strategic practice, and a love for music that can lead students to musical mastery.