An Answer for Angel

Angel asked:

Ms. Satz (I’m assuming I’m talking to the author of the book, correct me if I’m wrong), I have a teenaged daughter who plays the flute. But, sometimes, she would rather play with her friends than practice. I know she’s good, because her music teacher at school said she was, but sometimes…well, she’s just not that into it. Is there anything I can do to get her to practice more or take it seriously? She really has talent, and I don’t want to push her, but I don’t want her to miss out, either. Any suggestions? Angel

You might try arranging for her to play little programs in hospitals and nursing homes.  Even a half hour program would be appreciated by the patients.  Also you might try seting her up with a few other music students and have them play duets or trios, and practice if possible in your house, or a community center, or even in a park (especially during the summer). The problem with getting someone to practice is that they don’t see the forest for the trees.  They think that all there is is practice and no reward.  The reward is finally getting out there and DOING IT!!! The FUN comes from being able to play for people and having them enjoy it and the applause doesn’t hurt either.  It makes the student feel that all the work is worthwhile.  One small concert is good for at least two weeks of inspirational practice. When you have friends over, if the student likes to play, ask her or him to play for your friends. (Of course, if your teenager doesn’t like to play for people, that one won’t work.) Don’t expect the student to want to sit for hours at a time and practice.  Smaller sections of time — a half hour here, a half hour there, works better than expecting a student to practice two hours at a stretch.  Maybe the student will do a better job first thing in the morning for a while, and then later in the day again, and then before bedtime. Choosing periods during the day when nothing else competes with the practice often works well too.  Don’t forget about taking the teenager to concerts where he/she can hear real musicians play the instrument.  Oh, and another thing, never, never tell the student that what he’s playing sounds badly (even if it does).  That’s the quickest way to turn the student off.  Always think positive.  Be creative in your suggestions, and above all, be supportive.  The support of a parent is very important, even if the student pretends it isn’t.  I wish you and your teenager the very best of luck.  Musically speaking, Phyllis Sdoia-Satz

 

Do you have a child studying music who just doesn’t like to practice

Parents of students here at Sdoia-Satz Music Institute, often ask us how to get their children to practice. That’s one of the biggest reasons I wrote the book….to help students, and parents of students find ways to make practice more tolerable.  Let’s face it.  Practicing isn’t fun, but the tips in “Practicing Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To” helps make practicing more productive and enables the student to accomplish more in less time. 

A couple of tips from Practicing Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To

It’s never too early or too late to learn to play a musical instrument.  Choosing the BEST instrument to learn takes some thought, and realistic motives.

When you look for a music teacher, look for the best your dollars can afford. 

Check the teacher’s credentials. Call the local colleges, call the musician’s union, call the local orchestras. Don’t just choose some neighborhood teacher with very old-fashioned ideas, or one who is very young and inexperienced.  The neighborhood kid who will come to your house for practically no money and give lessons, could do more harm than good, and could turn you or your child away from music for years. 

Look for the best you can afford, and then go get it.  You’ll be glad you did.

Thank you for your comment about Practicing Sucks

I’m so sorry.  I wrote a thank you to Frank for reading the book, only I wrote it all in the “title”.  Learning about this blogging business is really not going to be so easy, at least not at my age.  Anyway, Frank, thank you for your comment. Now you should come down to Miami to check out the Sdoia-Satz Music Institute, because this is where all those tips for getting the most out of practice started. These are things that occurred to me while teaching our students.

More About “Practicing Sucks” But It Doesn’t Have To” Book

“Practicing Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To!!!” written by Phyllis Sdoia-Satz,  pianist, educator, author, composer and Executive Director of Sdoia-Satz Music Institute in Miami, is the first in a series of books which will help students learn faster, easier, and with less stress than they ever thought possible.  Practicing anything  means repeating something or some part of something again, and again, and again, and again until the student can finally make the body “do” it,   or until it drives the student crazy, whichever comes first.  This first book is written for music students and/or aspiring music students, and/or their parents.  The next book in the series will be on homework, and the one after that will be on physical education.

In a light-hearted manner, the book teaches the music student (and the parent) what to look for, and what to expect, from the very beginning, from the moment they begin contemplating music instruction. It has hundreds of tips for how to make practice  more productive and tolerable, — and how to get the best from practice in the least possible time.  The book is admittedly irreverent and funny, but has words of wisdom ad infinitum.  It talks to the student and the parent from the hip,—no nonsense here. “Practicing Sucks”is a “must read” for anyone  contemplating starting music lessons, or for those who are studying music and wish they could get more from their hard work.

About “Practicing Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To”

“Practicing Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To”  is the first book in the “Practicing Sucks, But…” series by Phyllis Sdoia-Satz

Sdoia-Satz Welcome

We would like to thank everything for coming to the Sdoia-Satz Blog. Please feel free to jump on in and discuss all the happenings of the site and the Sdoia-Satz Music School. We have a lot in store for you as the days and weeks unfold.

This is our first attempt at blogging about the school.