Building Practice Momentum
“The most important thing you can do to achieve your goals is to ensure that as soon as you set them, you immediately begin to create momentum.”
Anthony Robbins
Success begets success. I want to work harder when I feel like I am getting somewhere with something. When I feel like I am going nowhere, I want to stop. This is human nature. From day one, I want my students to feel awesome. Like they are making progress and moving ahead.
I have learned that if I want students to succeed at music, I have to get them to embrace music with both hands. I need them to be not only motivated but to be self-motivated.
I do this by carefully selecting music and materials that are tailored to each student. With preschoolers and young children, I begin by using colorful hands-on activities. For older students and adults, I have a variety of repertoire that will appeal to students of varying levels, ages, and abilities.
If I can teach them to play something that sounds and feels good at the first lesson the momentum begins. When students and parents come away with the feeling of “wow, this can really happen” they will be looking forward to the next lesson, and the next.
I use verbal encouragement. I make it a point to highlight success. I look for positive things to say. Maybe a student has a naturally relaxed hand position, or a great sense of rhythm.
Here are some of the things I look for.
- A great attitude
- Good verbal skills and the ability to express themselves.
- The ability to sit quietly and listen.
- A lot of energy.
- A good sense of rhythm.
- A naturally good hand position.
- Ability to match pitch.
- Ability to imitate and clap rhythm.
- Naturally good tone.
- Understanding of the music notation being taught.
- Any prior musical knowledge.
- Other arts or activities they are involved in.
Any and everything that is positive I do my best to reinforce. I say these things often. If parents are within earshot, I make sure they hear the positive comments.
I also have to examine my own momentum and motivation. I don’t believe I can give what I don’t have. In a later chapter I share the things I do (and don’t do) that keep me feeling positive and motivated…most of the time.
My goal is to put the train on the track and give it a good push. I know that once we are off to a good start, the momentum will start to build. Giving us a strong journey.
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