Hopefully, piano lessons are provided year round so students
do not suffer summer slump. However, as school starts, students may find that
they have less free time to practice the piano because of homework demands. Time
management is key.
Tomoko knows that “Each piano piece has some kind of physical challenge," which requires persistence. Tomoko also associates learning to play the piano to mountain climbing. “You need to go up lots of small mountains. If the road is right, you will reach up. So practice daily, and step nicely.”
Tomoko likes to practice in the early morning before the
household gets moving. However, residences are different sizes, and the family piano
might be too close to sleeping quarters to use that strategy.
Oftentimes, scheduling the same hour each for practicing
establishes a predictable habit, not only for the piano student but also the
rest of the family. Sometimes it is more effective to have 20-minute sessions
spread out during the day: say, around breakfast time, soon after arriving
home, and after dinner are possible timeslots. Another idea is to have a 20-minute
practice session between homework assignments; that break can also serve as a
way to clear the mind and use a different part of the brain so that the next
homework can be done more productively. Obviously, such scheduling should be a
family decision. Having a set regular hour also helps the player to focus
completely on practicing: playing “in the now.”
Distractions can cause the player to lose concentration so
silencing the phone, ignoring the computer or TV, and hearing earbuds can cut down
on outside noise. The family should also try not to disturb practice time as
well; if study time is not to be disturbed, then practice time should fall under
that same rule.
Managing time also helps one develop more self-discipline,
which can lead to a more successful life.. Tomoko agrees. “Music is part of my daily
schedule. It is a discipline.”
