You Can’t Play This To Not Make A Mistake The words above, “You Can’t Play This To Not Make A Mistake” were spoken by a director at a recent music festival to a group of high school band and orchestra students. I’m honestly not sure the students really understood, but as a conscious observer, pianist,
Recitals
What Can My Rock Guitar Student Play at a Recital?
Rock Guitar Recital Songs for Beginners: A Guide from Private Music Teachers As a team of dedicated music educators specializing in private lessons for beginners, we often receive the question: What can my rock guitar student play at a recital? Selecting the right piece is crucial to showcase a student’s progress and boost their confidence.
Why You Should Embrace Music Practice Mistakes
As private music teachers, one of our favorite phrases to share with new students is: “Make two mistakes every time you play.” Why? Because perfection isn’t the goal—growth is. Learning to embrace music practice mistakes helps students move past fear and into progress. Mistakes Aren’t Failures—They’re Feedback When a student fumbles through a tricky rhythm
DON’T Skip The Recital! 5 Reasons Why Students Need Them.
Students need music lesson recitals, this article will help outline why and how recitals are necessary Recital time is upon us. The next 2 months will be filled with song picking, practicing, nerves, practicing, learning and re-learning how to bow, practicing, anticipation, and…practicing! Some kids really look forward to recitals and some dread this time
Why Backwards Practice Works Best: A Strategy for Beginner Musicians
When it comes to learning an instrument, most students (and even some parents!) assume you should always practice from the beginning of a piece to the end. But as music teachers who work closely with beginner students, we can confidently say this: backwards practice works best. That’s right—starting at the end of a piece and
What “Doing Well” at a Recital Really Means: A Teacher’s Perspective
As a team of private music teachers who work primarily with beginner students, we get this question a lot: “What does it mean to do well at a recital?” And it’s a great question—especially because the answer might not be what you expect. For us, doing well at a recital isn’t about playing a flawless
