How to Practise

If there is one thing that is guaranteed to cause stress between parents and their musician child, it is practise.

Progress on a musical instrument relies on regular practise - without it improvement will be slow and quite often results in the student giving up in frustration.

Below, we provide some ideas on how to turn practise from a chore into a rewarding and fun experience so that

The first thing to recognise is that progress is not linear, and that the hardest part when learning an instrument is the beginning. At that point there is unfamiliarity with the instrument, difficulty in producing a sound, learning basics like fingering, learning to read music, grasping concepts of rhythm and in general coming to terms with the process that will (quite soon) enable the playing of tunes and making music.

It can be really helpful to allow your child to see and hear a really good instrumentalist so that they have an idea of what is possible at a future point in this journey. A good video on Youtube of a professional player or soloist on their instrument can really inspire and allow them to have a goal. There are also instrument videos on this website in the Play an Instrument Section too.

SaMMbassadors

The students at SaMM are surrounded by a rich and positive musical environment in which they obviously thrive. Every time I have worked with the students there, taking various workshops for all levels and ages, I have been struck by the engagement of each and every student, their passion and creativity coupled with a with willingness to learn and participate, as well as the inclusive atmosphere. I always look forward to these exciting mornings full of musical discovery.

Veronika Shoot

From my own observations, having worked in music and music education for 40 years, it seems clear that music is a powerful thing. On one level it's something that can provide distraction, comfort and amusement. We use music in this way every day, both consciously and unconsciously. But at a deeper level music is something that changes lives and empowers us.

Colin Riley Composer