#97 Back to school practice success with these 3 things “WCC”

By Christy | the Practicing Pro

www.ScotiaSuzuki.org

You can also Watch / Listen to the LIVE HERE

One of my favourite quotes from Shinichi Suzuki is, “Music is a language of the heart without words”.

All children can learn to speak and all children can learn to play music. Music is a language. And it really is a language of the heart that can teach us and our children SO MANY things!

Dr. Suzuki believed that talent is learned - it’s not inborn and that every child can learn. He believed that one’s environment, and not genetics, is the key to learning.

All children are different and they all learn at different rates with different styles of learning. But all children CAN learn and that means that all parents and all teachers can also learn. Both parents and teachers can learn how to connect with their children and teach them through their many changing stages, guiding them to become happy, contributing adults in society.

That’s what we all ultimately want, right?

We want them to be happy, and we want them to contribute to the world in a positive way. Regardless of if their contribution is big or small, we want it to be in their own special and unique way. We hope that this will ultimately bring them, again, HAPPINESS.

In Dr. Suzuki's book called “Ability Development From Age Zero” he says, “Music exists for the purpose of GROWING an admirable heart.” He also says, “The heart that FEELS music will feel people.” And “the ability to feel music means UNDERSTANDING the human heart.”

He believed that nurturing children’s hearts with love and music would have a huge impact on changing the world in the future.

He believed that the main purpose of music lessons was not to make professional players (though that happens), but “to create persons of a beautiful mind and find ability.” He taught teachers and parents that they must NEVER stop learning how to be better teachers and parents! So bravo to all of you here listening to this live or reading this Blog and taking the time to want to be a better parent or a better teacher! Your children and students are so lucky to have you! Because you are humble and always learning and wanting to improve.

Before we continue, though, I want to have a heart-to-heart with you and introduce you to the WCC.

1. W is for WHY

Remember this excitement that you have right now – you know... The “I can’t wait fir this year”, “I’m so motivated”, “I’m very excited with new goals” to be in this space - and I want you to carry that with you through this entire year. Let’s figure out your WHY and put it on the free goal PDF and post it where you can see it all the time or in your practice binder to take a peek at on the not-so-great days ok?

At our recent parents’ meeting at our school we brainstormed as a group of about 70 parents and teachers the following list. It's so beautiful and I want to go through it with you and see if any of these resonate to you as well - then you can add them to your WHY worksheet.

My “WHY” list

Express self

Friends

Grew up With Music and Loved it

Want them to have the opportunity I didn't have

Enjoy Music

Rapid Response Skills

Play Music Whole life

Music brings Joy

Learn to make and achieve goals

Have Joy

Enjoy Multiple Instruments

Develop Hand Eye Coordination

Find Peace with Music

Develop Discipline

Learn to Make Hard things Easy

Find Confidence

Play music with others

Suzuki is a wonderful method

Learn a new language

Develop Mind

Opportunity to Learn

To keep loving Music

Have other adults to trust in their life

Support mental health

World Wide Language

This list is so beautiful to me. Hearing each teacher or parent share their whys at the meeting was so inspiring and I was really moved by the love I felt in some of these responses shared.

Included in the Blog is a free pretty PDF I made for you to print and post in your schools, send to your parents, post in your practice area, whatever you would like to do with it. I hope it inspires you like it does me!

FREE PDF (These are A2 poster size for music studio)

My Why Word Poster PDF 
Whys for Music Lessons PDF 

FREE PDF (8.5 x 11 size )

My Why Word Poster PDF 
Whys for Music Lessons PDF 
My Why Worksheet PDF 

2. C for COMMUNITY

Next, I want you to think of your community that you live in and see where you have support for your children in their music journey.

If you are a parent:

Your teacher

Group and ensemble teachers

Other Parents in your school or studio

Friends/neighbours also doing music lessons

Friends on line

Relatives

If you are a Teacher: (You can add to the above list.)

Other teachers

Teaching and practicing motivators and mentors (in person and online like Practicing Pro!

Join the Practicing Pro email list HERE and grab the “Successful Practicing Checklist” )

3. C is for Commitment :

Let's look at your practice sessions with your children. It’s no secret that both parents and children can have good days and bad days, and this can be quite a challenge. It takes a lot of patience to motivate yourself when you are feeling discouraged.

To have success with your child, you might need to try some NEW things this year that might make you feel a little uncomfortable because you’ve never tried them before or maybe it’s out of your comfort zone.

That’s exciting though! That means that you are trying new things and you are learning! And isn’t that what we are asking our children to do as a practicing parent? To try new things! To trust their teacher. To trust their parent(s), who is/are their home coach.

To try new things and see if they work.

For today:

Let's make a quick goal:

How long will you practice each day? Make a realistic goal and underestimate the time just a bit if you are not absolutely sure. It’s better to have shorter daily practices with success than longer unsuccessful ones sporadically. For new beginners 5 minutes and work up.

Write that here on your sheet. The time each day and the length.

If you have a changing schedule use this part and decide each day.

Here is an example.

So there you have it! WCC: A quick thing to think about to keep you having success this year with your music practicing. You can always come back to this again and again! It will likely need to change too as the year goes on - so be flexible and revisit and recommit every once in a while to stay on track.

____

Remember that your child is always changing. If you’re not constantly changing with them, then they are going to get ahead of you and you will get left behind. There is no standing still in the parenting world. You must be quick to learn and quick to change. So grab your running shoes and let’s get going!

Because you are still listening to this live, I already know a few things about you. I know that you’re strong, you’re determined, and that you have what it takes because you simply wouldn’t still be here if you didn’t. You have the determination and the desire to want to learn and to be the best parent that you can be for your child.

I would like to ask you to trust me and to commit yourself to a step-by-step process that I want to share with you. It's a 6-week step-by-step line course called the Practicing Pro Academy. I only offer it once a year now (because it is so much work for me - I put my heart and soul into it and in helping each student get the results they are looking for). The course is a do at your own pace and you can listen, watch or read the content.

I don't want you to “go through the course, take notes, and grab a few tricks”. I want you to commit to jumping in completely, with both feet and your whole heart. I would like you to come to the course with a GOAL and we will make sure you leave the 6-weeks with that goal accomplished.

Together, we will also make some inner changes that will lead to lasting practicing and life habits.

You can join the waitlist for the course HERE.

By signing up for PPA and investing your time into the vision that you have for your child to develop this “beautiful human heart” that Dr. Suzuki talks about - you are saying to yourself, “I can do it, I can make this work, I can change and am powerful!”. And what a powerful message you are sending to your children in this process!

OK first, think you can do is sign up for the waitlist, and I'll see you next time and I also hope to see you inside of PPA.

Bye for now.

GRAB MY FREE CHECKLIST

Check out my Free PDF download Checklist for a Successful Music Practice for teachers and practicing parents.

Your easy checklist for successful home music practices from Christy, the practicing pro. Whether you are a new or seasoned practice parent or music teacher, this checklist will help you organize before, during, and after practices for effective and fun practices.

INVITATION from Christy Hodder:

DIGITAL COURSE from the Practicing Pro Academy

Speaking of amazing practices, let me tell you all about the digital course, the Practicing Pro Academy. This is for the serious practicing parents and music teachers and is an at-your-own-pace, step-by-step, online course to bring you more effective, positive, and fun home music practices. Registrants receive a special package in the mail from me, and I am with you in person with Q&As to answer all your questions.

Learn more about PPA and join the waitlist HERE for the next Practicing Pro Academy course. It's only offered once a year so you don't want to miss it. The registration will only open for a few weeks and I'll let everyone on the waitlist know immediately so that you can grab one of the spots.

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