Student-Teacher Partnership When Learning To Play a Musical Instrument- Part 2

Student Preparation

Last week was all about students and teachers working together, and our focus was on teachers being committed to their teaching. One significant aspect in this regard is the student's preparation. This is an important aspect of progress. If you are a student, one aspect of progressing in your musical journey is ensuring you have the necessary preparation time for your weekly lesson.

Why is this important? It is challenging for a teacher to work with a student who does not put in the recommended hours of practice. Remember that if you are a student learning and studying with a music teacher or professor, your success with the teacher depends on how much work you put into your daily practice room.

Weekly lessons build upon one another. The aim of the personal practice during the week is to accomplish what your teacher suggested during the previous lesson. That way, your teacher can give you new suggestions the next time you meet.

It is not always possible to put in all the recommended hours during a week, and many things can happen. However, suppose the latter happens consistently as a rule and not as an exception. In that case, your teacher may have to repeat the previous information, which will be a loss of valuable time that could be used to make progress.

We have established that your relationship with your music teacher is based on collaboration. Therefore, you must do your part in the practice room for that collaboration. That is, realize what your teachers explained to you during a lesson.

Sometimes, you may not remember everything your teacher told you. In that case, it is advisable to write down in a notebook after a lesson when things are fresh in the mind and reread the notes during the week. Sometimes, jotting down some ideas during the lesson is possible, but that is not always the case.

Also, it is essential to remember that you should be steadfast with results when practicing. If you practice and do your best, exercise patience during the cycle of weekly lessons and personal practice. Practicing can't be perfect all the time, but your teacher will be able to know that you have done your part.

Therefore, be persistent if you don't feel a difference from one day to the next. Sometimes, progress happens in small increments. It might take a while to see results. You will usually get a confirmation from your teacher if you are doing the right things. So, keep on. Whatever common sense adjustments you need to make in your practice routines, do so to make your lessons with your teacher more fruitful. Ensure you have put enough work into preparation for your weekly lessons.

Have you put enough work into practicing this week before meeting up with your teacher? Have there been drawbacks in your routine? Please share with us in the comments below.