Practices for Busy People or "What to do when you don't have time to practice." or "Help, my child hates to practice!"

Every person on earth, (well at least the ones I know) has uttered or heard the words, "I would have done it if I had more time!"  These words are usually followed by a sigh and a gesture of some sort to emphasize the thought that the task really would have gotten accomplished if one had more time.  Apart from getting into a philosophical discussion of time and how everybody has time to do what they want, time is the great equalizer - everybody gets the same amount, every day, 24/7/365, and so on and so forth, this post is really about helping one understand the concept that practicing does not always involve, need, or imply the said instrument of study or a large chunck of time.  I often say to my studio families, "If you wait for a chunk of time you won't get it done." Instead of waiting for the amount of time you think you need, just pick up the instrument, or sit down with it, and start playing. Five minutes once a day is far better than 30 minutes once a week.  Keep reading for some ideas of what to do in those five minutes. You'll be surprised how those five minutes will grow into 20 or 30 minutes of productive playing and practicing. Now, rather than waiting for a chunk of time that rarely presents itself, you've created a chunk of time and reinforced practice and playing skills.

When I was a younger teacher, I started compiling a list of activities that could be done in the car, for a family that traveled a lot and often gave "being in the car" as the reason they couldn't practice. Over the years, I have accumulated other ideas and activities, also for my families that were "busy" but also for the ones that needed extra help with motor skill development or a chance to understand and develop a technique free of the emotional or physical memory of the instrument.

What soon developed was a list of games that could be played almost anywhere at almost anytime and qualified as practice with or without the child's awareness that that was what they were doing.  As any teacher, parent, or artist should do, read the list, and then use what appeals to you, and then let your creative mind derive a set that works for you and your unique environment and surroundings.

Supplies: hand(s), balloon (small and/or large), ruler or paint stick, bucket of water, kleenex or tissue, toilet paper roll (cut in half vertically), sand or sugar, play-doh, pencil, pen with cap, knees, wall or other vertical surface, table or other horizontal surface, marble, stretchy bands, tennis ball or bean bag.

Games or practices:

1. Hands are great for all kinds of things.  Finger taps against the thumb are good for teaching/practicing finger numbers and feeling the springiness and energy in the tap and release.  Hands are portable staffs and can be used to become familiar with lines and spaces, note names, chords, and intervals in whatever clef your instrument uses.  For fun, try eating finger foods with the thumb and ring finger or thumb and pinky.  Need an extra challenge, try tying your shoes or buttoning your shirt with just the thumb and ring finger and pinky!!

2. Balloons help develop finger dexterity, strength, and facility while showing areas of tension. Small balloons are great for piano students to use in practicing a relaxed thumb and the desired shape of the hand.  For violinists, the balloon should have enough air to fit in the center of the palm. The left hand thumb touches the "nose" or tie off, and the fingers tap on the top of the balloon without the thumb pushing in the "nose".  For the right hand, the thumb touches the "nose" and the other fingers curl across the top. The thumb and pinky are strong against the "nose" while the other fingers rest on top without any depressions in the balloon surface.  This same game can be repeated with a ball of play-doh.

3. Ruler or paint stick makes a handy fingerboard when having the violin out is not practical, ie traveling, hotel room, etc.  Finger patterns can be practiced as well as vibrato exercises and shifting.

4. Bucket of water - Everybody likes water wars, and water flings are great fun for kids while helping them feel the energy in the release of the fingers.  Definitely an outside game, fill a bucket with water, child dips hand or hands in the water as if to pick it up, then flings the water as far as possible by rapidly opening the fingers away from the palm. (This is similar to a rubber band war, probably less traumatic)

5. Kleenex or tissue - There are endless uses for kleenex in the studio.  For piano players, there are several games that will bring out the challenger in any student.  Lay one on a flat surface and pick it up as fast as you can, repeat and pick it up as slowly as you can. Lay it across the keys and try and play a song, the kleenex should move not tear.  Have a race to see who can pick it up the fastest.   Violin students can place one between the left index finger and the fingerboard or between thumb and fingerboard.  A teacher or helper should be able to remove the kleenex from whichever position without it tearing.

6. Sand or sugar - Place a mound of sand or sugar on a flat surface.  Using one finger, or all five, move the sand or sugar towards the center of your palm.

7. Pencil - a miniature finger board or bow. Practice the spider and crab game, proper placement of fingers on the bow, or finger patterns in different keys.  

9. Ball - Good for all instrument players, a ball illustrates the energy of motion. Students use right hand to bounce against the floor or wall.  A ball can be passed around a circle while singing a song, or thrown back and forth to teach rhythm or song form.  Bean bags are also useful for rhythmic activities and teaching song form.

10. Knees, arms, back of hands - these surfaces are a perfect stand in for instruments when one is not available or appropriate. Play a song, show finger patterns, identify a song, practice good technique, etc.

11. Marbles - these toys are useful to build finger dexterity.  Pick them up using thumb and pinky, pass them from hand to hand, and around a circle.  Switch fingers throughout, pass while singing a song. 

Well, there you have it, in written form, games that can be played to reinforce good technique on the instrument.  I've often said I would compile them and write a book.  I haven't yet, so for now, here they are.  These are just a small portion of what can be done.  As I wrote earlier, read, use, and then create your own.  Come back and leave a comment.   When asked to practice, and these don't work, you can always revert to the age old "play it wrong", they'll come running in to show you how to play it right.

Singing towards musicianship

A fun way for young children to discover their musicality is to play singing games.  These can be as simple as throwing a ball or beanbag back and forth while singing the words, or as complex as passing an object around a circle while singing.  Children naturally sing in a musical way, meaning they usually have the right inflection and phrasing, even if they haven't acquired tuneful singing yet.  When children know a song well enough to sing it while engaging in an activity, such as throwing a beanbag back and forth to a partner, they are able to then keep the tune going in their head while figuring out how to play it on the instrument.  They usually can slow it down in order to connect their fingers with the right notes in places where the melody and rhythm moves faster.  This skill is very helpful in building confidence to learn other songs that might not have words or the lyrics are unknown.  I often tell my beginning parents that daily practice is important, but it won't always involve the instrument.  Sometimes, you just have to sing and rock back and forth, or tap your knees, or throw a bean bag, or march around the room.  Whatever it is, include singing in your practice routine and watch your children get excited about learning and playing their songs.