Lydia Yu is a CIM graduate student currently studying piano pedagogy with Dr. Sean Schulze. The following is an article she co-authored with NEOMTA's board.
In many ways, a piano teacher's effectiveness is determined by their ability to instill good practice habits. Since students spend far more time practicing than sitting in lesson, it may be argued that the primary job of piano teachers is to teach students to practice well! Below, we list some main concepts to consider in our efforts as educators to improve a pupil's practice experience.
1. Teach a mindset that emphasizes awareness over automatic repetition. (See Soo Ji's discussion topic about secure and effective memorization.) Unless taught otherwise, most students default to repeating their pieces endlessly. Encourage students to actively target problems when practicing.
2. Break up routines by suggesting diverse practice activities, such as metronome work, practicing different rhythm groupings, setting up different "starting spots," blocking out harmonies and structures, score-study, different musical games, and so on. Some students benefit from explicit instruction. For these students, it may be beneficial to introduce a practice notebook and assign specific weekly goals and activities.
3. Use performance opportunities as sources of motivation. Students often practice better when a recital is upcoming!
4. Finally, encouragement and reward are quite important. As stated previously, impending performances can serve as motivation but may also cause stress. Other ways to encourage practice include: physical rewards such as stickers, toys or treats for younger students; practice goals (a calendar with stickers has worked wonders for many teachers); conversations about how practice went during a previous week. Encourage students to discuss challenges they faced during practice sessions! It is always good to let them know that you are thinking from their perspective.