You want your child to gain the most from music lessons so it is important to make practice time comfortable, enjoyable and, possibly, sociable. Organise your family schedule to make practice time fit in with other commitments so that your child knows you think music is important. more
The supporting tests in music exams (aural, scales, study, musical knowledge, improvisation) are given different weighting depending on which board you choose and the percentage you need to get a distinction varies too. Find out which board would suit you best and discover how to get distinction marks in these tests in your exam, whether it's with ABRSM, Trinity or LCM. more
You can help your child to succeed in a music exam by helping to make sure she keeps to a workable practice plan. Here are some suggestions. more
Why aural perception is important for music students. Why aural tests are included in ABRSM, Trinity, AMEB and London College music exams. How music exam candidates can do better at the aural tests. more
Dyslexia can affect learning in music. A music teacher giving a child one-to-one lessons is ideally placed to notice dyslexia traits and may be able help your child to develop useful strategies for reading music. more
E-MusicMaestro is a new concept in piano sight reading, specially designed to motivate students to practise and to promote understanding and fluency in music reading. more
How much music practice is needed for a child to develop into a competent musician depends on the quality of practice, how often practice is done and how long is spent practising. more
You can help your child to learn how to play new pieces and sing new songs by facilitating repeated listening. more
Parents want to understand more about music practice and how they can help but sometimes there is insufficient communication between teacher and parent. It could help your child's motivation if you were to sit in on music lessons or be there at practice time, but not in every case. more
Writing letter names into a musical score might seem, to a young pupil, like an easy way to get started with playing a piece but, as teachers know, it's not a good solution. It can be difficult to convince students that writing the notes in will prevent them from learning to read music successfully. more
Ideally, your child's music lesson will be a template for what should be practised at home. When children understand this they are able to practise mindfully. Here's an example of putting that principle into practice. more
"The right kind of practice is not a matter of hours. Practice should represent the utmost concentration of brain ..." Leopold Auer. Find out why some children learn more quickly and easily by comparing good music practice with inefficient practice. more