What does it take to be a good music student? We tend to think a lot about what would make a great music teacher. (i.e. knowledgeable, patient, organized...etc), and we expect that teacher to do whatever they can to help us reach our goals (as they should!).
But have you considered all the different ways you can contribute to make the best learning environment for yourself? A great student/teacher relationship needs to be a collaboration for the best results, and it goes well beyond just checking off your daily practice.
So, what can you do to become a better student? Here are the top 7 things you should consider, if you want to learn the most from your music lessons.
1. Find a music teacher you respect and admire
This is up to you. If you are looking for a teacher, we can assume you don't have one (or you do, but this isn't usually a topic you'd discuss with your current teacher), so it falls to you to make the right choice. This one is crucial for some of the other rules that follow, which is why it's listed first. And it's about more than just knowing the teacher is qualified. It's about being legitimately in awe of them. It will change the entire dynamic of your lessons for the better.
2. Don't over schedule yourself
Taking the time to play in chamber groups and orchestra is important, and including some activities or hobbies outside of music is necessary for you, as well. But trying to fit in multiple sports, theatre, dance, chess club, and a book club is not going to give you the best chance to grow as a musician.
It's equally detrimental if you're adding in multiple chamber groups and competitive orchestras. You simply aren't going to have the time or attention span to do it all. Pick a few (and perhaps cycle through a variety of interests at different stages of your life/time of year), but don't get beguiled into this sense of great accomplishment just because the list of things you've attempted (poorly) is long.
Focus on a few gems, and you'll find you excel at them with more ease.
3. Strive to come well prepared to every lesson
This may seem like a given, but....You know it's not. Remember that preparation for your next lesson starts the moment your last lesson ended. Every day should be a herculean effort to solve as many problems as you are mentally and physically able.
Work to impress your teacher every week. This plays into the first rule. The more you admire your teacher, the harder you tend to work for them.
4. Private lesson material should be your top priority
This doesn't mean your other commitments should come up short (if you follow rule #2, you haven't over committed yourself, right?), but you should never walk into a private lesson explaining you failed to prepare your lesson material due to an orchestra concert or sports practice.
First of all, your lesson material is the sustenance for all other forms of your playing. You will inevitably stagnate your playing by focusing on your ensemble music at the expense of your private teacher's assignments.
And as for sports, if they are interfering with your instrumental practice even on a semi frequent basis, you are absolutely slowing your progress down.
5. Practice as soon as possible following a lesson
The longer you wait between your lesson and your next practice, the more information and detail seeps out of your memory. If you can manage it, take your instrument out as soon as you get home for a quick refresh!
How did that passage feel when your teacher got you to relax more? What was that precise articulation of that staccato passage in your concerto?
You will struggle to recall these incredibly important but nuanced technical adjustments, only to have to redo them in the following lesson. So don't view every lesson as only a culmination of the week's work, but also a springboard that will propel you into your new practice week.
Lessons should not be followed by a celebratory break!
6. Problem solve during your time away from the instrument
It's been suggested that musicians who excel above the rest have something in common. They think about music a lot. Even when they've put their instruments away for the day, they continue to go over their problems and imagine solutions in their mind.
They might vividly imagine themselves playing their passages. Maybe they'll listen to and watch performances of pieces a lot. These are just a few ways you can continue working on music while resting your joints and muscles, and it can make a huge impact on your overall progress.
If this isn't something you naturally do, begin by purposely adding in some mental practice sessions. Sit somewhere quiet and close your eyes. Work through a passage you know well in slow motion in your mind (the more detailed you can be, the better). If you struggle keeping track of the notes, you can use the sheet music on your lap, but eventually you should be able to do this without the sheet music, as well.
You can also practice things like phrasing, energy, and tempo in your mental practice. Once you start including bits of mental practice in scheduled increments, it will become more natural for you to include it throughout the day.
7. Respect your teacher, and follow every assignment with enthusiasm
Rule #1 was about finding a teacher you really respected and admired, but this is more of a command. You have to continue to choose to respect your teacher's advice. If you've already decided your teacher is highly qualified, then you have to commit to trusting their input.
Doubt can really affect your ability to properly prepare, and most often the doubt is unfounded. It also tends to breed more doubt over time (i.e. Student doesn't take assignment seriously. Student doesn't improve. Student blames teacher for lack of improvement. Repeat sequence.)
It goes without saying, students know less than their teachers, but oftentimes, students won't fully grasp how much they don't know. Certain requirements may seem unnecessary or even silly to students because they're unable to see how it will benefit them in the long run.
This is common because, counterintuitively, many of the most effective exercises are the least glamorous. The most transformative exercises tend to be dull and surprisingly simple. Just remember why you chose your teacher, and if you still believe they are highly qualified, then trust in the process.
So, ask yourself, are you doing everything in your power to create the best environment for you to learn, or are you actively impeding your own progress? Your level and commitment may make some of these unrealistic for you, but try following as many of these rules as you can and see how they improve your results.
Looking for more materials to help you take a more active role in your music education? Head over to our resource page by clicking here.
Looking for new music to practice? Check out our sheet music section by clicking here.
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