Practice is an
acquired skill. You or your child learn to practice by practicing.
It takes time to develop the skills and abilities to practice
effectively. You or your child start from where you are and
develop as your time and awareness allow.
You should
not expect yourself or your child to master practice anymore
than you would expect to master an instrument within a few
short years.
Practice
continuously develops and can be enjoyed at all levels along
with increasing desire, interest, and ability. The entire
process can be a journey of enjoyment and learning with growing
confidence.
Encourage
the player, not necessarily to practice, but to practice
what he/she does well.
Encourage his/her
efforts. Practice can develop into a decision of the will,
heart, and mind. But this can be lost if practice is forced
or used as punishment.
The following
is a quote from the book, "Never Too Late," (page 65--bottom)
by John Holt, best known for his insight into the way children
learn and an explorer of adult learning:
"People
who know of my love for music today often say to me,
'Don't you wish that your parents had made you take
music lessons when you were little?' The answer is,
NO, I don't. I think that such forced exposure would
probably have turned me away from music, as it has
so many others."
Practice is an
art form within itself. It takes time to develop and grow
with it.
