Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Let’s Remind Ourselves

          If you want your child to progress and develop her/his technique easier and faster, you must ask yourself the following questions and ensure the answer is always, "Yes!"
          ~Is your child listening a lost, over and over, to her/his learning pieces and forthcoming pieces?
          ~Are you, in your everyday practice, spending more time on old pieces which children know well than new pieces?
            ~Are you focusing on one point at a time while you help him/her practice?

            You can ensure failure by:
            ~Comparing your child with other children, saying, “John has already finished the Gavotte,” or, Didn’t Sarah start later?  She is already working on the same piece as yours.  She’ll pass you soon if you don’t work harder.”  These parents tend to push their children on to new pieces, neglecting to practice old pieces and, without fail, the children’s playing becomes poor
            ~Making a statement in front of your child such as, “He is so stubborn” or, “she does not like to practice,” by giving him/her public recognition for stubbornness and for not practicing.  By saying such things in the child’s presence, it only helps her/him think they have public recognition for being so.
            ~Saying strange things like “We’ve been so busy for the past few days that we’ve missed practicing.  Let’s practice three days’ worth today!”  Imagine taking three days’ dose of medicine today since you forgot to take it the last two days, or giving two weeks’ worth of water to your plant since you forgot to water it last week and its leaves have turned brown!  Do you think it will be greener tomorrow?
            ~Interfering constantly the moment the child begins to play until s/he can’t move a hand or foot, without you telling her/him and correcting what to do.  When cooking in the kitchen, if there were to be someone by your side criticizing every little move you make, your favorite dish would be a flop and, in the end, you would not want to cook anymore.  It is important always to listen to your child at least once through.  When she/he finishes, praise them for their effort, then help him/her with weak spots.
            ~Saying, “You are no good,” and showing your discouragement every day.  Then, your child thinks, “I’m not good no matter what I do,” and it definitely begins to dull the activity of his/her brain.
          
                 Parents and teachers have one common goal which is best summarized by Dr. Suzuki as follows: “My aim in teaching violin is to give children a sense of joy in experiencing one of the most beautiful and spiritually enriching things we have in the world, which is music.  I don’t wish to turn all of my students into professional musicians but to use music to develop their sensitivity as human beings.  Music can open a child’s heart and give him a finer appreciation of life.  We must have respect for life and understand that we are here to help; to be of service.”

Hiroko Primrose - Laun

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