Free Resources to Support Home Practice
- Feifan Oh
- 12 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Last week and this week, I have been helping students get back to their practice. I have been receiving a lot of feedback that students who always enjoy lessons or always do their best in lessons seem to struggle at home, especially when the reminder to practice comes from their parent(s). I am not surprised; being a mother to a child who studies two instruments, I am in there with you. I understand the challenges.
I sometimes create checklists for students I'm training to become more independent and accountable for their studies at home. I only do this when I feel a student is ready. For others, I encourage independence through different methods. Following a checklist is just one approach. I don't intend to micromanage their home practice at the piano, as I value exploration at the keyboard. Both structured and free learning are important. Given the limited time I have with my students each week, and as I understand their capabilities better, I know they can gain more from effective learning. I call it effective practice or effective learning because learning to practice is a significant aspect of piano studies. It was a major part of my own studies with piano teachers. I believe establishing a proper routine when you begin playing is crucial, much like training an athlete with their warm-up routine. It's essential for piano practice. There are many ways to organize practice, and I don't stick to one routine all year. We often change it every few weeks to keep it fresh and engaging. Personalization is my expertise, but parents can support by encouraging students to review the teacher's notes and follow the checklist, avoiding parental nagging.
Today, I want to offer some free resources by providing practice checklist templates that my students can easily access, print, and bring to lessons. This will help us develop a weekly practice plan and set realistic goals together. I completely understand that there are weeks when students can't accomplish everything; adults face the same challenge. Checklists are not meant to be completed like a tedious task; rather, they are intended to encourage mindful time management and prioritization. They also help build trust, as I rely on my students to honestly check off tasks they have completed. With so much happening in life, it's important to assist our children in setting achievable goals and celebrating small achievements on the path to larger milestones.
Free Printable Resources:
PRACTICE CHECKLISTS - PRINTABLES
This is what students can bring to each lesson for me to fill out (blank template):
This is a weekly planner for piano practicing:
These are based on the student's years of learning/level (general recommended minutes of daily practice included):
BLANK STAFF LINE
These are blank staff line music sheets that students can print out for when we're working on melody composition or theory:
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