Expectation for Success
String students are expected to practice a minimum of 150-300 minutes a month or about 5-10 minutes daily outside of strings class. Short daily practice sessions are recommended to encourage consistency, ease of playing, and good habits/core values. Call or email Mr. Wheeler for troubleshooting if a student is not practicing or does not know how to practice.
Practice Chart and Tracking Practice Data
Students will be given a monthly practice chart. They will write down class assignments on the chart and set goals at the beginning of the month. Students/Families will record minutes practiced each day of the month and Teacher/Peers will check progress weekly. Parent Signature at the end of each month is expected.
Reaching Goals
Students who complete a practice chart and reach 150 minutes or more each month will receive a certificate of achievement for meeting the class goal.
Students who complete a practice chart and reach over 300 minutes or more each month will receive a certificate of achievement for exceeding the class goal.
Students who complete a practice chart and reach over 300 minutes or more each month will receive a certificate of achievement for exceeding the class goal.
Parent Suggestions for Home practice
Much like any school work assigned for home, it is not common for a 4th/5th grader to consistently practice without some sort of help at home. Please try any of the following, ask for help, and tell me about anything that works.
Set a schedule and be consistent.
Practice when in a good mood and not when hungry, tired, angry, frustrated.
Monitor their practice and offer praise when they do well
Offer a choice of when to practice
Always start with something you know, try something new, and then play some favorites.
Set an alarm when it is time to practice.
Perform for parents, siblings, grandparents, pets, dolls, stuffed animals, etc.
Video practicing and watch to see, hear, and improve.
Send Mr. Wheeler a video or audio of a good performance or practice session.
Tweet a comment, picture, video, or praise of a student accomplishing a practice goal or performance.
Teach a parent, friend, or stuffed animal how to play.
Roll a dice to determine the number of repetitions of a piece or for drill work of a difficult section,
Chip Game - use “chips” (pennies, marbles, any kind of token). Set a goal—for example, keeping a good violin posture for entire piece. Give child and parent 5 chips each. If child meets goal, gets a chip from parent. If misses goal, parent gets a chip. Keep playing until someone has all of the chips.
Ask for help when frustrated.
Set a schedule and be consistent.
Practice when in a good mood and not when hungry, tired, angry, frustrated.
Monitor their practice and offer praise when they do well
Offer a choice of when to practice
Always start with something you know, try something new, and then play some favorites.
Set an alarm when it is time to practice.
Perform for parents, siblings, grandparents, pets, dolls, stuffed animals, etc.
Video practicing and watch to see, hear, and improve.
Send Mr. Wheeler a video or audio of a good performance or practice session.
Tweet a comment, picture, video, or praise of a student accomplishing a practice goal or performance.
Teach a parent, friend, or stuffed animal how to play.
Roll a dice to determine the number of repetitions of a piece or for drill work of a difficult section,
Chip Game - use “chips” (pennies, marbles, any kind of token). Set a goal—for example, keeping a good violin posture for entire piece. Give child and parent 5 chips each. If child meets goal, gets a chip from parent. If misses goal, parent gets a chip. Keep playing until someone has all of the chips.
Ask for help when frustrated.