5. What’s the Point in Practicing Music? Performance!

What’s the point of going to soccer practice if you never play in a game?  What’s the point of studying if you never take a test? Is there a point?  You study and practice and practice, but for what?  What’s the point in practicing music if you never “play a game” (aka perform)?  All of that practicing without being able to perform a song would make practicing music quite unsatisfying.  This doesn’t mean a prestigious performance venue with lots of people or an intense competition.  That’s not to say that that will never be possible.  But what I’m thinking of is a more accessible and practical way to perform, like playing for family and friends at home in the living room.  In this setting the performance is a better experience because it’s in a positive supportive environment.  And then the purpose of the performance is fully realized:  to share the joy of music!

The living room is not the only place you can achieve this goal, there are many many other possibilities, and variety is good!  So, let’s talk venue. Is the instrument your child practices on in a place where you and others can sit and listen? If not, try moving the instrument closer to the dinner table, or in the living room where the family gathers to watch TV.  If your child feels shy in front of people and he/she is 4-5 years old, try an audience of stuffed animals.  For all aged children you can always record them on your phone or camera and share it with your family and friends that way.  Or, for lots of kids it’s inspiring enough for them to watch themselves in the recording, so you don’t have to share every recording you make.

Here’s a great example: a video made by a parent at our school.  He regularly records his daughter practicing and posts her best ones on Facebook.

A lot of my students love to volunteer to perform during music class at their school, or when they visit grandma.  Wherever there’s an instrument, there is a performance opportunity.  Many of my students even think it’s cool performing for strangers, so they perform in local nursing homes.  From my experience, there’s always a warm and loving audience and I can’t think of a better way to share the joy of music.  So look around, see what’s available and appropriate for your child.

Now, let’s talk about content. What will your child perform?  Keep in mind, it’s normal for your child to want to perform something different than what you’d like them to perform. Don’t let that be a point of conflict! Since you are not the one performing, let your child choose the piece they are most comfortable with.  The goal here is that they feel good about their performance and will want to do it again.  If your child has a negative performance experience because they performed a piece they weren’t ready to perform, or were forced to perform when they did not want to, your child may not want to perform ever again (believe me, it takes a long time for students to get over a bad performance).  And by waiting patiently, they will eventually branch out and will want to perform new pieces.

One complaint I’ve heard over the years is “My child plays the same song over and over again, she won’t stop!”  Well, that was definitely me when I was a kid.  Having experienced it and seen many students who do it, too, I understand why this happens and learned that it’s a very good thing!!! First of all, that means your child loves that song. I remember enjoying playing the song so much that I could easily sit down and play it 10 times in a row.  Second of all, they get better with each repetition. They develop better finger dexterity, improve finger strength, while perfecting finger control and technique. With their improved facility they can then play the piece more expressively and musically.  This also translates into them being able to learn future repertoire more easily and quickly.  Thirdly, performing takes practice, too.  Performance shouldn’t be something you only have one shot at, it should be something you can practice doing so you get better and better at it.  So, of course it’s okay if your child performs the same song for a while.  Just give them time and space and while you watch them play, just think about the fact that you are witnessing the pure joy your child experiences through music.  Look at how remarkable and meaningful music can be.

Use that beloved piece they play like crazy as a building block.  Instead of replacing the piece with a new one, add to their repertoire. Then they’ll have several songs they are always prepared to perform.  I’d say building a list of three pieces that are performance ready is a great number to aim for.

Bottom-line: Why practice if we don’t perform?  Performing helps with motivation, makes practicing music more satisfying and makes your child a better musician.  So find the venue that best suits your child, and let them choose their performance pieces, then sit back, listen and enjoy!