Practicing for Young Musicians: You Are Your Own Teacher

By Harvey R. Snitkin

Book Overview

You weren't born with an owner's manual. The day that your new instrument arrived is not unlike the day you were born and your parents took on the responsibility of raising you and building a lifelong relationship. Now it's you turn, only you are building a relationship with your instrument. That, too, takes a strong commitment, good planning, time, patience, trial and error - and discovering the joy of music in the process The way you spend you time practicing determines the kind of relationship you'll build and the degree of rewards you'll earn. Just ask your parents - it's worth the effort.

Practicing for Young Musicians will help develop that special relationship. Through fresh, upbeat approaches this book will make practice sessions more fun and therefore, more rewarding.

With Practicing for Young Musicians you will......

DISCOVER: Why you take responsibility for you own progress. Why success happens between lessons when you practice. And, why between lessons you are your own teacher.

EXPLORE: What practicing is. Planning practice sessions. Methods of practicing. Tips for being your own teacher.

ENJOY LEARNING: How thinking about chocolate cake can improve your tone quality. How you can practice fast by practicing slow How you can practice anywhere and not make a sound. What ice cream and spinach have to do with building musical muscles. Why scales are keys that open millions of musical doors. And more ...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1888732008
• ISBN13: 9781888732009
• Release Date: January 2011
• Publisher: HMS Publications
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Teaching tips, simple exercises, and sound advice

Harvey R. Snitkin is a musician, music educator, and a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for the Grammy Awards. Now in his newly revised and significantly expanded edition of Practicing For Young Musicians: You Are Your Own Teacher, Snitkin provides a new generation of aspiring young musicians a superbly presented, "user friendly" guide to self-directed musical study. Basic teaching tips, simple exercises, and sound advice for budding musicians of all skill levels fill this motivational book which is very highly recommended for young people wanting better their own musical skills. Also highly recommended for the serious music student and the dedicated performer is Harvey Snitkin's companion book: Practice Planner: A Journal Of Goals And Progress (1888732105, [...]).

Great tips!!!

This book is great for motivation for the students.... I really liked how it gave ideas that can be put into kid language, which helped my teaching.

A Dirty Word?

Is "practicing" a dirty word? One camp would have you avoid the "P" word because of its negative connotations. However in his book, Practicing for Young Musicians, Dr. Snitkin states, "You practice to improve technical skills and musicianship. Practicing is playing with a purpose."This book is addressed to young musicians. It is written on an upper-elementary level with examples and logic that children can relate to. Specific suggestions are given to help the child use his practice time wisely and to increase his musicianship. The student realizes that it is up to him to get the most from his practice time; he is responsible for his own progress.In reading this book, I kept thinking that this philosophy of being responsible for one's own progress applies in all areas, especially education. The author concluded along the same line when he wrote, "What you've learned isn't limited to music. You've learned to use your time wisely... Most of all, as your own teacher, you've learned to take the responsibility for your own learning and development. In short, you've gained the satisfaction and confidence that come from a job well done." Dr. Snitkin has done his job well in motivating and educating the student to become a better musician. --Penny Gardner, author of Nine-Note Recorder Method