For parents:
Cutietta, Robert: Raising Musical Kids: A Guide for Parents
Johnson, Philip: The Practice Revolution: Getting great results from the six days between lessons
Gottman, John; Declair, Joan: Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child
Sprunger, Edmund: Helping Parents Practice: Ideas for Making It Easier See also: Podcast
Suzuki, Shinichi: Nurtured by Love: The Classic Approach to Talent Education
Suzuki, Shinichi: Ability Development from Age Zero
Richards, Cynthia: How to get your child to practice without resorting to violence
Fink, Lorraine: A Parent's guide to String Instrument Study
Morris, Carroll: Suzuki Parent's Diary: Or How I Survived My First 10,000 Twinkles
Starr, William, Constance Star: To Learn With Love: A Companion for Suzuki Parents
Nathan, Amy: Young Musician's Survival Guide (for older children, middle school and up)
For adult students:
Adams, Noah:
Piano Lessons: Music, Love, and True Adventures
Chang, Chuan: Fundamentals of Piano Practice
New!
Cooke, Charles: Playing the Piano for Pleasure
Coyle, Daniel: The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How. New!
Green, Barry and W. Timothy Gallwey: Inner Game of Music
Holt, John:
Never Too Late: My Musical Life Story [ See: John Holt page]
Judy, Stephanie: Making Music for the Joy of It: Enhancing Creativity Skills and Musical Confidence
Ristad, Eloise: A Soprano on Her Head: Right-Side-Up Reflections on Life and Other Performances
Wilson, Frank: Tone Deaf and All Thumbs?: An Invitation to Music-Making
See also: Extensive list of Suzuki materials
This is often, for parents, a very serious and sometimes troubling issue in music study. They should be told that it is normal for students to not want to practice, and home practice should be supervised by the parents until the child is older and has developed more independence. There is an excellent book about this: How to get your child to practice without resorting to violence. In general, the recommendations in the book include:
Remain calm but firm; don't nag, threaten, get angry, or give up. Brushing teeth is not optional, and neither is practicing. 10 minutes a day is fine at the beginning.
Create a musical environment: this will include listening to the Suzuki CD's, other CD's of classical music or other musics, going to concerts, and listening to NPR (National Public Radio) programs with classical music. Have music on all the time, or at least during meals and before bedtime.
Make it fun and enjoyable. Let the child be happy and loved at all times. Never make being loved contingent on whether they practice, or whether they do well.
Use lots of praise, even for the smallest thing, and even if it sounds awful. There is always something positive to say: "You really worked hard" "That sounded pretty good" "That was much better than last time." No negative or derogatory remarks!!
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