Keeping a Music Practice Journal: The Value of Reflection
Engaging in music, whether through piano lessons, guitar lessons, or any other instrument, is an incredibly rewarding experience for kids, and documenting their progress can add an extra layer of inspiration and insight to their journey.
Music classes for kids have been proven to enhance cognitive development, foster discipline, and ignite creativity. Now, let's talk about the fun factor! Learning music shouldn't be a chore; it should be an adventure! Keeping a music practice journal is an excellent way to document progress and keep kids motivated, adding to self-discovery.
Music Practice Journal - Why Documenting Their Progress Matters
Documenting your child's musical journey is about something other than adding another task to their schedule. It's about turning their adventure into captivating stories filled with achievements, growth, and satisfaction.
Think about all those movies/video games/stories where the hero keeps a journal of their journey – it's just like that! Documenting their progress allows your child to celebrate their achievements, whether nailing a challenging guitar chord or mastering a complex piano piece. Documenting their musical journey helps children see how far they've come.
At Jammin With You, we love tasking our students with a fun exercise that proves they have progressed. We’ll assign them to play a piece from the beginning of their lesson book, something they haven't played in months, and when they play it again and realize how it’s easy for them now in comparison to how much they may have struggled with it initially, it’s a poignant way to prove that practice pays off. When kids see how much they've improved, it boosts their self-esteem and confidence. Knowing they can conquer challenges and see the results is a powerful motivator.
Keeping a music practice journal is a form of self-expression; it's like their personal Instagram feed, but instead of selfies, it's filled with notes, chords, lyrics, and moments of triumph. Years from now, they can revisit their musical journal and smile at the wonderful memories they've created.
How to Document the Journey With a Music Practice Journal
Creating a musical journal can be as simple as jotting down notes, recording performances, or sketching how music makes them feel. You can help them select a stylish notebook or a digital journaling app. Personalize it, make it their own, and encourage them to be as creative as they want! Remember, it's not about forcing kids to keep a journal; it's about music for confidence.