A couple of weeks ago I wrote about some things to consider when creating a practice routine for your family. In today’s post, I dig into the details and share our family’s practice routines.

To be perfectly honest, our routines change from day to day depending on my energy levels, our schedule, and my kids’ level of interest and willingness to cooperate.

On an ideal day, we wake up, I turn on their Suzuki recordings, and once they’re a little more awake, we do a meditation together, read aloud a little, and then get dressed and ready. (All this is pretty non-negotiable–my kids are not morning people and need a slow start. If I skip any of these steps, there’s a full-on revolt. To be fair, I have to admit I am the same way, I need to ease into the day as well.)

At this point, my 3rd-grade cellist is ready for the day and about to begin practice. He practices first because he is always super speedy once he gets moving. His practice routine looks like this:

1. Big hug and cuddle while we watch a famous cellist on youtube. (I want him to see what a relaxed bow arm looks like every day, and G is very moved by beautiful music.)*
2. Bow exercises.*
3. Left hand warm ups, tonalization, and scale.
4. Review pieces with a game of some kind.
5. Focus areas of new pieces.
6. Note reading and note flashcards.*
7. Polishing pieces with accompaniment.
8. Free play–he gets to choose what he wants to play–could be fiddle music from last summer, Christmas tunes, whatever.
9. We end with a hug.*

*Most of these items take less than five minutes, so it looks like a LOT, but it really isn’t too bad. On a good day, we can get through these things in thirty to forty minutes.

He then goes to finish getting ready and eat breakfast, hopefully, my fifth grade violinist is ready to practice now. (Fingers crossed.)

1. Hug and cuddle. M really needs this, so even when I’m tempted to skip it, it’s always a bad idea. He needs the connection before we get to work. During this time, I show him kids/adults having a stinking great time playing the violin/fiddle. I want him to have FUN with his music, so the video is good for him to see, but more importantly it reminds ME why we’re practicing in the first place.
2. Bow exercises. (Strength training for our double jointed fingers–poor kid with my genes.)
3. Left hand warm ups, tonalization, scales. (Playing out of tune and with poor tone is no fun at all.)
4. Free play. He chooses a couple pieces to review, pieces HE thinks are fun.
5. Note reading and flash cards. Once he’s a proficient note reader, so many fun pieces will be within his reach. Exciting!
6. Focus areas of new pieces sometimes with a game.
7. Review pieces with a game. M loves games.
8. Polishing pieces with accompaniment or duet. (Sometimes G will join us.)
9. BIG HUG. (often includes my apologies for trying to rush him through. cringe face emoji here.)

We almost NEVER get through all this. He has turtle energy, and I have crazed hare energy. It’s a struggle sometimes. I try not to skip note reading every day. I alternate neglecting different things from day to day. To make it fair, you see.

While the boys are at school, my preschooler, R, and I practice. This battle of wills deserves an epic poem or something. Just now the evil monster (me) is vanquished by the superior fortitude of our brave and determined hero (R) and very little actual work is done.

1. Hug. (Maybe. if she doesn’t hate me at that particular moment. Sometimes she just punches me, but I say it counts?)
2. I try to replicate games and bow exercises from her lesson with her adored violin teacher, and she gets mad when I say things wrong.
3. We bargain over whether she’ll actually let me touch her bow hand or adjust her posture. I somehow always lose here?
4. She plays whatever she wants, and I say FINE!

Good times.

How about you? I’d love to hear about your practice routines for yourself or for your kiddos. Please share in the comments.