THE ERAS

PIANO GUIDANCE

1. Provide and maintain best piano or keyboard possible. 

2. Daily practice sessions of 10-20 minutes for an elementary student, 30-45 minutes for middle school age students, and 45-60 minutes for high school students should bring them to the next piano lesson well prepared. For Advance students please contact me for specific practice guides.  

3. Parents must be involved with younger students.  A beginning piano student should NOT be expected to do all of their practicing alone.  Kindly help them read and follow practicing directions. Please email me if you have any questions or follow my Music Foundation YouTube Videos: 

https://www.giselacosta.com/music-foundation-videos     

4. Make the best time for effective piano practice while the adult is preparing for family mealtime.  This provides the student with the nearby supervision of an interested adult, the parent with enjoyable background music while working. Have them perform in front of friends and family as well especially if they have young family members at home! Parents can even record their playing!

Please read my article:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/music-students-taking-summer-break-gisel-costa/

5. Parents can have child perform in front of their during their playtime.

6. Expect ups and downs in interest level and progress. Give positive, gentle encouragment and honest praise. 

7. Do not cancel a piano lesson just because you feel the student has not practiced enough. There are more than just practicing their music repertoires or books in a music class.  I always keep an excellent supply of music appropriate for on hand if ever needed.

8.  Parents should check the assignment page and make sure all homework is completed. The Montly Practice Time Sheet given is a good start for both parents and students to check off.

9.  Keep me informed of any problems or special circumstances affecting the student so that together we can keep things going as smoothly as possible.

10.  Never force your child to practice as a punishment for misbehavior. Don't use the word "practice". Kindly ask that you would like to hear a song.

VOCAL GUIDANCE

A child’s voice is not an adult’s voice! They can not produce the same volume or range an adult can, at least not without straining.

Age 6 is recommended as the youngest age for my voice lessons.

1. Be sure you keep your vocal folds moist and well lubricated. You can do this by drinking plenty of liquids throughout the day.

2. Keep tea and coffee consumption to a minimum though, as the caffeine in these drinks dries out the vocal folds and can make the voice sound raspy and scratchy. Alcohol is also bad for the voice, as it dehydrates the body and therefore the vocal folds. Also avoid citric acids before your lesson.

3. Take time to take a relaxed, deep breath before you start to sing or speak. It will make you feel calmer and more confident.

4.  After speaking for a long time, warm-down by drinking some room temperature water. Yawn and then breathe deeply. A yawn is a good exercise for your kids singing as well.

5. To nurse your voice through acold or a throat infection,steam it and drink lots of water. If diagnosed with laryngitis DO NOT SING. WHEN YOU ARE SICK PLEASE ALWAYS VISIT A DOCTOR FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

6. Look after your voice. Don't strain it. Eliminate background noise before you try to speak loudly over it. If you have to project your voice, always use breath support.