Inspiration for all music pupils and all instruments
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I Love
Music Practice
This best selling motivational book will inspire your music student to do more practise,
and to love doing it. -
Now I Love Music Practice is acclaimed by music teachers and parents around the world.
Now I Love Music Practice does not suggest or advise how you should persuade your music student to persevere with practising and learning.
The book itself provides the motivation and inspiration.
Now I Love Music Practice
Practicing is vital. It is more than just an important ingredient in the learning process. It is the learning process. The only way to acquire the skills to play a musical instrument is to practise.
It would be possible for a student to have a good knowledge of music theory, and a good understanding of how to play their instrument, but until they practice they won’t be able to play anything.
Unfortunately many children don’t like doing their music practice. Seven of every eight who sit the ABRSM grade one piano exam give up before they get to grade seven. Most schools and teachers experience a similar loss. A dislike of practising is the usual problem.
Parents and teachers however try to persuade their students to persevere with learning and practising because they know that one day the student will be very pleased that they did keep at it. Making music can bring great satisfaction, pleasure and enrichment for a whole lifetime.
Some common strategies we use with our students are:
- We praise and encourage them.
- We threaten them.
- We bribe them.
- We blackmail them. (sometimes we get desperate)
- We coax them and try to jolly them along.
- We make deals.
- We offer rewards.
- We try to make it fun.
- We try logic.
- We try convincing arguments.
Although these methods help, they usually don’t work for long, especially with a reluctant music pupil. A child will go through the motions to earn a reward, but if their heart is not in it they will soon give up. Sometimes these methods just result in conflict, stress and unhappiness.
Change the student’s attitude
Lack of motivation to practise is common in music pupils. When we get to the very root of this problem we realize that what needs to change is the students attitude. Whether a music student succeeds or not depends almost entirely on their attitude. Those with a good positive attitude to learning music and practising will not only make good progress, they will enjoy the process. As Sondra Anice Barnes said
“It’s so hard when I have to,
and so easy when I want to”
So, is it possible for a reluctant student to have a change of heart and to change the way they feel about learning music? Is it possible for an unwilling or bored student to become an enthusiastic student? Is it possible for a student with an uncooperative or irresponsible attitude to become a student who practises because they want to?
Yes, of course it is possible because it does happen. The trigger is often an emotional experience or an emotional connection to music. It is our emotions that can cause us to change. It is our emotions and our feelings that can motivate us to act differently, or act in a certain way.
Now I Love Music Practice
The goal of Now I Love Music Practice is to touch the students emotions and to inspire them. Its aim is to generate an understanding of, and a love for music practice. In spite of perceptions to the contrary there really is a lot to love about music practice.
One technique the book employs to achieve its goals is to tell stories. More than half the book is based on stories
Now I Love Music Practice
ISBN 978-
8 ins x 5 ins approx
192 mm x 127 mm
94 pages
10 years +
$14.95
Now I Love Music Practice
by Ron Ottley Ron has over 50 years experience as a performer, an arranger and a piano teacher.
The book could have been titled Now I Love Piano Practice, or Now I Love Flute Practice, or Violin Practice, or Guitar
Practice, or any other instrument. It is relevant for any musical instrument.
From the International Music Teachers Group newsletter.
A review by Jeanie Willis B.Mus, Dip.Tch
I'm so impressed with this book! It seems quite revolutionary. It is written for students to read and is aimed at making them responsible for their own practice and ultimate success. This seemed a fantastic idea, but I wondered if it was aiming at an ideal that in reality would be impossible.
As I began to read my scepticism dissipated. It was very easy to read, has a very positive approach and yet a wonderfully refreshing straight talking honesty that I think students would respect and relate to really well.
It really gets at the psychology behind why students don't want to practice. The book uses a number of Aesop's fables to help illustrate and explain different points of learning an instrument and practicing. It has an incredible amount of information packed into it.
I think I have several students who will benefit from it.
“I'm so impressed with this book!
From the European Piano Teachers Association’s (EPTA) magazine PIANO PROFESSIONAL
A review by Nadia Lasserson BMus, GRSM, ARCM, ARAM“
Filled with common sense”
“Ron Ottley writes in simple persuasive language which cannot fail to convince everyone to go and ENJOY their practice”
“A delightful approach to the old problem”
“A delightful approach to the old problem”
From the Institute of Registered Music Teachers of New Zealand magazine RITMICO
A review by Elizabeth Noffke LTCL, LRSM, Lmustcl, FIRMT
A surprise awaits the music pupil when they begin reading Now I Love Music Practice. I found the book easy to read and interesting. It is designed to encourage, support, and inspire all music pupils.
It should encourage pupils to take responsibility for themselves and for their own progress.
Ron Ottley has put a great deal of thought into writing the book. It has delightful
short stories and fables for young people to enjoy. Teachers and parents will also
enjoy reading it.
“encourage, support and inspire all music pupils.”
”
From the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) magazine AMERICAN MUSIC TEACHER
A review by Dr. Steve Allen, Professor of Piano, Brigham Young University-
The online version of this review can be read here
Now I Love Music Practice is $14.95 freight free
Stories
Now I Love Music Practice is easy to read and entertaining. Using stories to motivate and inspire music pupils is a very gentle, subtle, and non threatening approach, but it is also very effective. Stories are very powerful.
- Children learn much about life through stories.
- They learn about right and wrong.
- They learn about relationships.
- They find role models.
- They experience a wide range of emotions through stories.
- Stories can be used to illustrate a principle.
- Difficult concepts can be made very clear through stories.
- Children pay attention when they are enjoying a story.
- They tend to remember stories.
- They will understand and remember the message in a story.
- Children (and adults) love stories.
Every story in the book is there to make a point, and importantly, to trigger an emotional response. The catalyst for action, or for change, is the emotions.
Dorothy Chamberlain Piano Teacher
This book is an inspiration to me, not only in my teaching but in my personal life. Thank you.
Peggy Melville Piano Teacher
"Now I Love Music Practice by Ron Ottley is a great read, all children should have
a copy -
Barb Steenrod Piano Teacher
I received my copy of Now I Love Music Practice yesterday and I absolutely love it!
My masters degree is in music therapy, so I clearly understand the non-
I am also very interested in using stories to reach the subconscious part of our brain that is involved in learning. I plan to share some of these stories with my students and parents at our upcoming recital.
I also like the fact that the authors ideas and teachings don't involve "gimmicks,
games, and extrinsic rewards". Like him, I subscribe to the belief in self-
George Middleton Pianist
I like this book! I like its construction, its material, its illustrations and oh,
its language.
Now I Love Music Practice is US$14.95
which includes all shipping, packaging and handling charges to anywhere. $14.95 per copy is the total to pay.
Now I Love Music Practice is covered by a full 3 months, no risk, money back guarantee. If you are not delighted and completely satisfied, simply return for a full, no questions asked refund.
Now I Love Music Practice
is available from Music Shops in New Zealand and Australia.
Outside NZ or Australia
the only place where it is available at present is right here.
Free sample chapters
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Now I Love Music Practice is published by Eileen Margaret Publishing
48 Every Street, Dunedin, New Zealand 9013.
contact eileenmargaret@xtra.co.nz
phone +64 3 4545103
(Ron Ottley can be contacted at ron.ottley@xtra.co.nz)