I Love

Music Practice

A book  to inspire and motivate music pupils

A valuable resource for music teachers.

I wrote this book for children intending that they would read it themselves. Much of the time I was writing it I was thinking about one of my students. He was eleven years old and a very reluctant pupil.

However Nadia Lasserson in her review of the book in the PIANO PROFESSIONAL magazine said,

“It is probably written with reluctant students in mind, but I do believe that this book would be more beneficial to teachers who would then be able to relay the message to their pupils with the usual dictums but in many more interesting and original ways”

Actually, that is exactly how I originally used much of the material in the book over many years. Long before I had anything written down I have been sharing the messages with my pupils and telling them the stories that are now in the book.

Many teachers have purchased multiple copies of Now I Love Music Practice to give to their students. This makes a very appropriate reward or gift.

But many teachers just retell the stories to their students. The feedback I am receiving indicates that when used in this way the book is a valuable resource for music teachers.

I believe that the most important function of a music teacher is instilling and fostering a love of music in their students and encouraging and motivating them to persevere. If you are a teacher I am sure that your goal like mine is to bring each pupil to the point were they are enjoying the learning experience and they are practicing because they want to.  

Until students get to this point they are hard work for the teacher and also it is hard work for the student.  And of course some students give up before they even get to this point.

I wrote Now I Love Music Practice especially to address the problem of reluctant pupils. The book seeks to get at the root of this problem by changing the students attitude to music practice.

The book does not contain suggestions or advice about how to motivate music students. The book is the motivation and the inspiration.

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     

Contact Ron Ottley  ron.ottley@xtra.co.nz