Practice Happens Between Lessons

The majority of a student’s actual skill development happens during home practice, not during the lesson itself — which means a teacher’s influence on practice habits, not just lesson content, has an outsized effect on student progress.

Setting Clear, Achievable Practice Goals

Vague instructions like “practice this week” produce inconsistent results — specific, achievable practice goals (which measures, how many repetitions, what to focus on) give a student a clear target between lessons.

Addressing Motivation Directly

When a student’s practice consistency drops, addressing motivation directly (what they’re finding difficult or unrewarding) is usually more productive than simply repeating the same practice instructions with more emphasis.

Celebrating Real Progress

Acknowledging genuine, specific progress (not generic praise) reinforces a student’s sense that their practice effort is producing real results, which sustains motivation over the longer term.