Tips for the Vocalist

Whether you've been singing for years or have only just started taking vocal lessons, it is important to remember to do things properly. Much like exercise, singing should be done gradually and in moderation. You wouldn't go to the gym for five hours once a week and expect the same results as you get going once a day for 30 - 45 minutes, would you? 

Singing is exactly the same. Singing too loud or for too long can cause damage that could potentially lead to more serious issues later down the road. 

So here are some simple tips to make you a better vocalist than you already are!

1. Train your voice like an athlete trains for a sport. Practice in moderation, and don’t push yourself too hard -- you’ll negate any positive results by pushing too hard! Also as an athlete would, be sure to warm up before a performance/practice and cool down after. Warming up helps stretch your vocal chords and prepare them, and cooling down helps to not strain them with a sudden halt in singing.

2. Be YOU. If you try to copy a voice you like on the radio, not only could that lead to damage (your voice might not be able to physiologically handle their range, tone, etc. even if it feels comfortable!) but the radio stars are already making money for their voice -- let YOUR voice ring out!

3. Pace yourself. If you practice correctly and in a good moderation, you’ll notice your skills and duration enhance over time. This is the correct way -- NOTHING that takes hard work can miraculously happen over night. Everything takes time, practice, and moderation.

4. Avoid stress and trauma on your vocal chords. Try not to scream, yell, or strain your vocal chords on a regular basis. And yes, Husker fan vocalists, that means you too!

5. Hydration, hydration, hydration! Drink enough water. This is an important every-day habit to have, but it will also help your vocal chords out and they won’t get “dry” as fast when you’re in the middle of a performance!

And as a side note with the hydration tip -- from personal experience, I've found I perform long programs better when I have a bottle of water off to the side that I can take a sip from in between songs or during long breaks in the music. Contrary to some beliefs, this doesn't look unprofessional -- quite the opposite, it shows you take your talent seriously. Athletes drink water constantly throughout big games, pop stars go through water bottles extremely fast on stage -- so YOU as a vocalist can drink water throughout your performance as well!

Piano Exercises

If you’re a pianist then you know the importance of regular practice and finger “exercise” on the instrument. Here are some tips to help strengthen fingers and dexterity with the piano, some of which can be worked on even without the instrument itself.

1. Play some scales.

It’s true, scales can be an irritating repetition for musicians, but they along with arpeggios really work! Not only do they help reinforce knowledge of notes and key signatures, but they aid in finger strength and rhythm. Try playing scales in a variety of ways: legato, staccato, regular rhythm, etc.

2. Finger stretches.

Play two notes at least an octave apart with thumb and finger, and play a third note somewhere in between with a finger of your choice. (using your 4th finger might be a good choice, as it’s one of the weaker fingers to begin with) Also try holding your thumb down on one note and play ascending staccato notes as far up as possible with another one of your fingers to stretch them.

3. Work your weaker hand, too.

Practice parts that are usually played by your dominant hand with your “weaker” hand to familiarize that hand with melodic lines and new exercises.

4. Work your weaker fingers.

For most pianists and piano students, the fifth finger (pinky) is weaker than the other fingers. Try practicing scales and keeping the volume even across all fingers, which might require a bit of an extra push with the fourth and fifth fingers. Doing this will help strengthen your weaker fingers.

5. Tempo changes.

Try playing pieces that you know very well (or even have memorized) at different speeds. Start off as slow as possible, and work your way to a tempo faster than what you normally play at.

How to Write a Song

Songwriting is a skill that is easily obtainable by anyone wanting to learn. Writing a song has one very basic point: write down everything you think about.

Back when I was in high school and writing a lot, especially for speech competitions, I had a coach once tell me “I want you to vomit words onto the page.” I gave her a disgusted look, until she explained what she meant. She wanted me to write down everything I thought of -- every word, phrase, sentence, sight, smell, etc.

Granted, that was for writing informative and entertainment speeches. But the same technique can easily be applied to songwriting!

Your list can be organized and complete, like this:

Or it might end up being a bit all over the page, like this:

The thing to remember is you have to just do whatever works best for YOU. Do you like organization and making lists? Then the list option of “word vomit” will probably be beneficial. If you don’t care for organization or would rather the activity seem less like homework, then drawing and doodling words all over the page might be more helpful. Again, just do whatever works best for you. If you have a different way than these two methods, that’s great, too!

The next step is picking out your favorites. And the best part about songwriting and coming up with lyrics?

It’s absolutely 100% subjective.

This means that it doesn't have to make any sort of sense to anyone but you. And even then, that’s completely up to you! If you want to write a chorus to a song that’s something like:

Computers, games, that’s my jam.

Come on snowman, see me as I am.

Love my friends and going to the park.

My cat’s name is Chopin, and he loves to bark!

THEN GO FOR IT! Songwriting is so subjective, regardless of what “professionals” might think. If you write something and put music behind it, it’s your song. (Also, it doesn't have to rhyme at all, that’s just one of my personal songwriting habits.)

Songwriting, when looked at in its most basic form, is an extremely simple skill. Anyone can do it. So pick up a pencil (or pen, marker, crayon, etc.) and some paper, and get down to it! And if you’d like, let us know what you or your child writes by sharing in the comments section. Though anything inappropriate will be deleted! Songwriting may be subjective, but this is still a public blog and we’d like to keep things age friendly around here. :)

Boost Your Mood

Music has been proven to boost moods for quite some time now. And everyone knows the happier you are, the healthier you are! Whether you’re playing or listening, music is a wonderful tool to help boost happiness and diminish stress.

The key to music making you happier is very simple: do what makes you happy. Does simply sitting back and enjoying an album or a few music videos boost your mood? Then do that. Does playing a musical instrument and learning the technique help to put a smile on your face? Then learn! It’s a simple concept -- you have to do what makes you happy.

If you aren't completely satisfied in what you are doing, it will feel like a chore and you’ll no longer look forward to it. This will lead to stress, and stress can lead to a lot of negative feelings.

If you’re playing an instrument and feel like it’s forced, try something new! Whether it’s a new technique on your current instrument or a new instrument altogether, trying something new will make everything feel like a brand new adventure and help boost your happiness level and lower the stress.

At Harris Academy of the Arts, a wide variety of music lessons and classes are available. They are taught by university trained instructors, and students leave with a smile on their face daily.

Doing what makes you happy is one of the bigger goals you should have for yourself further down the road. At Harris, we’re here to help enhance one of those mood-boosters!

It is important to always remember: be happy, stay healthy. If what you’re doing now feels like it’s weighing you down, maybe it’s time for a fresh start. Find something new to spice up your current instrument of choice, or pick a new one and give it a shot. Even if it’s just for fun and you later return to your first instrument! Just anything to remind you why you’re doing this in the first place...

Because it makes you happy.

For The Love Of Music

It isn’t often that adults will come out and admit, “I wish I had never taken music lessons.” In fact, more often than not, adults (whether they’re just turning twenty or reaching eighty years in age) will say, “I wish I had never quit taking music lessons.”

Music lessons are work, there’s no doubt about it. They’re hyped up and given a certain coat of shimmering glamor by the media, and then every child wants to learn an instrument so they can one day be heard on the radio and perform in front of thousands.

But then the music lessons start, and they begin to realize that the skills they desire to learn in order to play their instrument don’t just come magically. While some are lucky enough to pick up an instrument and know immediately the theory and technique behind it without much instruction, that number is very few. Learning an instrument, just as learning any art, sport, etc. -- it takes hard work and dedication. And the younger you start, the easier it becomes with age and practice.

But this hard work and dedication is unfortunately why many people quit their instrument before actually giving themselves the chance to learn it. Then later in life, suddenly wish they had never given it up.

So here are a few reasons why you should be taking music lessons, regardless of what age you are.

1. Music lessons help lower stress and make you smarter.

Studies show that music education can increase IQ in children and adults, and these same studies have also shown that music is a great stress reliever. Music not only stops stress, but puts those hormone imbalances in reverse!

2. Learning to play an instrument comes with its own community.

Especially for adults, and after college more specifically, it can be difficult to make new social connections. Trying out music lessons can provide a “common ground” of sorts, on which to meet other people. Taking music lessons can open a door to meeting other people of all ages and talents who have a similar interest.

3. You learn a good amount of discipline and the value of hard work and dedication.

If you’re learning an instrument, whether it’s for fun or professional purposes, that is a talent that will stick with you for life. This will also help in certain careers and moments in your life that require discipline, values, and dedication. If you were able to dedicate yourself to a musical instrument, you’ve learned how to properly dedicate yourself to everyday tasks!

There are many reasons adults and children alike should begin taking music lessons. But possibly one of the most important reasons is that it is a fun, relaxing activity that could one day turn into a career -- and even if it doesn’t land you a spot on the radio every thirty minutes or a music video on television, it’s still a fun and exciting part of life to be able to say “I never quit taking music lessons, and I definitely don’t regret it.”

Recital Preparation

At Harris Academy of the Arts, students and faculty get the chance to perform in recitals for their families and the community.

Preparing for a recital is more than just having a thirty minute or hour long lesson with an instructor. After all, those lessons only happen one time every week. It takes a lot of personal preparation to be fully ready for a recital performance.

Students have to prepare the proper attire for the recital, and also make sure they are getting enough practicing time throughout the day.

But practice doesn't just happen by going over the piece dozens of times a day. Simply sitting down and listening to the piece, which generally is easy to find on YouTube, also helps. For those who play an instrument, it helps to listen to the piece and silently “practice” along with your instrument. For vocalists, listening to the piece can help give you an idea of the emotional reaction you are trying to provoke from your audience.

Mental preparation is by far the easiest step to being fully ready for a recital: simply breathe, relax and focus. You are in the recital to perform what you've learned, and the audience is there to see you -- no need to be nervous!

Student recitals are free and open to all students, faculty and community members.

Success!

LINCOLN, NE, 8/12/2013 -- Harris Academy of the Arts held a grand reopening to share the new expanded building with students, their families, and the general public. At the event, there were musical activities such as Beethoven Bingo, a variety of coloring pages, and fishing for musical instruments, sweet treats including cookies and an assortment of candy, and enough balloons to go around!

Families had the opportunity to tour the new, expanded studio space which includes a new lobby, office space, three new studios and a new waiting area for families. Some people were even visiting the studio for the first time to visit and inquire about lessons and group classes offered.

The grand reopening was intended to show off the new expanded space, and it was a successful event.

Grand Reopening!

No pictures this time around, because construction is done!! Join us on Saturday August 10th to celebrate the continuing growth of Harris Academy of the Arts -- while lessons will still be going on this day, it is also an opportunity for parents and students to meet new instructors and staff, partake in a variety of games and activities, and also sit in on a few informative sessions with instructors.

And of course, there will be a few tasty treats here and there, too!

Harris Academy started as Harris Music Studio in 2004 under the director and owner, Vicki Harris. Currently, there are twenty staff and faculty members and approximately 400 students of all ages. Due to its growth, the expansion became a much welcomed and necessary event.

Our curriculum provides many new and exciting offerings within the arts. Our courses provide unique options for students of all ages, skill levels, learning styles, instruments and schedules. Find what is best for you and your family, whether it be ensembles, private lessons or group classes.

Harris Academy of the Arts specializes in providing quality music education for a variety of instruments (piano, guitar, voice, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion);  however, we have enhanced our repertoire to include a variety of arts programs. Our expanded course list includes Musical Theatre, Talent Coaching, Disc Jockey and more to come.

Please join us Saturday, August 10th from 9am to 5pm for a grand reopening to celebrate the growth at Harris Academy of the Arts! None of it would be possible without YOU! :)

Instrument Care: Saxophone

Taking care of your instrument is very important. Frequently cleaning and tuning up will keep the instrument looking, sounding, and feeling new which will overall enhance performances and practicing.

Today, you’ll read how to clean a saxophone. The process is quite different and requires more use of instrument cleaning tools.

First, you start with the mouth piece. Remove the reed, and then use a mouthpiece brush to get rid of any “foreign gunk” that might be in there. Then run lukewarm water through the mouthpiece. This step may need to be repeated, depending on how long it’s been since the instrument was last cleaned.

Set the mouthpiece aside (or dry it yourself with a small cloth) and find a brush attachment to scrub the inside of the instrument. You can use water on a saxophone, however it’s important to remember: don’t let water touch the cork pads, or they will swell and deform and need to be replaced. So really, unless you’ve got steady hands and patience, it’s best to just work with the brush and scrub out the instrument’s insides. 

You can also purchase a swab for the instrument -- this is a cloth with a weighted side. Put the weighted side through the bell and turn the saxophone upside down, then pull the cloth through the instrument. This can be done as many times as necessary in order to properly clean and maintain the instrument. 

Make sure the cork on the neck is completely dry (if you chose water) and then apply a generous coat of cork grease. If you clean the saxophone and apply cork grease once a week, you’ll keep a good seal on the cork and therefore maintain a new look and feel for the instrument. However, don’t grease the little bits of cork on the ends of keys -- those are there for padding. 

After proper cleaning and maintenance, you can reassemble the instrument and it should look and feel good as new!

More construction!

We’re even closer to finishing the expansion! Thanks to all the hard work of construction workers and a helpful staff, things are moving right along!

Here are some pictures of our progress.

The old office -- no more window, and a fresh coat of paint!

Our computer area for students, where they will be able to access different programs to aid in composition, theory and ear training.

The new office space! Just a bit more here and it can become occupied.

Construction Updates Part 2

It’s getting closer to August 1st, which means it’s also getting closer to our expansion being complete and officially open. :)

Enjoy a few progress pictures and sneak peeks of new studio spaces and construction updates! And don’t forget to join us on Saturday, August 10th from 9am to 5pm for our GRAND REOPENING! Activities, games and food will be available the entire day, along with the opportunity to partake in informative sessions with our instructors. Specifics will be coming soon via e-mail and advertisements, so keep an eye out!

Friday's Instrument Care Tip: Trumpets

Giving Your Trumpet a Bath

When I first started playing trumpet, it was difficult remembering to clean out the valves and avoid over-oiling them. This made for sticky situations, and naturally they almost always occurred at concerts -- when a bad moment is least welcome.

My band instructor at the time asked if I ever gave my trumpet a bath. I thought he meant general cleaning of the valves, so I told him yes. He asked me: “So you’ve taken it completely apart and washed it in the bathtub?”

That was something I hadn’t done. Being both new to the instrument and eleven years old at the time, I had just assumed that water was bad for all instruments -- not just the wooden ones. Boy, was I wrong.

When you give your trumpet a bath, it’s important to use just the water, no soap is necessary and would probably do more harm than good. Take all of the valves and slides out of the instrument and let them soak in the water for a little bit. As for water temperature, slightly warm or body temperature (where it feels like you’re not touching anything when you put your hand in it) because brass can be very malleable if submerged in too high of a heat.

After the instrument has soaked for about two minutes, take a scrubbing brush and scrub every area you can get to: inside of the valves, as far into the slides and their spots as you can get, and the bell and mouthpiece area. Sometimes, if you haven’t given your trumpet a bath in a while, this can be a bit disgusting with all of the grime that comes out. But remember, this is a good thing!

It’s important to let your instrument air dry for at least a few hours -- if not an entire day -- so never give your instrument a bath within three hours of needing to play it, or else you’ll get a watery gurgle along with your notes. If you have a trumpet stand, set it on that with a towel underneath so the water can drip out. Also, don’t put the instrument back together until it’s fully dry.

When putting the trumpet back together, you might need to use some slide grease and valve oil. That’s normal, so no worries! Cleaning it was still beneficial!

A good time frame is giving your trumpet a bath once a month or every two months, depending on how often you play. Professionals might clean their trumpets once a week, plus a full bath once a month. Just depends on your goals with the instrument!

The next time you go to play your freshly cleaned instrument, you should notice a difference -- playing should be a bit easier, use less pressure and the valves and slides should also move with ease. 

That is, until the next time it needs a bath. :)

A few construction sneak peeks...

As most of you may know, Harris Academy of the Arts has recently been undergoing an expansion process to up the square footage of Harris by 1,500 square feet.. Not only will this free up office and storage space, but it also increased private lesson studios from 8 teaching rooms to 12.

To celebrate the continuing growth of Harris Academy of the Arts, a grand reopening will be held on Saturday, August 10. There will be fun musical activities for the entire family, along with a few extra surprises! During this day, parents and students can come to meet instructors, see our new larger space, and even take the opportunity to enroll in lessons for the term. Attendees may partake in informative sessions with instructors and enjoy a few tasty treats, as well as participate in fun activities and games!

And of course, what good would a construction update be without pictures? :)

Vicki, founder and director of Harris Academy of the Arts, breaks through the wall to open up window space for the new lobby.

Michaela, PR/Communications and assistant to the director, stands by the first cut through the wall where a new hallway will be constructed.

The almost-finished product of the new hallway! Still a ways to go, but much progress!

And also what is currently left of the old office, which will now be fixed up to be a teaching studio.

Making Musical Instruments, continued.

With the month of July beginning and August well on its way, the heat outside is bound to rise significantly. For an activity that's fun, active, and an easy option for indoors -- try making musical instruments! View the previous blog post for additional ideas, or use one of these!

Three Instruments in One (tin can guiro, bongo, shaker)

This homemade instrument is actually three in one! Here's what you'll need:

- One or more empty, clean tin cans
- Rice or dry beans
- Balloons
- Rubber Bands
- Chopsticks/Sticks (anything you can use for a guiro stick!)

And here's how you assemble the above:
1. Making sure the tin can has smooth edges, begin by placing a handful or so of rice or beans into the can.

2. Cut the end of a balloon off and stretch over the opening of the tin can.

3. Secure the balloon to the can using a rubber band.

And there you have it! Shake the can for a shaker, hit the top and use it as a bongo, or scrape the edge with a stick to use it as a guiro. Three instruments in one, in three easy steps!

Homemade Guitar

It can't get easier than this. Find a piece of Tupperware, your choice of size, and a few rubber bands. Secure the rubber bands around the open Tupperware and strum away!!

Making Homemade Instruments

Making a musical instrument is extremely easy. With just a few small steps, you can have your own backyard band! Here are a few options:

Egg Shaker/Maraca

For a shaker/maraca, just throw some uncooked rice or beans (depending on the sound you want) into an Easter egg. Secure it using super glue or something simple as tape if you want to later empty the egg for another use. Once it's secure, shake away!

Sensory Bottle: Rain Stick

A sensory bottle rain stick is easy to make as well. You just need a plastic bottle, plenty of toothpicks, and (optional) wooden skewers. You'll also need an uncooked small grain, such as quinoa or amaranth (these can be found in "bulk bins" at Super Saver and health food stores, so you can just buy the amount you need!) **NOTE** Rice is too big and will not flow freely between the toothpicks to create the sound of rain!

The recommended type of plastic bottle is the tall Glaceau Smart Water bottles -- this gives more time for the grains to fall through and actually sound like a rain stick. Basically, the taller the plastic container/bottle, the better the sound!

Instructions for sensory bottle rain stick:

1. Make sure the bottle is clean, and remove the label if desired.

2. Start filling the bottle with toothpicks. It is optional to place longer wooden skewers diagonally within the bottle to keep the toothpicks from ending up too vertical, however, not a necessary step.

3. Use a funnel to insert the grains into the bottle. 

4. Tighten the lid securely, and enjoy your rain stick!

Optional Step: Once you're sure you have the desired sounds and proportions of "ingredients," you can glue the lid to completely seal the instrument. :)

Popsicle Stick Harmonica

Here's what you'll need:

- 2 popsicle sticks (wide ones will work best!)

- 2 rubber bands, or string

- A strip of paper the same size as the popsicle sticks

- 2 toothpicks cut the width (or just above the width) of the popsicle sticks

How to assemble your popsicle stick harmonica:

1. Place the paper strip in between the two popsicle sticks.

2. Wrap one rubber band (or tie string) around one end until it is snug.

3. Slide one toothpick wedge to the inside of the rubber band (or string).

4. Sandwich the last toothpick to the other end of the popsicle sticks.

5. Wrap that end with the rubber band (or string), again making sure it's tight.

**NOTE** Experienced players of the pospicle stick harmonica have found it works best to place one toothpick on top of the paper and one on the bottom, while remaining between the popsicle sticks of course. Fiddle around with a few options to see what works best for you!

And just how do you use this instrument? It's all about air! Simply suck or blow air into it to see what different sounds can be made. You can also squeeze parts of the popsicle sticks together to project different unique sounds.

Be sure to keep checking back for more homemade instrument options! :)

Explore the Benefits of Music for Children

One reason Harris Academy of the Arts is able to be set apart from other music studios that provide private music instruction is that it provides classes specifically geared towards children. Not only do we have our Children's Music Academy for ages three to seven, but we also provide different Kindermusik classes for children of all ages -- from four weeks, four months, to four years. 

Below is a brief excerpt from Kindermusik's webpage, which explains in further detail the benefits of music education in a child's life. 

And to receive more information on Kindermusik courses offered at Harris Academy of the Arts, please feel free to call our office (402 - 423 - 7121) or e-mail info@harrisacademyofthearts.com to request more information.

Musical Learning Supports Child Development

All over the world, parents bond with their babies through musical sounds and rhythmic movement. They rock and swing their children, put them to sleep with lullabies, make them laugh with nursery rhymes. Parents know instinctively what scientists have now proven: young children thrive on music. It’s one of the best vehicles for learning in early childhood development. Kindermusik takes musical learning to the next level; our curriculum is proven to improve child brain development. And, did we mention it's fun for kids and parents alike?!
 

Music matters

Psychologists, neuroscientists, and experts in early childhood development have demonstrated that music does more for children than bring them joy; it helps their brain cells make the connections needed for virtually every kind of intelligence. Kindermusik's curriculum is built on this research.

When young children are consistently engaged by music in an age-appropriate, socially accepting environment, they benefit at many levels:

• Early Literacy. They gain the phonological processing, spoken language, and comprehension skills that are the foundation of reading.

• Quantitative. They build the spatial-temporal and reasoning skills required for math, science, and engineering.

• Social-Emotional. They develop social and emotional skills that are essential for school readiness—like the ability to regulate their responses and relate to others in complex ways.

• Physical. By moving and dancing to music and playing simple instruments, children improve their gross and fine motor skills.

• Creative. Activities that encourage freedom within a fun and friendly structure spark children's creativity and provide inspiration.

And of course, they develop a lifelong love of music.

This blog post is courtesy of Kindermusik's webpage,
http://www.kindermusik.com/about/benefits-of-music-for-children/

Making Memories

Whether practicing or performing, competing or playing for fun, hitting a wrong note in a piece can be one of the most frustrating experiences for a musician or a student just starting out in music.

When this happens, we then associate this wrong note with the word "bad," and then put it in our heads that our entire performance was thus "bad" because of one or two wrong notes. So instead of focusing on what went well with the piece, we end up focusing on the tiny things that didn't go the way we'd hoped they would.

This can be discouraging, especially to younger students and beginners.

It's important to always encourage your students, and to teach them how to encourage themselves.

One wrong note or phrase in a piece of music doesn't mean the entire performance was "bad," it just means some areas need more work than others.

So instead of always focusing on the little mishaps of a piece, try learning to focus on what went right. And learn to give constructive criticism, whether it be to yourself or a student. Instead of "I hit the wrong note. I did horribly." start saying "Well I did hit a wrong note here, but the phrase leading up to/after that note went very well."

Music performances are about making memories for an audience, and most importantly for yourself.

Do you want your memory to be that one note you hit wrong, or the fifty other notes you hit right?

Practicing Over the Summer - Why it's important, along with tips and tricks.

Your instructors probably tell you this at every lesson (if you aren't currently in a lesson but have played an instrument/sang in the past, you've definitely heard it before, too!): Practice, practice, practice!

But when summer vacation hits and you're free of school, recitals, ensemble work and everything that's weighed you down for the last academic year, it's difficult to find that motivation to keep up with your instrument.

One of the best pieces of advice I was given in college was that over long breaks, I should put my instrument and music away for the first portion of it. So over the two week winter break, put things up for three or four days. For the summer break, put things up for the first two weeks. And so on and so forth.

It's a great piece of advice to sit and take a break from practicing, rather than diving right into learning new music and scales. It gives your brain and practicing "muscles" a little bit of time to relax and rejuvenate, which will enhance your playing when you do actually pick up and practice.

Despite it being a good idea to take a short break from practicing, it is important to remember that practicing is very much something that needs to be done in order to further benefit playing skills. Try making practicing a part of your daily routine -- whether it's ten minutes of scale work or thirty minutes of repertoire work, getting a little bit in every day will prove to help in the long run.

Now for the advice on lost motivation when the weather is warmer and the thought of hitting the pool for hours a day is tempting -- practice first, reward yourself second! Psychologically you will soon associate practicing with some form of reward, therefore eventually wanting to practice every day.

And parents, if you have a younger student, try not to "force" them into practicing -- remember that their experience with music should be an enjoyable activity, not a forced behavior. Instead, try these tips to get them to practice:

1. Don't call it a "practice." Instead, tell them you want to hear them perform for you -- make it more fun by turning your living room into a personal stage for them! Sit and listen to their performance, and provide advice on things they should work on for next time. Performing for someone is much more enjoyable than sitting alone in a room practicing.

2. Even if you don't know a thing about their instrument, try to help them out if they are struggling with a certain part or instrument fingering.

3. Encourage them. If they hit a wrong note over and over, don't let them give up -- tell them how great it will sound once the right note is found, and keep ensuring that they can and will achieve it.

Practicing is difficult. I've played the same instrument for twelve years, and I can honestly say I didn't start really working hard and practicing on a daily basis until I entered college. I personally regret my bad practicing habits from high school. If music is something you or your student really wants to have as a permanent fixture in their lifestyle, practicing is of major importance -- even over summer break.