Helping Music Students Choose Repertoire

Helping music students to choose music repertoire is extremely important since it can motivate and challenge an individual, thereby giving the music lessons purpose. As a music teacher, having a musical plan is essential to ensure a student is on the right path so they can achieve their musical goals. Music teachers should help students choose repertoire that is interesting and appealing to the student, yet challenging and at the appropriate level of difficulty. Factors to consider when selecting musical compositions to perform are: student involvement, student short-term and long-term goals, choosing relate able and student relevant compositions, level of difficulty.

Getting music students involved by allowing them to choose some of the music they will be performing is an absolute must. This ensures that the music the student will be performing is appealing and interesting to themselves. Music students will feel like their choices matter in the process and this can help motivate them to practice.

Having goals is also a good motivator to practice. Short-term and long-term goals can include preparing for an audition, public performance, or casual jam sessions. In addition to short-term goals, Long-term goals can also include preparing for music performance exams. For both short-term and long-term goals it's important to help music students choose musical compositions or songs that are appropriate. For singers, choosing the right key for a song or music composition usually will determine how comfortable the song will be to perform. Certain keys are easier to perform for certain voice types. You want to make sure the key you choose for the student is not too high or too low to sing in. The same can be said for instrumentalists. Some students are more comfortable playing in certain keys since they have spent a great deal of time practising certain scales.

Choosing relate able and student relevant compositions can ensure that the music student will not only practice but they will also enjoy the learning process. Some students will get excited about learning songs or music compositions they enjoy listening to. Having a familiarity with a song or music composition often makes the learning process easier because the music student already knows what the song or music composition sounds like or is supposed to sound like. Allowing music students to choose some of their songs or music compositions will set them up for success. When a student is involved in the process of selecting musical compositions they feel valued.

Selecting music compositions or songs that are at the appropriate level of difficulty for each music student is an absolute must. Music students must be able to perform with relative ease. There is a reason there are carefully graded technique books and videos. These books and videos are physically successive making sure proper technique is developed over time. Developing proper technique can prevent injury. If a music student performs music that is above their level of difficulty this can often lead to physical injury. With the right guidance and proper training music students can enjoy a life-long love of performing music.

To summarize, always have a plan when choosing music repertoire for students. Make sure all music students are given choices when selecting songs or music compositions they will be performing. Also make sure these choices include songs or music compositions that students actually enjoy. Help music students choose songs or music compositions that are at the appropriate level of difficulty. By following these suggestions you will most certainly help foster a life-long love of music for all music students learning to play an instrument.