Practicing For Young Musicians: You Are Your Own Teacher [Paperback]

Harvey Snitkin (Author)

Book Description

Real progress happens when you take your weekly lesson, right? Wrong! Success depends on what you do between lessons, and when and how you practice. Between lessons, you are your own teacher. Regardless of your instrument, or what style of music you hope to perform, this book will help you take responsibility for your own progress and use the time you spend practicing in the most rewarding way possible. Through fresh, upbeat approaches, Practicing for Young Musicians will make practice sessions more fun, more productive, and help young musicians develop a special relationship with their instrument. You will discover why you must take responsibility for your own progress, why success happens between lessons when you practice, and why between lessons you are your own teacher.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Harvey Snitkin is an award-winning educator and musician. He holds a PhD in music education and an MA in oboe pedagogy from the University of Connecticut, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Hartt College of Music. His teaching experience spans all levels of public school music as well as the Armed Forces School of Music, the University of Connecticut, Hartt School of Music, and Three Rivers Community College. He has spearheaded numerous arts education grants. While serving 26 years as Music Director of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Youth Orchestra, he presented hundreds of elementary school programs as leader of the Symphony's Music in the Schools Trio. He is a two-time recipient of the Connecticut Songwriters Association's Contribution to Education Through Music Award, a voting member of the Recording Academy for the annual Grammy Awards, and an associate composer of BMI.

Product Details

• Paperback: 153 pages
• Publisher: HMS Publications, Inc.; First edition (January 9, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888732008
• ISBN-13: 978-1888732009
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,267,522 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Dirty Word?, November 26, 2000

By 

P. Gardner "Penny Gardner" (American Fork, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Practicing For Young Musicians: You Are Your Own Teacher (Paperback)

Is "practicing" a dirty word? One camp would have you avoid the "P" word because of its negative connotations. However in his book, Practicing for Young Musicians, Dr. Snitkin states, "You practice to improve technical skills and musicianship. Practicing is playing with a purpose."

This book is addressed to young musicians. It is written on an upper-elementary level with examples and logic that children can relate to. Specific suggestions are given to help the child use his practice time wisely and to increase his musicianship. The student realizes that it is up to him to get the most from his practice time; he is responsible for his own progress.

In reading this book, I kept thinking that this philosophy of being responsible for one's own progress applies in all areas, especially education. The author concluded along the same line when he wrote, "What you've learned isn't limited to music. You've learned to use your time wisely... Most of all, as your own teacher, you've learned to take the responsibility for your own learning and development. In short, you've gained the satisfaction and confidence that come from a job well done." Dr. Snitkin has done his job well in motivating and educating the student to become a better musician. --Penny Gardner, author of Nine-Note Recorder Method

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great tips!!!, January 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Practicing For Young Musicians: You Are Your Own Teacher (Paperback)

This book is great for motivation for the students.... I really liked how it gave ideas that can be put into kid language, which helped my teaching.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaching tips, simple exercises, and sound advice, July 8, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Practicing For Young Musicians: You Are Your Own Teacher (Paperback)

Harvey R. Snitkin is a musician, music educator, and a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for the Grammy Awards. Now in his newly revised and significantly expanded edition of Practicing For Young Musicians: You Are Your Own Teacher, Snitkin provides a new generation of aspiring young musicians a superbly presented, "user friendly" guide to self-directed musical study. Basic teaching tips, simple exercises, and sound advice for budding musicians of all skill levels fill this motivational book which is very highly recommended for young people wanting better their own musical skills. Also highly recommended for the serious music student and the dedicated performer is Harvey Snitkin's companion book: Practice Planner: A Journal Of Goals And Progress (1888732105, [...]).