Practice Hats
By Philip Johnston

Page 1 of 11

Your teacher will tell you to practise your piece until it’s right.

Sounds like good advice. All you are supposed to do is keep working hard on your piece at home until…

…it’s right?

How are you supposed to tell when that is? Remember, one of the reasons you have music lessons in the first place is because you are not yet always good at telling what’s correct and what isn’t.

And to make things even worse, your teacher can’t help you until your next lesson…

Nobody warned you things would be this tough. “Have music lessons” they said. “It will be fun” they said.

Humph.

Well, it’s time to cheat a little bit. Your piece will be right next lesson, because we are going to bring in a team of experts to sit next you while you practice.

They each are specialists in different aspects of your playing. They will give you advice.

And if you listen to their advice, you will not believe how much better your piece will sound by your next lesson.

These experts look a bit funny. In fact, they’re not people at all.

They’re hats.

Did you say hats?