"I could play it better at home?"

Do you sometimes find, even after a solid week of practice that you have innumerable problems at your lesson that you simple didn’t have at home? This is an experience, which is shared by all.

There are a variety of reasons why this happens. You are adjusting to an instrument that feels and sounds different from your familiar friend at home. The music you are playing is a “work in progress”. The security you are working toward hasn’t arrived yet – it needs more time to develop.  Furthermore, during the lesson you are attempting to demonstrate, as much to yourself as to your teacher, that your practice has yielded results. This is a type of performance pressure, which tends to disrupt your motor-tactile programming.

What can we do to overcome this problem? Employ practice techniques aimed at developing greater security. Take advantage of performance opportunities to accumulate experience playing under pressure. Play for other students or participate in performance classes and studio recitals. Over time you will develop gain control as you grow both technically and musically.

Above all don't be discouraged.