Idly reading the "practice note book thread" in the teachers' forum, I noticed that both adult learners and their teachers talk about their notebooks and I wondered what people use them for.

Both my daughters have notebooks but it never even occurred to me to buy one for myself since I gave up using them for both violin and piano long before I left school.

I use a notebook for my adult students to write down what it is they have to do for next week - exactly as I would for a child!

I've found that if I don't write it, they don't know what to do! I once forgot with a particular adult student to write about a piece he was doing, because I assumed he'd know that we were working on it, we just hadn't had time to cover much of it that lesson. When he came back next week and I asked him to play it, he said he hadn't touched it all week because it wasn't written in his notebook so he didn't think he had to do it! And this is a 36 year old man with a job and a family!

It seems that most of them look at the page, see what I've asked them to do, and go through it in an order that works for them.

For my 1 adult student who isn't a beginner (circa grade 4/5), just as with my intermediate child students, I write down what they need to focus on with each exercise or piece in order to improve it.

I really don't use it any differently for adults or children - it is an 'aide memoire' for what do to between lessons and what they need to work on.

For my own lessons, I don't have a notebook, but my teacher constantly nags me to bring one because she has so many students and she can't remember what everyone is doing or working on at any one time, so she likes to write it down so she can look what happened last week. In this case, it is more of a tool for her, as I am quite capable of knowing what I need to work on in order to achieve whatever.

I keep my own books for clarinet and piano, which my teachers have never seen, asked to see or written in.

When I get home after the lesson, I write down what we've done in the lesson and any advice/tips/instruction I've been given. Partly because if I didn't, I might forget some of it, and partly because it's good to look back sometimes and pick up again on a point which may have slipped your mind. And also I write down what I've to practice for next time, and the way in which I've to practice it. Again, I don't want to forget anything.

I have a notebook which I give to my teacher at the start of our lesson. Firstly she uses it to mark my payment e.g. ......amount and then 1/4 and so on in each lesson.

She then writes down important things like if a piece is excellent, or if it needs to be more smooth, etc - just little comments.

My teacher would write down which scales /arpegios we did and what to do next week.

Then at the end my teacher writes down our next lesson.

The comments are as much for my teacher as a reminder as for me.

When I first started to learn I didn't have a notebook but my son did, so I said to my teacher, shall I get a notebook too? My teacher agreed it would be a good idea.

What I like is being able to look back a couple of years ago and I can see exactly what we were doing then.

ET

I have a notebook for my clari lessons. My teacher jots down all the stuff I need to practice for the next lesson. I find it helps me remember what I'm supposed to be doing as my clari practice is sporadic at the mo to say the least.

She also uses it as a reminder for herself as to what we were doing in the previous lesson.

I don't use one for my piano though oddly enough

Lois

That's exactly what mine is. I write in it, not my teacher, but I write down what I am to work on over the next week.
I also use it during the week to note down anything I want to ask about, or also new things I am likely to forget, especially the fingerings for new notes up in the third octave (I've never had to play them in a piece before, so never needed to actually know the fingerings) or some of the trills I've never faced before which need odd fingerings. Saves me having to look it up again the next day, as I have it written down ready to remind me

I tend to write things I have to focus on, using sticky notes affixed to the page of whatever piece of music I working on, that way it sits on my music stand and I won't forget! New sticky note after each lesson! I have a notebook too but I prefer to have it to hand so going with the notes for now

I use a notebook for my Sax lessons for my teacher to make notes about which scales to be done, fingering, technique notes. She will also make some comments on the pieces being worked on. I've found this useful because I'm quite inexperienced on Sax and whereas on flute I'd know what scales & exercises to do I need more guidance for Sax.

I didn't use a notebook for the flute lessons I had as an adult, markings were generally put on the pieces themselves.

I should start a Viola notebook but haven't! Only being at grade 1 (working towards) I only have to practise C, G, D major scales and arpeggios, 3 short pieces then I do some extra pieces out of Abracadbra which I practise all everyday.

For my pupils I get them to get the ABRSM Practise Book it's really good

I always think I will remember things, but on re-reading my teacher's notes between lessons, I invariably find things that I have forgotten or overlooked.

Interesting to read this thread as this is something I've been mulling over since starting clarinet lessons again. (I've only had a couple so far as my teacher's going to be away this week and next). I'm tempted to go buy a really nice one with musical instruments or something on it if I can find one (Banks maybe?) I need to keep a note of the pages and exercises I need to work on as they are not in order. Also it would have been useful this week to jot down a couple of points on fingering. I probably would mark this on th piece too as I was given some suggestions for alternative fingerings to use this lesson (I'm sure it was to use for a turn) but I just can't find where they'd be helpful no matter how hard I look

Maybe need a combination - some kind of shorthand on the music and more detailed within the notebook...

i do also have one for piano but really only occasionally use it - I usually know what piece I'm working on but my lesson day and time can vary so it can be useful for reminders at times.

I have a note book for my teacher to write down new scales and arpeggios that I have learnt during that lesson. We don't use it every week. I have it on the side of my piano to remind me as I have senior moments and find it really useful.

I can fully understand, by the way, why some adults would choose not to have a notebook. Of course I can remember what I'm working on after I leave my lesson, I don't need a notebook.
Thing is, I'm a total list-maker person. Friday afternoon, I will make a list of things to do over the weekend. Even things that happen every weekend, like cleaning the rat cage, go on the list. At work I always have a list of what I'm working on and where I'm up to. I don't really need a list, I suppose - my email inbox will tell me what work I've currently got assigned, and it's usually pretty obvious where you're up to, but I like having a distinct list of 'stuff to do'. My list of tasks for the four day Easter break started being composed this morning (mostly garden stuff I ran out of time to do this weekend, transferred from one to do list to the next!)
So a notebook is just an extension of obsessive list making for me! As adults, I think we're often more aware of the way we learn and remember things, so it's much easier to know if you're the sort of person who will benefit from a notebook or not.

Ditto. I even have a folder on my computer labelled "Lists of Lists"

I am not officially an adult learner as much though I would like to improve my playing I can't fit in piano lessons at the moment. But I do have a notebook which lives on the pîano where I note what I have practised and when, what I think I should do next etc. It is particularly useful when preparing to accompany exams.

This is exactly what I do. I started my notebook after my first lesson on the flute and it has recorded in there everything significant that has happened at lessons, rehearsals and exam (!!). I record how badly or well I have played a piece in my lesson, and what needs to be addressed. I also write down any questions I need to ask at the next lesson as they arise during practice.

My teacher has never asked to see it, but has on occasion written something in it when I said I wasn't catching the importance of what she was saying and I thought it would be better to have it written down.

I have memory of a goldfish so I have a notebook for my harp lessons. Pieces I can remember, but scales and technical exercises (which I have many as homework) can easily escape me and I don't want to be accused of not practising...

I didn't use a notebook for piano to start with as I assumed I know what/how to practise and I wrote down many things in the music anyway (e.g. better fingering, "this is triplet" or pedal marks), but since I discovered my teacher kept very detailed notes of my lessons and he showed them to me the few occasions I indeed overlooked something, I started to use one.

I don't have lessons at the moment and never used a notebook when I did (back in mists of time!)

I do however have a notebook in my cl case used in rehearsals to jot down what I need to look at when practising. I pencil a mark on the part where the problem is then note in the book what needed attention. Mostly these are personal practice things, sometimes they are reminders to chat to whoever to sort out a breathing or tuning issue if it can't be resolved at the time. I find this particularly useful in the last week or so before the performance as like busses concerts always cluster so I have to use the last min practicing time as efficiently as possible.

For violin and viola I tend to just write things to remember on my music, and at the top of the piece I write down specific studies to practice that help with technique in a particular piece.

Piano has to have a notebook, I couldn't remember it all otherwise and my teacher writes things such as specific bars to practice, something we didn't have time to do to look at the next week, next lessons etc.

Clarinet has a notebook for lists of pieces to practice, next lessons and fingerings.

x

I too am a natural list maker, so I write everything down about each practice session. Specifically, if I'm trying to learn a particular piece, I'll record the measure numbers and metronome speed of the passage on which I'm working. Since I'm usually working on about a half dozen pieces at the same time (but not in the same practice session), it helps to be able to go back and check where I was when last I worked on the piece.

On the page opposite where I record the practice information, I try to set some goals for the week (such as "be able to play the first 24 measures of a particular peice at q=120", or "work on arpeggio technigue" I usally fill out this page of goals right after I have my weekly lesson.

I've also created a one-page Excel spreadsheet grid with all the technical regurements (scales, arpeggios, chord progression) with a note as to the required speed and a column for each day of the week (so I print out one copy for a whole week). I record the speed I can actually do the exercise and rate the speed with either a check (meaning it takes a while to get to that speed), or a check plus (which means I can do that speed on the first or second attempt). When I start a new practice session, I usally go down the sheet and try to better at least a few of my speed benchmarks from the previous lesson. I find this method greatly motivating in that I do get a certain satisfaction as I can visually track my improvement.

I'm one of those people who needs lists of things to do but can never actually sit down and make a list of things to do, seriously I have major trouble remembering the most important things, yet I will always remember to practise my G major Arpeggio or whatever for my grade 1 viola even if practising for my grade 1 viola really is not as important as getting my Physics work done for uni so I can pass my access year!

I am most definitely not a list-making person and, bizarrely although my job involves writing (I have several articles published in journals every year) I in fact write very little down. When I am working on an article I tend to "write" it in my head first and only commit it to paper (or word processor) when I am more or less satisfied with how I want to word it.

I do write things on my music - metronome speeds, a cross beside a particularly difficult bar but never words.

I wonder if it also depends on your level, when I was initially learning the oboe I needed the fingering to be written somewhere but the tutor book had a fingering chart at the back of it and I just referred to that when necessary. When my teacher taught me harmonic fingerings recently I tried them out in my lesson and then just remembered them when I got home and the same has been true for unusual trill fingerings. Most of the time these days it would be quite hard to put into words how I am supposed to be working on something.

I had a notebook once, and would write down words of wisdom as my teacher issued them, and then not read them again until next lesson. After a bit, I lost the book, and gave up trying to use one.

Now I have a pencil, and write on the music. Then the comments can't run away , are in the right place to trigger my memory of what was said, and I make much better use of them. Since I don't practise scales etc, I don't need to write them down - and if ever I need to do technical exercises, I'll hunt around in the Staeps book for suitable ones, or alternatively make up my own to cover what I'm needing to learn in order to play a piece better.

One other thing I have found incredibly useful: I took my accompanist along to the last two lessons I'd had, which meant two of us remembering what'd been said, and therefore increasing the return considerably (especially as my accompanist has a very good memory ).

I think that level does apply a lot. I've just been looking for somthing in 50 Classical Studies' and can see I used that as a notebook quite a bit when learning.

I rarely (now) put fingerings onto the music other than occaisionally my personal codes for which alternative fingerings to use. When I was learning them I did often put little diagrams to remind me of the fingerings for the very high notes.

I'm glad I'm not the only person in the world who works like this.

I have just this very morning bought a lovely new notebook to resume the habit at my lessons. I used to do it when I first began and somewhere along the line, lapsed. I think it is a really useful thing to do and actually always enhanced my learning - I really can't think why I ever stopped . Thanks for this thread - it has inspired me to get back on the notebook track!

I am taking some refresher lessons to keep me 'in form' and the note book is so valuable to me and the teacher. Small notes here and there and some musical notes all over the place just jog my memory when I sit down to practice. I added some ISBN numbers from his books last week so I can order on line with confidence some books that were recomended.

I love my notebook. I record specific details like bar numbers where issues have arisen or metronome marks if I'm working specifically on tempo. I also make general comments about how a lesson or practice session has gone. Its sometimes funny to look back on and can even be encouraging to see my progress if I'm having a rough patch. I jot down how a lesson has gone, any recommendations from my teacher and what to prioritise for the next lesson.

I take the same approach with my pupils. Just a shame they don't always remember to look in their notebooks between lessons...

....or even realise exactly what they are for.....

have been reading this with interest, I'm thinking of keeping some kind of notebook for lessons and practice in an attempt to make my learning more structured and focussed. At the moment I seem to be drifting along, not really making the progress I want and know is possible. Do any of you still use notebooks?

I used to use one, but I found that I never read it and even when I did I didn't really think about it. I did better in the end just thinking about the music a whole lot more. It's hard to explain but things came much more naturally when I was practising, as I would then do whatever I needed to to get the sound / feeling I want.

However I am soon going to start lessons again and I'm going to get a shiny new notebook in case teacher wants to write stuff in it, or wants me to..

I have a notebook which my teacher writes in most lessons. It's more an aide memoire for both of us - she notes down which pieces to practice, sometimes what to focus on, technical exercises, alternative fingerings/ trills. If we haven't got round to something that week she will make a note to start with it the following week. It tends to be very brief notes though.

I also have my own notebook (a week to a double page diary which has room for notes) - I write my own notes after the lesson with practice notes for the week and then under each day I can write daily goals/ notes on what I've done. I find it works well for me and it is nice to have a record of what I have practised.

Use my notebook to record what my teacher suggests as practice for the coming week, any change of time, duration of practice per day (v roughly), any problems encountered or any technical points I need to check on at the next lesson. The notebook is in effect my music diary. A useful tool.

During lessons, my teacher writes down things for me to work on for my next lesson. I don't usually write in it myself.

Any notes I need tend to go on the music : I'd probably end up losing a small notebook, anyway...

I do this too, so I have to photocopy everything as the music can end up looking quite scruffy.

I have a couple of notebooks started with good intentions that are just l... away somewhere. Useful on courses and the rest of the time it's a bit like writing down what you eat if you go on a diet - just a means of creating a bit more consciousness rather than something to consult as you go along.

Actually I don't think I always actually see the notes on the actual music either (unless usual musical symbols, such as added articulation). Functions a bit like the diet note thing, really. If I write it down I'm more likely to remember to do it. (I hope!)

I use a notebook for my adult pupil - she refers to it to help her remember what to do.

I also use a notebook in my own lessons. One day I forgot, and teacher had to use the back notes page of my diary. Arrgh! I need a list these days ...., music <check>, piano specs <check>, notebook <check>, diary <check>, car keys <check> .........

Writing notes ---- but not necessarily music ones. I am an avid writer of to do lists. What to buy, what to tidy, clean, repair, which appointments I have, what phone calls to make. But when I am at my music stand, I know perfectly well, what I need to do. And since I do not get homework (my teacher knows I do my two hours of practice each day), I do not need to. I still know what I want to improve. And it does not matter what I work on. Every thing I practice is an improvement in a way. So no need for a music notebook.

I really like being able to look back at what I was working on a year ago and the kind of things I was struggling with. It can a great to see that I have improved.

I agree. I love keeping a note book - mine has two main functions -

I use it to record tips/instructions/comments/notes from the lesson, which I sometimes think irritates my teacher as I'm writing while he's talking - but he knows I find it useful so he never complains. I sometimes even add little sketches of say bow hand position. So I have a record of what needs work and what to practice.

In between lessons I might make notes on what I'm struggling with - to remind me to ask about it next lesson. I also note what I'm doing well/right from lessons and on my own. I quite like recording my thoughts and feelings about how it's all going as well as the "technical" (actual playing related) stuff.

I find it useful to look back over my note books - especially on a bad-playing day. It's quite funny reading my early "Played G major scale" comments from my first note book - but it shows the progress I've made from there.

Oh - and at the risk of sounding about five years old - I give myself stickers for doing well, or trying hard, or getting a compliment out of teacher. It's amazing how much flicking through the note book and seeing a bunch of stickers can cheer me up when I seem to have ten thumbs! Immature? Moi?

At 54 - a 'very adult' student - I have had a notebook since I started taking classes back in 2006. I find it helps to focus on what needs doing more and what may be set aside at various points during the course; it is also an excellent rrminder of progress (or lack of it ... ) and since I usually take care of 5 - 7 pieces7etudes at a time (in all, of course, not 7 and 7) I organise my work into what to do for next week and in 2 weeks' time so I know what to concentrate more intently on.
A great idea suggested to me by my teacher which I firmly believe in.

I use a notebook. Because of the way my lessons are arranged (alternating instruments, so lessons on each instrument are fortnightly at best, often less frequent), I know I will forget the specifics of what my teacher said in the lesson, otherwise. I'll remember I need to practice 'this' piece or 'those' scales, but I won't necessarily remember the detail of how I'm supposed to be practising (eg scales to a triplet rhythm at metronome speeds of 108 - 120; first two lines of page 2 of the piece, with particular attention to projecting the melody where it falls in the LH, etc).

Sometimes my teacher doesn't remember to write in the book [in which case I make notes myself straight after the lesson]. And sometimes I'll use it between lessons to make a note of things which are particularly troublesome and where I want to ask advice next time.

It's been very interesting reading all the replies on this. Not sure now if a notebook will be of use to me

If it helps, then I'd ignore my reply. You are much more of a notebook person than I am

Yes I am, and I think a notebook will be accompanying me to my next lesson, need to find a nice one now:)

Paperchase, or Scribbler...

Mmm, maybe

notebook hunt over, well done Chappells, nowhere else came close in our trawl of notebook selling shops yesterday

It's a very nice notebook

Honestly, everything ....

I don't have a rubbish memory but if I don't have anything to tick off against I won't get anything done!!

I can't believe we spent so long looking for a notebook Must remember to take it to lesson on Friday now