Practice Replies and How they Work:

To help monitor practice time, Shoreline Music needs parent help and support.  However, there's no need to fret, because we've made it easy!

Here's how it works:

1. Each week, the practice section of our website will be updated with a new practice assignment.  Students and parents should check to find out what needs to be worked on.  No one has nothing to practice.  If your child insists this is true, have them see Mr. Leeson and he will show them what to practice.
   
   
2. Every Friday, Band and Strings students will receive an email with the subject: "Practice Check: (Date) (Class)".  The body of the email will only contain the same information as the subject line.
   
   
3. If your child has practiced an appropriate amount for that week, simply click "reply" and then "send".  There's no need to type anything in the body of the email.  In fact, please don't write anything in the body because I won't be reading it!  I will only be looking for whether a reply was sent or not.
   
   
4. Amount of practice replies completed will be displayed on your child's music insert with their report card.  Practice habits are considered when determining overall grade.
   

F.A.Q.

What's an appropriate amount of practice time?

The recommended amount of time is 15 minutes per day, 5 days per week.  (Total of 75 mins)  However, this can vary per week depending on each student's schedule.  For example, if a student has a particularly busy week because of a sports tournament, an appropriate amount might be slightly less.  Parents can decide what is an appropriate amount.  Please bear in mind that a regular practice schedule is probably the best thing for ensuring your child's success in music.

What if I forget to send the reply?

No worries.  Send it in late.  The Shoreline Music Gmail account organises emails by conversation.  This means that no matter when you send the reply I will always know what practice check should be applied to which week.  There is no deadline (except for in June!)

Shouldn't my child be responsible for getting these replies in?  Can you use their email address instead?

Although I consider our students very trustworthy, Shoreline Music needs to ensure a fair playing field when it comes to things that are considered in each student's music grade.  For this reason, I need parent verification of practice habits.  If you would like to shift slightly more responsibility to your child, you can also ask your child to mark amounts of practice time on a calendar.  This can be a great reference when deciding whether your child has practiced an appropriate amount.

What if my child is in Strings and Band?

You'll receive only one practice check email under your child's band class.  Please consider practice habits on the Strings instrument when deciding to reply or not.

I have several children in Band and/or Strings.  Do I need to send a reply for each one?

Yes.  Because your children may have different practice habits, I would like a reply for each one.  In terms of organization, it also makes things a lot simpler for me when recording replies.  Thank you very much for the time involved!