Comments on: Teaching Tip: About Practicing At Home http://www.4dancers.org/2010/03/teaching-tip-about-practicing-at-home/ A blog for dancers, dance teachers and others interested in dance Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:02:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Stacey http://www.4dancers.org/2010/03/teaching-tip-about-practicing-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-573 Stacey Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:48:02 +0000 http://www.4dancers.org/?p=1281#comment-573 I always tell my students that their "homework" is to walk with their heads held high in the hallways at school. So many kids/teenagers walk with their head and eyes looking down at the floor. Walking with your head up helps technique and helps self esteem as well. Other "homework" assignments I have given is to be observant of the world around them (how a tree branch curves or how a cat jumps) and noticing if you tense your muscles throughout the day like when you brush your teeth. I agree that learning proper technique is so important. Patience is worth so much more then fixing bad habits!! I always tell my students that their “homework” is to walk with their heads held high in the hallways at school. So many kids/teenagers walk with their head and eyes looking down at the floor. Walking with your head up helps technique and helps self esteem as well. Other “homework” assignments I have given is to be observant of the world around them (how a tree branch curves or how a cat jumps) and noticing if you tense your muscles throughout the day like when you brush your teeth.

I agree that learning proper technique is so important. Patience is worth so much more then fixing bad habits!!

]]> By: 4dancers http://www.4dancers.org/2010/03/teaching-tip-about-practicing-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-561 4dancers Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:14:07 +0000 http://www.4dancers.org/?p=1281#comment-561 Thanks for the affirmation! I agree that reading or watching can provide a good alternative! Thanks for the affirmation! I agree that reading or watching can provide a good alternative!

]]> By: Dianne http://www.4dancers.org/2010/03/teaching-tip-about-practicing-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-555 Dianne Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:33:40 +0000 http://www.4dancers.org/?p=1281#comment-555 I agree too. Studying ballet technique (reading or watching) is helpful. But practicing alone is not useful for beginners. I agree too. Studying ballet technique (reading or watching) is helpful. But practicing alone is not useful for beginners.

]]> By: 4dancers http://www.4dancers.org/2010/03/teaching-tip-about-practicing-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-526 4dancers Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:37:44 +0000 http://www.4dancers.org/?p=1281#comment-526 I agree Nichelle! I do that as well...other things they can do include practice standing like a dancer (shoulders back, long neck, head up) and flexing and pointing the feet while sitting down. Thanks for chiming in! I agree Nichelle! I do that as well…other things they can do include practice standing like a dancer (shoulders back, long neck, head up) and flexing and pointing the feet while sitting down. Thanks for chiming in!

]]> By: Nichelle http://www.4dancers.org/2010/03/teaching-tip-about-practicing-at-home/comment-page-1/#comment-525 Nichelle Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:17:34 +0000 http://www.4dancers.org/?p=1281#comment-525 I would have to agree. I do think it is great when students show some initiative though. To avoid discouraging that desire to take improvement into their own hands, I usually offer some things they can do at home... foot strengtheners like scrunching up towels w/ their toes, theraband exercises (once they've been taught in class), stretches, etc. It seems to work well because they just want to feel like they are doing something. So it's good to have some of those in your back pocket as well. I would have to agree. I do think it is great when students show some initiative though. To avoid discouraging that desire to take improvement into their own hands, I usually offer some things they can do at home… foot strengtheners like scrunching up towels w/ their toes, theraband exercises (once they’ve been taught in class), stretches, etc. It seems to work well because they just want to feel like they are doing something. So it’s good to have some of those in your back pocket as well.

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